Introduction to the module system

Objectives

  • Learn the basics of the module system which is used to access most of the software at the majority of the HPC centres in Sweden
  • Try some of the most used commands for the module system:
    • find/list software modules
    • load/unload software modules

Most programs are accessed by first loading them as a ‘module’.

Modules are:

  • used to set up your environment (paths to executables, libraries, etc.) for using a particular (set of) software package(s)
  • a tool to help users manage their Unix/Linux shell environment, allowing groups of related environment-variable settings to be made or removed dynamically
  • allows having multiple versions of a program or package available by just loading the proper module
  • are installed in a hierarchial layout. This means that some modules are only available after loading a specific compiler and/or MPI version, etc.
    • that is, the modules have prerequisites that needs to be loaded before they can be loaded.
    • Whether or not modules have prerequisites vary by center. More on this later!

Important

Take care not to use any system-installed versions of gcc, python, etc. Always use the module instead, when available!