The NCC Netherlands

Introduction to Supercomputing, part I
2024-07-04 13:00 - 17:00 UTC | SURF Amsterdam, Science Park 140, Amsterdam, 1098 XG, Netherlands
If you need to perform many calculations, or analyses that are too big for your own system, clusters and supercomputers will provide the computing power you need. In this course, you will learn how to work with these large computing systems!
Sign up

What will you learn in this training?
In this training you will:
• understand what is high-performance computing (HPC)
• learn basic details on clusters and supercomputers
• do practical exercises on the national supercomputer Snellius effectively
• apply the essential best practices on how to work effectively with large HPC systems
For whom?
Anyone who wants to know how to perform very large computing tasks.
This course is organized in collaboration with the UvA via the shared HPC program, see more on https://hpc.uva.nl.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of Unix shell is useful.
Language
This webinar will be in English

FIRE: FPGA Iannovation Research Exchange: Tools and Platforms for Accelerating AI Workloads
2024-06-27 09:30 - 17:00
On June 27, 2024, the HW Acceleration Network community and SURF organize a HW acceleration workshop focused on tools and HW platforms for accelerating AI workloads. This workshop is part of the “FIRE: FPGA Innovation Research Exchange“ series of events.
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What to expect?
The event features a lineup of discussions centered around cutting-edge computing technologies for AI workload acceleration showcasing multiple industrial players such as Innatera and Groq as well as developers of HW acceleration platforms such as AMD and Altera. In addition, the workshop features two keynote talks on future computing platforms dedicated to quantum computing as well as cellular automata.
Practical information
Where: SURF Utrecht (Moreelsepark 48, 3511 EP, Utrecht)
When: June 27, 2024, 9.30-17.00
The outline of the program of the event is as follows.
09.30 – 09.45: Welcome&Coffee
09.45 – 10.00: Introduction and updates
10.00 – 11.00: Keynote 1
11.00 – 12.30: Platforms for AI acceleration session
12.30 – 13.30: Lunch
13.30 – 14.30: Keynote 2
14.30 – 15.00: Flash talks
15.00 – 15.30: Coffee break
15.30 – 17.00: Tools for accelerator platforms session
17.00 – 17.30: Drinks

HPC Advanced course
2024-06-20 12:30 - 17:00 | Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 4, Wageningen, 6708 PB, Netherlands
Did you recently start using the High Performance Computing Cluster (HPC Anunna)? Do you have some basic Linux knowledge but want to know more about how things work on Anunna? Join the free 5 hours course on the basics of the HPC. You will be set to work on computing tasks to gain insight and experience with Anunna. The course is organized by SRF and WDCC with contributions from WUR scientists experienced on Anunna.
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Organised by
WUR FB-IT and WUR Shared Research Facilities

Date
Thu 20 June 2024 12:30 to 17:00
Thu 21 November 2024 12:30 to 17:00
*These dates are for the full course. Unable to attend the first session? Don’t worry, you’ll have another opportunity on the second date!

Room
TBA

Price description
The courses are free when you already have a user account on our HPC or if your group has a commitment on the HPC. If you do not have an account or a commitment, the fee is 250 euros. This amount will be reduced from your first bill once you start using the HPC after the course.

Bring your own laptop
Please bring your own laptop to the course.
The course is also open for interested people outside WUR.

HPC basic course
2024-06-13 12:30 - 17:00 | Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 4, Wageningen, 6708 PB, Netherlands
Did you recently start using the High Performance Computing Cluster (HPC Anunna)? Do you have some basic Linux knowledge but want to know more about how things work on Anunna? Join the free 5 hours course on the basics of the HPC. You will be set to work on computing tasks to gain insight and experience with Anunna. The course is organized by SRF and WDCC with contributions from WUR scientists experienced on Anunna.
Read more

Organised by
WUR FB-IT and WUR Shared Research Facilities

Date
Thu 13 June 2024 12:30 to 17:00
Tue 12 November 2024 12:30 to 17:00
*These dates are for the full course. Unable to attend the first session? Don’t worry, you’ll have another opportunity on the second date!

Room
TBA

Price description
The courses are free when you already have a user account on our HPC or if your group has a commitment on the HPC. If you do not have an account or a commitment, the fee is 250 euros. This amount will be reduced from your first bill once you start using the HPC after the course.

Bring your own laptop
Please bring your own laptop to the course.
The course is also open for interested people outside WUR.

Introduction to Supercomputing, part I
2024-06-11 09:00 - 12:30 | Online
If you need to perform many calculations, or analyses that are too big for your own system, clusters and supercomputers will provide the computing power you need. In this course, you will learn how to work with these large computing systems!
Sign up

What will you learn in this training?
In this training you will

understand what is high-performance computing (HPC)
learn basic details on clusters and supercomputers
do practical exercises on the national supercomputer Snellius effectively
apply the essential best practices on how to work effectively with large HPC systems

For whom?
Anyone who wants to know how to perform very large computing tasks.
Basic knowledge of Unix shell is useful.

Harnessing High-Performance Computing for Industrial Innovation
2024-06-10 13:00 - 14:00 | Webinar
Are you an R&D driven tech company or start up? 🌟 Join us on June 10th for the webinar Driving National Growth: Harnessing High-Performance Computing for Industrial Innovation.
During this webinar we will highlight the transformative power of High-Performance Computing (HPC). Explore practical use cases and strategies for leveraging supercomputing in R&D-driven tech companies.
📅 Date: June 10, 2024
🕓 Time: 13:00 – 14:00 (Online)
🎙️ We have great speakers lined up for you:
1️⃣ Dr. Marijn Martens, Synaptica
2️⃣ Professor Gábor Závodszky – UvA & Dutch HPC Coalition
3️⃣ Carlos Teijeiro Barjas, EuroCC Netherlands
Marijn Martens will talk about Predicting the functional consequence of ion channel mutations. Understanding the functional consequences of genetic mutations is key for early diagnosis and precision medicine. For only around 2% of potential pathogenic ion channel mutations, the gain or loss of function effects are known and well quantified. Using these known mutations, Synaptica has trained a machine learning model of all missense mutations in many of the disease-related ion channels. HPC now allows the simulation of molecular dynamics and 3D structures of the individual mutated protein sequences, allowing for deep feature extraction.
Using this approach, Synaptica provides predictions on gain or loss of function for ion channel mutations. Synaptica is currently running a clinical proof of concept clinical trial for a familial case of epilepsy. The results are aimed at medical use in clinical trial screening and treatment for channelopathies, such as epilepsy, muscle and heart diseases.
Gábor Závodszky will give insights about big simulations (road to exascale). During his talk he will also give examples of an extreme detailed simulation of a heart disease and a large-scale (330+ CPU core) cellular blood flow simulation. On top of that he will also review the energy consumption of these large simulations. And what can we predict how they will look like in an exascale execution and on new CPU architectures (with contribution from Eviden. To wrap up his talk, he will share how this fits the national landscape and the forming Dutch HPC Coalition.
Carlos Teijeiro Barjas will be your host and HPC Specialist from EuroCC Netherlands.
Gain valuable insights to elevate your organization’s innovation game.
Register now on linkedin

Introduction to SURF Research Cloud
2024-06-03 09:00 - 12:00 | TU Delft Library, Prometheusplein 1, Delft, Netherlands
This training explains cloud computing in general. The accompanying hands-on approach introduces you to (some of) the many features of SURF Research Cloud. You will learn how to create and manage your own virtual computing environment(s).
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For whom?
Anyone who wants to use a flexible and customized environment to run powerful applications.The language of instruction is English.
Requirements:
1. Bring your own laptop.
2. A browser (Chrome or Firefox is good enough).
3. Experience with Linux commands helps, but is not a requirement.

Sign up

MPI and OpenMP in Scientific Software Development
2024-05-27 09:00 - 2024-05-29 17:00 | Online
This advanced course describes different everyday challenges that developers of parallel code must face in everyday work and provides working solutions for them.
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Each of these sessions includes hands-on exercises to facilitate the understanding of the different constructs. Moreover, you will also obtain some insight on useful parallel libraries and routines for scientific code development, like ParMETIS and PETSc.
Prerequisites:
As a participant for this course, you already have basic knowledge on parallel programming with MPI and OpenMP using the C programming language. If you are not very familiar with these basic concepts, please consider registering for our basic MPI and OpenMP course, where you can get all the required background! If you are a programmer of Fortran or Python, please note that the hands-on codes for this advanced course are written in C/C++, so you may need to have some understanding for the language syntax.

Please bring your own laptop (with a ssh client installed) for the hands-on sessions!
Knowledge of Linux/Unix commands is necessary.
Knowledge of C or C++ (or good understanding of the syntax of these programming languages) is necessary.
Basic knowledge of MPI and OpenMP concepts is necessary.

Sign up

Basic Parallel Programming with MPI and OpenMP
2024-05-21 09:00 - 2024-05-22 17:00 | Online
This basic course is focused on introducing parallel programming using the most widely used approaches: Message Passing Interface (MPI) and Open Multi-Processing (OpenMP).
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Each session includes hands-on exercises to facilitate the understanding of the different constructs. As a participant, you have already some familiarities with C, Fortran, or Python programming, and in these two days you will be able to start the development of your own parallel application.
The materials for this course have been developed at HLRS by Dr. Rolf Rabenseifner.
Prerequisites:

Please bring your own laptop (with a ssh client installed) for the hands-on sessions!
Knowledge of Linux/Unix commands is necessary.
Knowledge of either C/C++, Fortran or Python programming language is necessary.

Sign up

Linux basic course
2024-05-16 09:00 - 13:30 | Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 4, Wageningen, 6708 PB, Netherlands
Are you interested in using the High Performance Computing Cluster (HPC) but lack the basic Linux knowledge? Join the free 5 hours course on the basics of Linux for working on the HPC. You will learn the Linux commands and skills needed to create repetitive tasks. The course is organized by FB-IT and SRF with contributions from WUR scientists experienced on the HPC.
Read more

Organised by
WUR FB-IT and WUR Shared Research Facilities

Date
Thu 16 May 2024 09:00 to 13:30
Thu 17 October 2024 09:00 to 13:30
*These dates are for the full course. Unable to attend the first session? Don’t worry, you’ll have another opportunity on the second date!

Room
TBA

Price description
The courses are free when you already have a user account on our HPC or if your group has a commitment on the HPC. If you do not have an account or a commitment, the fee is 250 euros. This amount will be reduced from your first bill once you start using the HPC after the course.

The course is also open for interested people outside WUR.
Bring your own laptop
Please bring your own laptop to the course.

2nd BioExcel Conference on Advances in Biomolecular Simulations
2024-05-08 08:00 - 17:00
Registration for the 2nd BioExcel Conference on Advances in Biomolecular Simulations is now open!
Date: 20 – 23 October 2024
Venue: Brno, Czech Republic
Following the success of the first BioExcel conference on Advances and Challenges in Biomolecular Simulations, we are pleased to announce our second BioExcel conference on Advances in Biomolecular Simulations. The event gathers the biomolecular research community to explore the latest trends, updates and challenges in the fields of integrative modelling, free energy and drug design, workflows, automation and data integration.
Important dates:
15 March 2024: Abstract submission opens (see instructions under ‘Registration’)
15 April 2024: Registration opens
15 June 2024: Early bird registration closes
15 June 2024: Oral presentation submission closes
20 July 2024: Notification of selected oral presentations
30 September 2024: Registration closes (payment and poster deadline)
Program, speakers and more information via the button!
Read more

Introduction to Supercomputing, part I
2024-05-07 09:00 - 12:30 | Online
If you need to perform many calculations, or analyses that are too big for your own system, clusters and supercomputers will provide the computing power you need. In this course, you will learn how to work with these large computing systems!
Sign up

What will you learn in this training?
In this training you will:
• understand what is high-performance computing (HPC)
• learn basic details on clusters and supercomputers
• do practical exercises on the national supercomputer Snellius effectively
• apply the essential best practices on how to work effectively with large HPC systems
For whom?
Anyone who wants to know how to perform very large computing tasks.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of Unix shell is useful.
Language
This webinar will be in English

Sign up

Supercomputing with LUMI
2024-05-02 09:45 - 2024-05-03 16:45 | SURF Amsterdam, Science Park 140, Amsterdam, 1098 XG, Netherlands
This two-day hybrid course serves as an introduction to the LUMI architecture and setup. It will include lessons about the hardware architecture, compiling, using software and running jobs efficiently. After the course you will be able to work effectively on both the CPU (LUMI-C) as well as GPU partition (LUMI-G).
Sign Up

What will you learn in this training?
In this training you will:
• connect to LUMI and transfer data from and to the cluster
• understand LUMI’s hardware and effectively compile software on it
• utilize the module system and EasyBuild for software management
• submit and manage jobs with Slurm, including the use of job arrays and GPU/CPU binding
• identify and mitigate I/O bottlenecks in the LUSTRE file system
• create Python environments and run containers on LUMI
For whom?
Anyone who wants to know how to perform very large computing tasks, specifically if you intend to use the LUMI supercomputer in the future.
Prerequisites:
Basic knowledge of the Unix shell and general HPC cluster computing is necessary.
Familiarity with a programming language (C, Fortran, or Python) is highly recommended.
Agenda
Day 1:
09:45 – Course introduction
10:00 – Hardware architecture (40 min)
10:40 – Cray Programming Environment (45 min)
11:25 – Break
11:55 – How to access LUMI (35 min)
12:30 – Lunch break
13:30 – Exercises (30 min)
14:00 – Modules (35 min)
14:35 – Exercises: Exploring the modules (15 min)
14:50 – Break
15:20 – Software (55 min)
16:15 – Exercises (30 min)
16:45 – Wrap-up of the day and free Q&A
Day 2:
9:45 – Short welcome, recap and plan for the day
10:00 – Slurm 1 (75 minutes)
11:15 – Break
11:45 – Slurm 2: Binding (45 minutes)
12:30 – Lunch break
13:30 – Slurm exercises (30 minutes)
14:00 – Using Lustre (30 minutes)
14:30 – Containers on LUMI (60 minutes including demo or exercises)
15:30 – Break
16:00 – LUMI support and documentation (20 minutes)
16:20 – LUMI in The Netherlands (15 minutes)
16:35 – What else do we offer and what did we not cover and how can I learn about it? (10 minutes)
16:45 – Q&A and wrap-up
Cannot participate onsite in Amsterdam?
Don’t worry! We are also setting up an online option for participation, so you are also welcome to participate from home (only with potentially limited support for exercises).

Sign up

Advanced Topics in Scientific Visualization with Blender: Geometry, Scripts, Animation, Action!
2024-04-25 10:00 - 2024-05-03 12:00 | Online
This course is a follow-up to our introductory Blender course. We assume you are familiar with working with Blender and have some experience with topics such as the Blender UI, 3D meshes, materials, lighting and cameras.
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Course Setup
In this course you will learn a number of advanced Blender topics:
* The basics of the Python API that is available in Blender. You will learn how the API is structured and eventually start making some simple geometry with code. This can be used, for example, for writing custom import scripts or to perform operations that you would otherwise do manually.
* The node-based shader editor that is used to create and edit materials. In our introductory Blender course we did go into detail on materials, but without describing the node-based shader networks that are the basis of materials. Here, we go deeper into these node network and how to edit them.
* More advanced animation topics, such as shape keys.
Another important part of the course is that you will work on a visualization based on your own research or other endeavors.
The basis of the course is self-paced training during 10 days, using course materials that we provide (videos and exercises) and with some short online sessions. During the course period you can work on the materials in your own pace. We provide a Discord communication channel with the course teachers that you can use for questions and feedback during the course. We use a small number of online plenary sessions spread over the indicated two-week period, beginning with an introductory webinar of two hours and follow-up feedback sessions. These are used to discuss your projects and make sure you are able to make progress.
Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of Blender: getting around the interface, making and adding geometry, some basics on materials
Basic knowledge of Python
An idea and/or some data for your own project to work on during the course.
You will need to have your own laptop with Blender installed (http://www.blender.org)

Sign up

Introduction Scientific Visualisation with Blender: Data, Lights, Camera, Action!
2024-04-23 09:00 - 17:00 | SURF Amsterdam, Science Park 140, Amsterdam, 1098 XG, Netherlands
Would you like to make 3D visualizations that are visually more attractive than what ParaView or VisIt can provide? Do you need an image for a grant application that needs to look spectacular? Would you like to create a cool animation of your simulation data? Then this course may be for you!
Sign up

Goal
The goal of this course is to provide you with hands-on knowledge to produce great images and basic animations from 3D scientific data. We will be using the open-source package Blender (http://www.blender.org), which provides good basic functionality, while also being usable for advanced usage and general editing of 3D data. It is also a lot of fun to work with (once you get used to its graphical interface).
Example types of relevant scientific data are 3D cell-based simulations, 3D models from photogrammetry, (isosurfaces of) 3D medical scans, molecular models and earth sciences data. Note that we don’t focus on information visualization of abstract data, such as graphs (although you could convert those into a 3D model first and then use them in Blender).
We like to encourage participants to bring along the data they normally work with, or a sample thereof, and would like to apply the course knowledge to.
For whom?
Anyone interesting in learning how to design attractive visualizations. We assume the context to be an academic setting, but it is not make many assumptions on use cases for Blender, and we are happy to help to how we can use Blender to make attractive visuals of the data.
Prerequisites:
It helps to have some familiarity with basic 3D graphics concepts (transformations, rendering), but it is not mandatory.
You will need to have a laptop, preferably with an acceptable GPU, where you can install Blender during the course.

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ParaView for (remote) visualizations
2024-04-19 09:00 - 14:00 | Eindhoven University of Technology, De Zaale 32, Eindhoven, Netherlands
In this course you will get to know the fundamentals of scientific visualisation using ParaView. The main topics will cover the 3D data manipulation model and pipelines, learning how to work with simulation data effectively. Practical exercises with different scientific examples will help you to apply these concepts.
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Prerequisites

You will need to have your own laptop with ParaView installed (https://www.paraview.org/)

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Energy Aware Simulations
2024-04-18 09:00 - 14:00 | Eindhoven University of Technology, De Zaale 32, Eindhoven, Netherlands
Did you know that an optimal use of applications or code development can have an impact in the environment? The energy usage of computing infrastructure is becoming an increasingly prominent topic for computing systems design and usage. In this course you will learn about the basics behind energy efficient computing.
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What?
This course will present some tools and technologies that allow a user/software-developer to understand their energy usage in terms of energy analysis of the software that is being deployed on the system. You will get an overview on how to optimize the use of computing systems and application development for the purpose of energy efficiency, rather than keeping a focus on performance or memory usage. You will learn how to do green coding and work with applications in a sustainable way. Some of the main topics will include:

Overview of the data center energy footprint
Energy usage and energy-aware computing on HPC systems

Who?

Everyone interested in learning how to understand energy usage of their software.

Requirements:

Basic knowledge of Linux
Basic programming experience is recommended

You should have:
Your own laptop with an up-to-date browser and a terminal emulator. The use of the operating systems Linux and macOS is preferred, but not mandatory. For Windows users we recommend to download MobaXterm (portable version) as terminal emulator.

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Introduction to Scientific Visualisation with ParaView
2024-04-17 09:00 - 13:00 | Online
Annotation
NCC Netherlands and NCC Czechia are inviting you to the course Introduction to Scientific Visualisation with ParaView.
Read moreThis foundational course introduces participants to the fundamentals of scientific visualisation using ParaView, an accessible and powerful open-source tool widely utilised in academic and professional settings. Attendees will embark on a structured exploration, starting with a clear distinction between scientific visualisation and information visualisation, setting the stage for understanding their respective roles and applications.
Through guided instruction, participants will acquire a solid grasp of the ParaView data model and pipelines, learning how to navigate and manipulate data effectively. Practical exercises will enable attendees to apply these concepts hands-on, gaining confidence in performing basic visualisation tasks and experimenting with various data types.
By the conclusion of this introductory course, participants will have developed a foundational skill set in leveraging ParaView for scientific visualisation. Equipped with this knowledge, attendees will be poised to explore advanced techniques and applications further, laying a solid groundwork for continued growth and proficiency in the field.
Benefits for the attendees, what will they learn

An overview of scientific visualization versus information visualization
The basics of the ParaView data model and pipelines
Performing basic visualization tasks with ParaView, including hands-on experience with a number of different types of data and visualization aspects.

Level
beginner
Language
English
Prerequisites
None in terms of experience, but a laptop with ParaView installed is required.
Tutors
Paul Melis, Casper van Leeuwen
Paul Melis has been with SURF since 2009 and works on scientific visualization and eXtended Reality Innovation. Casper van Leeuwen joined SURF in 2014 and focuses, amongst other things, on interactive (web-based) visualization. They both have an MSc in Computer Science, Paul from the University of Twente, Casper from the University of Delft. They have a range of visualization support and development experience regarding 3D graphics, interactive 3D visualization and remote visualization. They work within the High-Performance Computing & Visualization group at SURF, where they support the users of the Dutch Supercomputer Snellius with visualization-related tasks. They also regularly demo XR devices and applications, develop demos, or get involved in producing visualizations for PR purposes.
Starts 17 Apr 2024, 09:00
Ends 17 Apr 2024, 13:00
Europe/Prague
ONLINE
Registration
Registration is obligatory. Only registered participants will receive the Zoom link.
After the number of registrations has reached its maximum or the registration form has been closed, you may want to send us an email stating that you are interested to be put on the waiting list. (Vacancies may occur due to cancellations, etc.) E-mail to training@it4i.cz.
Practicalities
This training will be an online event. Technical details about joining will be sent to the accepted registrants before the event.
Please note that the training is held using Zoom. We advise all participants to download the Zoom application to enjoy full functionality.
Capacity and Fees
The capacity is limited to 30 participants.
Please note that the course is open and free of charge for participants from the Member States (MS) of the European Union (EU) and Associated/Other Countries to the Horizon 2020 programme.

Introduction to Scientific Visualization with ParaView
2024-04-17 09:00 - 13:00 | Online
NCC Netherlands and NCC Czechia cordially invite you to embark on a transformative journey into the world of scientific visualization with our course: Introduction to Scientific Visualization with ParaView.
Sign up
About the Course:
This foundational course serves as your gateway to mastering scientific visualization using ParaView, a versatile open-source tool widely employed in academic and professional environments. Led by experienced tutors, Paul Melis and Casper van Leeuwen, participants will delve into the core concepts and practical applications of scientific visualization, gaining invaluable insights and skills along the way.
Key Highlights:

Gain a comprehensive understanding of scientific visualization versus information visualization.
Explore the intricacies of the ParaView data model and pipelines.
Acquire hands-on experience in performing basic visualization tasks with ParaView, covering various data types and visualization aspects.

Level: Beginner
Language: English
Prerequisites: None (Participants are required to have a laptop with ParaView installed.)
Tutors:

Paul Melis: Scientific Visualization and eXtended Reality Innovation expert at SURF.
Casper van Leeuwen: Specializes in interactive (web-based) visualization at SURF.

Acknowledgements: This project is supported by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.
Registration:
Secure your spot now by registering here. Please note that registration is obligatory, and only registered participants will receive the Zoom link. In case of full registration, you may express your interest in joining the waiting list by emailing us at training@it4i.cz.
Capacity and Fees:
The course is open and free of charge for participants from the Member States (MS) of the European Union (EU) and Associated/Other Countries to the Horizon 2020 programme. The capacity is limited to 30 participants, so register today to reserve your spot!
Don’t miss this opportunity to unlock the potential of scientific visualization with ParaView. Register now and take your first step towards mastering this essential skill set!

High-Performance Deep Learning
2024-04-16 09:00 - 2024-04-17 14:00
Would you like to learn the basics about Deep Learning?

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What?
On day 1 of this course you will:

Understand the fundamental theories of machine learning and the intuitions/ideas behind the algorithms
Work with a high-level machine learning API (Keras)
Explore hyperparameter space to improve a neural network
Understand the pitfalls of classic machine learning algorithms

On day 2 of this course you will learn:

How to set up your software environment
About the technical capabilities of modern day CPUs and GPUs
How to identify bottlenecks in your code

Who?
Everyone interested in getting familiar with machine learning at scale, from the beginning up to more advanced topics
Prerequisites

Basic knowledge on statistics
Basic knowledge on linear algebra
Basic knowledge on Python programming. Some experience with the use of Jupyter Notebooks is desirable, but not essential.

* Basic knowledge on parallel computing is helpful, but not required.

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Introduction to Supercomputing, part II
2024-04-15 09:00 - 14:00 | Eindhoven University of Technology, De Zaale 32, Eindhoven, Netherlands
If you need to perform many calculations, or analyses that are too big for your own system, clusters and supercomputers provide the computing power you need. In this course, you will learn to work with the national supercomputer Snellius.
Sign up

What will you learn in this course?
This course is a follow-up to the first introductory Supercomputing course, where you can take a deeper dive into the use of supercomputers with a special focus on efficiency and good practices and a very practical approach.
The format of this course includes the following modules:

Fundamentals of performance analysis. This introductory technical presentation introduces high-performance hybrid systems, abstractly covering the architecture and configuration of the system. Our aim is to enhance the understanding of HPC complexity before delving deeper into the importance of performance analysis models. Special attention is paid to the Roofline model.

Abstract Modelling hybrid supercomputers. Presenting an abstract modelling approach for hybrid supercomputers, condensing their complexity into three key parameters: peak performance, memory and network bandwidth.
Performance analysis. Explore performance analysis, starting with an overview of different models and going deeper into the specifics of the roofline model.
The roofline model. Describing the roofline model and presenting its practical application through clear explanations and demonstrations.

File systems. This practical session covers the proper use of file systems on HPC systems, especially on Snellius.
Slurm hybrid tasks. Slurm, a widely used job scheduler for high-performance computing (HPC) systems, has been introduced in earlier sections for a basic understanding. This module covers the specific resource allocation parameters for hybrid jobs with shared and distributed memory.

Nodes, cores and tasks. This segment covers the fundamental concepts of nodes, cores and tasks, and highlights their role within the context of HPC systems.
Bindings. The concept of bindings is explored, providing insight into how tasks are associated with specific resources, improving participants’ understanding of resource allocation mechanisms.
Hands on. We will run the vector optics kernel with multiple configurations using a set of scripts.

QCG pilot job. In some cases, users need to run a large number of lightweight cases. However, the nodes of supercomputers are too powerful and only allow relatively large partitions. For example, the smallest possible allocation on Snellius is 1/4 of a node: 32 cores and 64 GB. Job concurrency is a common strategy to efficiently launch multiple lightweight jobs on such large partitions.

Fundamentals of job concurrency. This segment discusses the basic principles underlying job concurrency. Job concurrency is a methodological approach that allows the simultaneous execution of multiple smaller jobs within a larger allocated partition. The goal is to optimise resource utilisation and improve efficiency in scenarios where lighter tasks are executed on nodes designed for heavier workloads.
Hands-on QCG PilotJob. This hands-on session provides participants with hands-on experience of the QCG Pilotjob framework. Participants will gain practical insights into the strategies and techniques of using job concurrency to launch and manage multiple lightweight jobs within the context of bulky node partitions.

Prerequisites
Participation in the course Introduction to Supercomputing, Part I
The language of instruction is English
Location
TU/e Eindhoven

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End-to-end Data Management for Data Supporters
2024-04-11 10:00 - 16:30 | SURF Amsterdam, Science Park 140, Amsterdam, 1098 XG, Netherlands
Do you want to know more about the tools and facilities for compute and data to better support researchers in Research Data Management (RDM)? Then please join us for this in-person training!
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Calling all data supporters!
We will be covering the whole research data lifecycle with discussions and demos of available tools – think of RDM platforms, compute and data infrastructure facilities, publication workflows, etc. Note that the focus is not on the technical details of the tools/facilities but on what these can do for your RDM needs! However, for those participants who do want to follow-along the practical steps in these demos, we are happy to facilitate this.
We are particularly interested in tackling some of the big challenges data stewards and other data professionals are facing in the realm of RDM. Expect lively discussion, opportunities to consider your own use cases, and a good lunch!
For whom?
Data supporters with non-technical and/or technical interests

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Training TRANSITS 2
2024-04-10 09:00 - 2024-04-12 17:00 | SURF Amsterdam, Science Park 140, Amsterdam, 1098 XG, Netherlands
Network monitoring, forensic analysis and more
TRANSITS II training is aimed at more experienced members of already functioning CSIRTs. We focus in this training on techniques for network monitoring and forensic analysis. We also provide a number of tools to improve (human) communication – which is so essential precisely in CSIRT work. Practical exercises are part of every topic covered.
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Attention to personal input
The TRANSITS training is a full three-day programme for a group of up to 18 participants. Much attention is paid to the participants’ own input and questions. Moreover, due to the cooperation with NCSC-NL, participants from all types of CSIRTs in the Netherlands are expected, which increases the learning effect. Training and lunches cost 500 euro for members of SURF and 1000 euro for non-members of SURF. The joint dinner is included.
For whom?
Are you a member of the local CSIRT at your institution? And do you already have some CSIRT work experience? Then you are welcome to participate in this training. The training is three-quarters (computer/network) technical in nature.
Programme
We start all training days at 09.00 with coffee and on days 1 and 2 we get to work from 09.30 to 17.30! We conclude the first 2 days with a communal dinner.
On day 3, we hand out certificates to all participants at the end of the day’s programme at 16.00 hrs.
Costs

For SURF members: 550 euro excluding VAT.
For non-SURF member institutions: 1,050 euro excl. vat.

Registration and cancellation

Registration is not optional; please read the cancellation policy for SURFacademy meetings.

NWO ICT.OPEN2024
2024-04-10 - 2024-04-11 | Jaarbeurs, Utrecht, Jaarbeursplein 6, Utrecht, 3521 AL
NWO ICT.OPEN brings scientists from all ICT research disciplines and industries together to learn, share ideas, and network. The conference will take place on 10 & 11 April 2024 at the Jaarbeurs, Utrecht.
Read moreDo you want to present your research results at NWO ICT.OPEN2024? Then check out the tracks and submit your abstract for a demo, oral and/or poster presentation.
The deadline for abstract submission is 16 January 2024.
Programme overview

Spring HPC School: Introduction to Advanced Computing
2024-04-08 09:00 - 2024-04-12 14:00 | Eindhoven University of Technology, De Zaale 32, Eindhoven, Netherlands
For whom?
This introductory course is aimed at first-time and novice users of high-performance computing facilities. Many researchers can benefit from using a such supercomputing facilities to speed up their research or enable them to solve bigger problems.
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What to expect?
Day 1 & 2
In the first two half-day sessions (primer course) you will learn how to use (remote) Linux machines, demystify the Linux terminal, upload & edit files, automating tasks etc. We will cover the basics of file version control using Git. In addition, we will talk about the “supercomputing staircase” and how you as a TU/e researcher can gain access to suitable computing facilities, both local & national. The knowledge in this course is also a prerequisite for other sessions in the Spring HPC School.
Day 3
The third day will be an introduction to spuercomputing with hands-on. If you need to perform many calculations, or analyses that are too big for your own system, clusters and supercomputers will provide the computing power you need. You will learn how to work with these large computing systems!
During this do you will:

understand what is high-performance computing (HPC)
learn basic details on clusters and supercomputers
do practical exercises on the national supercomputer Snellius effectively
apply the essential best practices on how to work effectively with large HPC systems

Day 4
Finally, the fourth day will be dedicated to cloud computing. Do you want to create and manage your own work environment and run powerful applications on it? SURF Research Cloud opens the door to cloud computing on different platforms. During this day, your workload runs on the SURF HPC Cloud platform in Amsterdam.
Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of Unix shell is useful.
Bring your own laptop.
A browser (Chrome or Firefox is good enough).
Experience with Linux commands helps, but is not a requirement.

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Introduction to SURF Research Cloud
2024-03-12 13:00 - 17:00 | Erasmus University Rotterdam, Burgemeester Oudlaan 50, Rotterdam, 3062PA, Netherlands
This training explains cloud computing in general. The accompanying hands-on approach introduces you to (some of) the many features of SURF Research Cloud. You will learn how to create and manage your own virtual computing environment(s). By the end, you will feel comfortable enough to install your own applications, and benefit from the power of cloud computing.
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For whom?
Anyone who wants to use a flexible and customized environment to run powerful applications.
The language of instruction is English.
Requirements
Bring your own laptop.
A browser (Chrome or Firefox is good enough).
Experience with Linux commands helps, but is not a requirement.

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Introduction to Supercomputing, part I
2024-03-12 09:00 - 12:30 | Online
What will you learn in this training?
In this training you will

understand what is high-performance computing (HPC)
learn basic details on clusters and supercomputers
do practical exercises on the national supercomputer Snellius effectively
apply the essential best practices on how to work effectively with large HPC systems

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For whom?
Anyone who wants to know how to perform very large computing tasks.
Basic knowledge of Unix shell is useful.

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Seminar: Hardware innovation technologies for IT in research
2024-03-05 11:00 - 17:00 | SURF Utrecht, Moreelsepark 48, Utrecht, 3511 EP, Netherlands
About the seminar
SURF, together with partners, is exploring new hardware technologies for IT in research. In this seminar, we present selected new technologies that accelerate scientific workflows, e.g. simulations, AI and massive data processing. We focus on the latest developments for processors, accelerators, storage and networking technologies that are available, or will soon be available. We hope this meeting will also strengthen our collaborations and identify opportunities for new collaborations.
Sign upPresenting yourself?
Do you have a new hardware technology of your own that you would like to briefly present at this seminar? You can! Please contact Raymond Oonk for this at raymond.oonk@surf.nl.
Programme
The seminar will take place in conference room 3.5.

10.30 – 11.00 hrs.
Walk-in and coffee at SURF

11.00 – 11.15 hrs.
Introduction: big data science driven technologies
Raymond Oonk (SURF)

11.15 – 11.40 hrs.
Evolution in CPUs, accelerators and storage media
Erik Kooistra (Nikhef)

11.40 – 12.05 hrs.
AI and Co-design of ICT systems
Chris Broekema

12.05 – 12.45 hrs.
Lunch at SURF

12.45 – 13.10 hrs.
Hardware for accelerating AI applications
Duncan Kampert (SURF)

13.10 – 13.35 hrs.
New GPU, FPGA and network technologies for radio astronomical instruments
John Romein (Astron)

13.35 – 14.00
Data logistics and network developments
Tristan Suerink (Nikhef)

14.00 – 14.25 hrs.
Developments in (inter)national network
Pieter de Boer (SURF)

14.25 – 14.50 hrs.
SURF experimental technologies platform
Bas van der Vlies (SURF)

14.50 – 15.20 hrs.
Coffee break at SURF

15.20 – 16.00 hrs.
Futuring session and opportunity for short presentations by participants
Raymond Oonk (SURF)

16.00 – 16.10 hrs.
Concluding
Raymond Oonk (SURF)

16.10 – 17.00
Drinks at SURF

For whom.
This seminar is intended for research IT experts supporting research groups and for researchers researching or already working with new hardware technologies.

Quantum Computing: From Research to Industry
2024-02-27 10:00 - 12:00 | Online
Join us for an exclusive webinar where we delve into the fascinating realm of Quantum Computing, in collaboration with NCC France and NCC Netherlands. This joint initiative brings together experts and enthusiasts to explore the latest advancements, challenges, and industry perspectives in quantum computing.
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What to Expect:

Introduction to Quantum Computing: Gain insights into the fundamentals of quantum computing, including logic gates, annealers, and analog computing.
Qaptiva: Quantum Computing Emulator: Discover an innovative quantum computing emulator developed by industry experts.
HPC-Quantum Infrastructures: Learn about the French Hybrid HPC Quantum Initiative (HQI) and its mission to provide free access to HPC-Quantum infrastructures for open research.
Handling Quantum Applications: Explore effective strategies for handling quantum applications at the user level.
Algorithm Design for Quantum Computers: Delve into the world of quantum algorithms and learn how to design algorithms tailored for quantum computers.
Building Quantum Hardware: Gain insights into the hardware side of quantum computing and explore the latest developments.

Program & Speakers:

Jean-Baptiste Latre
Olivier Hess
Félix Givois
David Maier
Victor Land
Daan Kuitenbrouwer

Hosted by:

Karim Azoum, Teratec Program Director, NCC France Director
Carlos Teijeiro Barjas, Advisor Supercomputing, SURF, NCC Netherlands

Registration: Secure your spot now by clicking here to register and receive the webinar link.
Can’t Make It? No worries! The webinar will be recorded and accessible for replay here.
Don’t miss this collaborative effort to explore the cutting-edge world of quantum computing and its transformative potential. Register now and embark on a journey towards quantum enlightenment!

Save the date: SURF Tech Trends Workshop 27 February 2024
2024-02-27 | SURF Utrecht, Moreelsepark 48, Utrecht, 3511 EP, Netherlands
The next Tech Trends workshop is scheduled for 27 February 2024. This time we will focus on developments around Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI), a system that allows brain signals to be measured, analysed, classified and converted into actions by a computer. Curious about how it relates to education and research? Keep an eye on the SURF agenda!

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