Computer Lab

NOTE: as of 2006-04-14 -- the CSCS lab is NOT in 1712 Chemistry.

The CSCS computer lab is located in 1712 Chemistry Building, on just off the north east corner of the Diag. This lab has (a) a drop-in lab of "first-come first-serve" computers, (b) some computers reserved for IDEAS/IGERT and other CSCS affiliated graduate students, (c) a small collection of complex systems related books, including books used in our courses like CSCS 501, (d) some conference rooms for use by students and faculty, and (e) an open lounge area for students to meet, with coffee, soda, whiteboard, etc.

The lab has about 20-24 computers, most with 20"/21" color monitors or 17-19" flat screens, open ethernet jacks and a wireless network for user laptops with DHCP.

All university students, faculty and staff are eligible for accounts on the CSCS computers. In general, accounts for use of the CSCS computers are given only for pedagogical, training and instructional purposes. Users may develop and run their own software for the modeling or analysis of complex systems on the CSCS computers. However, because of our limited resources, the CSCS computers may be used for large-scale modeling or analysis only after obtaining permission and discussing resource utilization with the Lab staff.

Overall the CSCS computer facilities currently includes (approximately) 30-25 Pentium-based machines running Linux (Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS v.4 as of Summer 2005). The machines range from dual processor PIII 500's (slow now!) to dual processor Xeon 3.4 GHz, as well as a few single processor machines. All of our Linux machines are able to connect to a Windows 2000 remote desktop via Windows Terminal Services.

The Lab provides shared, common disk space for all (user and system) applications and data. The lab has a duplex color postscript laser printer, two duplex black and white postscript laser printers, and an Epson projector. Currently the system has about 140G of backed-up disk space, and over 2TB of scratch space. User files are mirrored daily to an additional disk space, and backed up weekly to tape (which is kept for 14 weeks). The lab also provides a 2G jazz drive, 3 zip disk drives, and multiple CD writers.

The lab also has a number of hardcopy computer programming books, as well as books on many aspects of complex systems studies, e.g., dynamical systems, evolutionary computation, and so on. These books are for use in the lab, and some may be checked out for short periods.

For more information about CSCS hardware, software, policies, help pages, and so on, see the online documentation for the lab.

For more information about the software the lab provides, press here. To obtain an account, please contact cscslab@umich.edu. For information about CSCS computer lab introductory workshops, press here.

NOTE WELL: As of 10 Sept 2005:
We have just moved into the new space in 1217 Chemistry, so we do not yet have a telephone or set hours. We will get this worked out in the next few weeks. Please bear with us in this "chaotic" transition period!

Open Lab (1712 Chemistry):        (734) 936 - 5778
Conference Area (4472 Randall):   (734) 936 - 5804
Research Lab (4477 Randall):      (734) 763 - 3323

Monday: 10am - 11am, 12pm - 5pm
Tuesday: 9am - 12pm, 1pm - 6pm
Wednesday: 10am - 11am, 12pm - 6pm
Thursday: 10am - 6pm
Friday: 10am-11am, 12pm - 6pm

If you get into the lab before the Admins leave and lock the doors, you may stay as late as you would like. 
Please contact cscs.admins@umich.edu if you would like to request that the lab be open for any specific time and we will work to accomodate you.

Note: The Open Lab will be used for class Tuesday 3:30pm - 5:00pm every other week starting September 13th, 2005.

Often the Lab is open other times, when someone with a key is in the Lab. However, the Chemistry Building doors are locked about 7.30pm and on Sundays.

Please ask Howard Oishi or whoever is in the CSCS Office (4485 Randall) to open the lab during early mornings. If you are in before 5:00pm, you can stay as long as you like. If someone does stay after 5:00pm, you may be able to get in after 5:00pm (but note the building doors are locked at 7.30pm).

Announcements of known deviations from the schedule will appear on this page. You can also call the CSCS office staff at 763-3301 to ask if there are any changes in the schedule.

Here are the onsite system administrators and their hours in the lab. Email them with any questions at cscs.admins@fiore.cscs.lsa.umich.edu

Winter/Spring SysAdmin 2006 Lab Hours

Monday 1pm - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 12pm, 1pm - 5pm
Wednesday 1pm - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 12pm, 1pm - 5pm
Friday 12pm - 6pm

Monday 10am-11am, 12pm-5pm
Tuesday 9am-10am, 2:30pm-6pm
Wednesday 10am-11am, 12pm-5pm
Thursday 9am-1pm, 2:30pm-6pm
Friday 10am-11am, 1pm-5pm

CSCS would like to gratefully acknowledge support from Intel Corporation, which has provided three of the Pentium-based computers in our Lab, as part of the CAR project.

CSCS would also like to gratefully acknowledge support from the National Science Foundation, which has provided a number of computers, a file server and other hardware in the CSCS Lab, as part of the IDEAS-IGERT program.