UTEP Research Data Center Documentation
Welcome to the University of Texas at El Paso Research Data Center Documentation Site
The Research Data Center (RDC) is located on the third floor of the Engineering complex between the Classroom and Engineering buildings. It is available to all faculty and academic departments that require high-quality facilities and services for research and academic computing.
The RADC at the University of Texas at El Paso supports research and academic computing by offering high-performance infrastructure and services to faculty and students. Located on the 3rd floor of the Engineering complex, the center provides:
High-Performance Computing
The High Performance Computing (HPC) services are specialized to meet the current and upcoming requirements of UTEP’s researchers. These services allow all researchers and colleges to access computing resources for very complex data analysis, solving numerical problems and execute any scientific software code as needed. The infrastructure offers industry strength hard and software technology with easy to use interfaces. UTEP HPC shares knowledge and collaborates with established HPC centers such as TACC at UT Austin.
Clusters
Three HPC clusters. JAKAR includes 3,048 cores and 28 TB of RAM. PARO provides 1,216 cores and 11.5 TB of RAM. PUNAKHA is a GPU-accelerated system with 12 GPUs, tailored for AI, machine learning, and simulation tasks. All clusters run RHEL 9.2, use SLURM v3 for scheduling, and integrate OpenHPC for software management.
Software
UTEP’s HPC clusters use OpenHPC v3 and SLURM v3 for software and job management. They support tools like MATLAB, Python, R, MPI, and ABAQUS. Containerization is available, and Jupyter Notebooks are supported for interactive workflows.
Tutorial
UTEP HPC provides tutorials covering account setup, job submission with SLURM, module usage, and software environments. Additional guides include using containers, running Jupyter Notebooks, and best practices for efficient HPC usage.
Resource & Monitor Links
Access to resources and system monitoring tools, including XDMoD, through our dedicated Resources & Monitoring webpage. This page provides real-time insights into cluster performance and useful links for user support and documentation.
Central Research Storage
UTEP offers an on-premise Central Research Storage (CRS) solution that meets research storage needs. This cluster solution supports Windows shares, Linux shares, and GPFS storage for HPC. It utilizes a Distributed Filesystem (DFS) to provide high availability access, avoiding downtime typically associated with traditional single file servers during updates. It is managed and supported by central IT, researchers can request storage space including backup services.
Linux Shares (NFS)
NFS (Network File System) is widely used at UTEP to provide shared storage access across all Linux-based systems, including HPC clusters and individual workstations. It allows users to access home directories, project folders, and shared software from any connected Linux system. This ensures centralized data management, consistency, and easier collaboration.
Windows Shares (SMB)
SMB (Server Message Block) shares are used at UTEP to provide network file access primarily for Windows systems, but they are also accessible from Linux and macOS with proper configuration. These shares allow users to access shared folders, departmental drives, and collaborative storage with familiar file explorer interfaces. SMB is ideal for cross-platform environments and supports user authentication and access control.
Requests
The UTEP offers an on-premise Central Research Storage solution that meets research storage needs. This cluster solution supports SMB, NFS, and GPFS storage for HPC. It utilizes a Distributed Filesystem (DFS) to provide high availability access, avoiding downtime typically associated with traditional single file servers during updates.
Restoration
Here you will find guidance on the university's supported backup platforms for faculty and staff. This service provides secure, reliable backup and recovery for critical data and servers.
Research & Academic Data Center
The Research & Academic Data Center (RADC) is your central hub for advanced computing and data resources. We are dedicated to providing the tools and support necessary for faculty, researchers, and students to excel in their respective fields. Within these pages, you'll find detailed information on our services, including research data management, and how they can help you achieve your goals.
RADC Software
UTEP offers a broad selection of software for both HPC clusters and hosted servers, including tools like MATLAB, Python, R, MPI, and ABAQUS. Software environments are managed to support academic and research needs, with modules or custom installations available upon request. Container support ensures compatibility and portability across systems.
Server Hosting
UTEP’s Research Data Center offers server hosting for faculty and academic departments needing reliable infrastructure. Services include rack space for rack-mountable servers, network connectivity, UPS backup, cooling, and physical security. Departments retain full admin rights, with optional support available for OS maintenance, monitoring, and backups.
Procedures
UTEP provides documented procedures to guide users through requesting server hosting, setting up virtual machines, and managing software environments. These procedures ensure consistency, security, and efficiency in system usage. Step-by-step instructions are available for tasks such as job submission, data transfers, and system access requests.
Virtual Resources
UTEP offers additional virtual resources such as virtual machines for research, instructional use, and service hosting. These VMs can be tailored to specific needs, including OS type, CPU, memory, and storage requirements. Support is available for setup, maintenance, and integration with existing research workflows.