PPPL Unix Cluster

Chapter 1: Introduction

The PPPL Unix Cluster is a collection of Unix computers available for general use. This document gives some basic information on how to use the Unix Cluster.

The computers discussed in this document are paid for by the taxpayer, used by many people, and connected to the Internet. Since these computers are used in research, relatively few restrictions are placed on the way you use these computers. Thus, as a user of these computers you have certain obligations:

Make sure you pick a good password (see Passwords). We need to be sure that only authorized users gain access to the computers. Passwords are the main line of defense against computer abuse. A password that is too short or is a common word can be guessed by malicious outsiders.
Please be judicious in your use of the computers. It's easy, for example, to overwhelm the network, fill up the disks, etc. If someone notices you doing this, you may be asked to modify your behavior. We'll try to find other ways for you to accomplish your work efficiently.