Open OnDemand
This page provides getting started information for using Open OnDemand to access HiPerGator.
If you are working off campus, you will need to use the VPN to connect to the UF campus network using AnyConnect VPN or similar software. Please see: https://vpn.ufl.edu for additional information.
Open OnDemand
Open OnDemand is setup to provide a web interface to starting and attaching to HiPerGator jobs and it supports GUI programs, Job Status, and other interactions with HiPerGator via seamless connections through web browsers. This service is available at the following URL:
For questions or support, please open a support request with [OnDemand] in the subject.
Getting started video
Please watch our introductory video here:
Using Open on Demand on HiPerGator
[5 min, 11 sec]
This video covers the use of Open on Demand https://openondemand.org/ on HiPerGator via https://ood.rc.ufl.edu/.
- Connect to https://ood.rc.ufl.edu/
- Launch a terminal
- Launch many graphical applications like Rstudio, Matlab and Freeview
- Manage job submission
- Upload, download and edit files via your browser
To Navigate the basic functions of OnDemand, first login to https://ood.rc.ufl.edu
Once you access the dashboard, you can use the top menus to navigate.
Files
This menu will allow you to access your groups' storage areas including:
- Home
- Orange
- Blue
Jobs
This menu shows both the job status and job composer links
- Job Status: This link shows the Job status window. This queries SLRUM and shows you the current status of your pending, running, and recently completed jobs.
- Job Composer: This link allows access to the job composer if you would like to use OnDemand to run your existing SLURM scripts.
Clusters
- HiPerGator Shell Access: This link opens a terminal shell in your browser that allows access the HiPerGator
Interactive Apps
Clicking this menu will present a drop-down menu with a list of the current interactive GUI applications available within OnDemand.
If you don't see an application you need, feel free to select the "Console" application and use the HiPerGator `module load` commands to load and run your application.
My Interactive Sessions
Clicking this link will take to you a list of your currently running interactive OnDemand jobs.
Help
This link provides access to some quick links for help on HiPerGator and for OnDemand.
Logout
This link logs you out of the OnDemand page.
Starting an Interactive application
To start an interactive application, first select the application you would like to start from the "Interactive Applications menu". Then you will see a form with the SLURM options available for that application. Fill in the fields with the resources you would like allocated for this application session.
General Form Fields
Version: Select the application version This defines the version of the application you want to load.
- Number of MPI Tasks (--ntasks): recommended default, 1
- Number of CPU cores requested per MPI task (--cpus-per-task, -p): recommended default, 1
- Maximum memory requested for this job in Gigabytes (--mem, -m): recommended default, 1
- Note: If you are using advanced memory options in Additional SLURM Options below, then leave this blank.
- SLURM Account (--account, -A): recommended default, (leave blank)
- QoS (Required if custom Account is set, --qos, -q): recommended default, (leave blank)
- Time Requested for this job in hours (--time, -t): recommended default, 1
- Cluster partition (--partition, -p): Recommended default, (default)
- Generic Resource Request (--gres): Recommended default, (leave blank)
Additional SLURM Options: Recommended default, (leave blank)
You can have multiple copies of the same application running at the same time by submitting the form multiple times.
Then select "Launch" to submit your job request.
Connecting to an Interactive application
Once a job has started, you can connect using the "My Interactive Applications" menu.
- Select this menu and you will see a connection box for each application you have running and pending.
- Once the job starts, a Launch (App Name) icon will appear.
- Select this link to open a new browser window connecting you to your application.
Job Connect Card
This section outlines several of the key features of the job connect card:
- JobID: This is the SLURM JobID for this job
- Delete: This will cancel a running job, (or delete the session if the job has already ended)
- OOD Session ID: This is the unique identifier for the OOD session for this job, can be clicked to bring up the OOD log directory for troubleshooting
- Image Quality: This setting controls the quality of the visual interface at the source, use a lower setting for slower internet connections
- Compression: This setting adjusts the amount of CPU based compression used for the NoVNC connection, use higher settings for slower connections but note it will increase CPU usage on both the job and client
- Launch Button: Click this button to connect to your running job in a web-browser session
