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HPC Reference

Key technical information for using UCT HPC

This section provides factual, system-specific information about the UCT High Performance Computing (HPC) service.

Use this section to:

  • look up hostnames, storage paths, and system behaviour
  • understand how the scheduler works
  • check software availability and module usage
  • review GPU access conditions
  • understand service policies and constraints

What this section includes

Access and hostnames

Information about:

  • how to connect to HPC
  • login hostnames
  • on-campus and off-campus access requirements

Storage and file systems

Details about:

  • /home and /scratch
  • what each storage area is for
  • storage limits and expected usage

Scheduler and job submission

Reference information about:

  • how jobs are managed
  • scheduler concepts (queues, resources)
  • job output behaviour

GPU access and partitions

Information about:

  • GPU-enabled resources
  • how GPU access is granted
  • relevant constraints and expectations

Software and modules

Details about:

  • available software environments
  • how software is organised on the system
  • module system basics

Graphical applications

Information about:

  • running graphical tools on HPC
  • X11 forwarding and limitations

Policies and service conditions

Key rules and expectations, including:

  • acceptable use
  • restrictions on usage
  • responsibilities of users

How this differs from other sections

  • Services (HPC) → explains what HPC is and when to use it
  • How-to guides → show how to complete specific tasks
  • Reference (this section) → provides the technical details you may need while working

When to use this section

Use this section when:

  • you need exact system details
  • you want to understand how something works under the hood
  • you are troubleshooting or configuring workflows

If you are trying to complete a task, start with:


  • HPC service overview → Services > HPC
  • Running analyses → Tasks
  • Step-by-step guides → How-to
  • Getting help → Support