This tutorial will cover how to use MATLAB on the Aloe supercomputer through two main approaches:
The interactive MATLAB graphical application. This is an ideal approach for new users as they become familiar with the supercomputer. This is also ideal for code that is being developed or tested before it is submitted as a batch job.
A batch job. This is a job that is submitted as a complete script and runs unattended. This is done through a
SBATCH
script.
Using the Interactive MATLAB Graphical Application
The interactive MATLAB graphical application is available through the web portal. To access this application, follow these steps:
Connect to the web portal and log on with your credentials.
Select “Interactive Apps“ in the navigation bar then select “MATLAB“.
You will be directed to a request form. This form will be used to request resources for your interactive session. An explanation of these resources can be found in this “Requesting Resources on Aloe“ guide.
Specify the resources needed for your job and select “Launch“.
You will be directed to a window with details about your job. Select “Launch MATLAB“ and the interactive MATLAB graphical application will open:
Submitting a Batch Job
Follow these steps to submit a MATLAB Batch Job:
Create the
SBATCH
script. You can create this script on your workstation and then upload it to the Aloe supercomputer. You can also create this script through the shell. To do this:Connect to the web portal and log on with your credentials.
Select “System“ in the navigation bar then select “Aloe Shell Access“. You will be prompted for your credentials and a DUO push will be sent to you.
In the command prompt, use the following commands to create a
SBATCH
script called “MATLAB_test_script.sh“.Here is an example of a MATLAB
SBATCH
script:#SBATCH -c 16 # number of TASKS #SBATCH -N 1 # keep all tasks on the same node #SBATCH --mem=120G # request 120 GB of memory #SBATCH -t 0-4 # request 4 hours of walltime module load matlab/latest # load in the lastest version of MATLAB matlab –batch hello.m # run the MATLAB file
Submit the batch job
How will I know how many and which resources to use?
Learning to use the supercomputer, like learning how to use other new technologies in your life, will take trial and error. A good starting point is to start with one core for two hours in the the interactive MATLAB graphical application as you get familiar with the supercomputer. You can also request resources to replicate your current workstation to create a baseline. Through this trial and error, you will identify what resources can better improve your computation’s performance. See the “Requesting Resources on Aloe“ guide for additional tips.