SLURM

SLURM#

SLURM (Simple Linux Utility for Resource Management) is an open-source job scheduler used in most large supercomputers — including TACC — to manage who runs what, where, and when.

Think of SLURM as the traffic cop and air traffic controller for a supercomputer:

  • You ask SLURM to run your program.

  • It finds the right hardware (nodes/cores).

  • It decides when your job can run based on availability and fairness.

  • It starts your job, monitors it, and lets you know when it finishes.

What Does SLURM Do?#

  • Schedules jobs across a supercomputer cluster.

  • Allocates resources (CPU cores, memory, GPUs).

  • Queues jobs if resources aren’t currently available.

  • Monitors and tracks job progress.

  • Logs results and resource usage for accounting and reproducibility.

SLURM in DesignSafe Apps#

In DesignSafe Web Portal Apps, SLURM is completely hidden from the user — but it’s still doing all the work behind the scenes.

When you launch a job through the web interface:

  1. You select the app (OpenSees, MATLAB, Jupyter, etc.).

  2. You set parameters (e.g. number of cores, run time, input file).

  3. DesignSafe:

    • Fills in a JSON job description.

    • Maps it to a SLURM template script.

    • Submits the job via the Tapis API to TACC.

    • Monitors the run and stages files back when complete.

Behind the scenes, your job runs on a TACC machine like Stampede3, with SLURM allocating the compute resources and managing the run.

Why Learn to Write Your Own SLURM Scripts?#

Once you understand how the DesignSafe apps stage files, load modules, and run on TACC, you’re ready to take the next step: Writing and submitting SLURM job scripts directly on Stampede3 (or another TACC system).

This unlocks full flexibility:

  • Launch parameter sweeps with shell loops or job arrays

  • Fine-tune MPI or OpenMP configuration

  • Chain multiple programs (preprocessing → simulation → postprocessing)

  • Coordinate complex workflows or custom software stacks

Writing your own SLURM scripts gives you low-level control of HPC resources — perfect for advanced studies, large batch workflows, or research automation.

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