Pitzer

Update to Scratch File Purge Policy

To help alleviate recent storage stress on our scratch filesystem, we will be changing the purge period for scratch files from 90 days to 60 days. This means that any files not accessed within 60 days will be deleted. We invite you to share your comments or concerns during the public comment period, which will remain open until August 3. Please submit your feedback via https://www.osc.edu/resources/technical_support/supercomputing-policies/proposed_osc_policies_for_public_comments.

Action Requested - Free Up Space on OSC's Scratch Filesystem

The OSC Scratch filesystem (/fs/scratch) is currently under significant space pressure. To address this, OSC is preparing a proposed policy update that would reduce the default data retention period on Scratch. Under the current policy, we may need to implement a one-time emergency reduction in retention time to free up space. To help avoid this, we are asking all clients to *voluntarily delete any unneeded data* from Scratch as soon as possible. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated and will help maintain system stability for everyone.

System Downtime August 19 2025

A downtime for OSC HPC systems is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday, August 19 2025. The downtime will affect the Pitzer, Cardinal and Ascend Clusters, web portals, the state-wide licenses and HPC file servers. MyOSC (the client portal) will be available during the downtime. In preparation for the downtime, the batch scheduler will not start jobs that cannot be completed before 7 a.m., August 19. Jobs that are not started on clusters will be held until after the downtime and then started once the system is returned to production status.

Using Software on Pitzer RHEL 7

While OSC has upgraded the Pitzer cluster to RHEL 9, you may encounter difficulties when migrating jobs from RHEL 7 to the new system. To help you continue your research, we provide a containerized RHEL 7 environment on Pitzer RHEL 9. This container replicates the original RHEL 7 system and software environment used on Pitzer.

Note: This containerized RHEL7 environment is a temporary solution and may be terminated at any time without prior notice. 

Pitzer Programming Environment

Compilers

The Pitzer cluster (on RHEL 9) supports C, C++, and Fortran programming languages. The available compiler suites include Intel, oneAPI, and GCC. By default, the Intel development toolchain is loaded. The table below lists the compiler commands and recommended options for compiling serial programs. For more details and best practices, please refer to our compilation guide.

Pitzer Software Environment

The Pitzer RHEL 9 cluster  (hereafter referred to as "Pitzer") is now running on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 9, introducing several software-related changes compared to the RHEL 7 environment used on the Pitzer. These updates provide access to modern tools and libraries but may also require adjustments to your workflows. Key software changes and available software are outlined in the following sections.

Join the Pitzer OS upgrade Early User Program

OSC is upgrading Pitzer from RHEL7 to RHEL9, bringing updated tools and libraries. RHEL7 will no longer be available after the upgrade. Join the Early User Program (no application needed) to test your workflows between June 23 and July 27, 2025 (tentative). See this page for more information: https://www.osc.edu/resources/technical_support/supercomputers/pitzer/pitzer_os_upgrade_and_early_user_program

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