Computing @ CERN

Getting a CERN and ATLAS Computing Account

To obtain a CERN and ATLAS account you will need to be registered on the CERN HR database, for which see Craig Buttar (Room 482, c.buttar@physics.gla.ac.uk). Once you are registered with CERN you must contact the Computing Group Administrator (for our group, ZP, this is Claire Gibon, Claire.Massip@cern.ch, or you can use Atlas.Secretariat@cern.ch) and sign the electronic Computer Centre User Registration Form. You will then receive a login and initial password (which should be changed), and these will allow you to access your account almost immediately. You have three days to complete the CERN computing security course and confirm that you have read and accepted the CERN Computing Rules, after which your account will have been fully activated. There are several forms that you need to complete in order to become a member of ATLAS, all the information is available on the Atlas Registration Page. The two forms are namely:

• Atlas Registration Form (.pdf)
• CERN Registration Form

Sometimes, the administration at CERN are busy processing applications for CERN accounts and ATLAS accounts. If you need an account urgently, it is advisable to write an email or call them to explain your situation. The official email address is atlas.secretariat@cern.ch and the phone number is + 41 22 767 42 79. Connie Potter and Shamila Silbert Urwicz are good contacts to be aware of. But, it is possible that one or the other will leave the secretariat sometime in the future. For this reason, it is better to write to atlas.secretariat@cern.ch. You might also consult the current ATLAS Secretariat webpage for more information, which you can find within the ATLAS webpages.

If you wish to check whether you are on the ATLAS members' list (before attempting to activate your account) you may check the full members list or this search utility. If you are asked for a login, the "generic ATLAS credentials" are to be used (ask if you do not know what this means).

-- MichaelWright- 13 Oct 2009

Running at CERN, on lxplus is an alternative to running Athena jobs locally.

Getting an account (on lxplus)

Everything you ever wanted to know about setting up an account on lxplus but were afraid to ask, can be found here:

• ATLAS Workbook - Getting an Account

YOU MUST BE AN ATLAS USER TO SET UP AN ACCOUNT ON LXPLUS. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE AN ACCOUNT, FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS ABOVE.

For new group members, Craig Buttar will sign your registration forms. If you are a student, your Funding Council Contract and a letter from the head of group, Tony Doyle should be evidence enough of your association to the department.

Using your lxplus account

Everything else you want to know about running at CERN, on lxplus, can be found on the Atlas Beginner's Workbook. This tends to be kept up-to-date, for latest releases etc, and is maintained by Steve Lloyd . You can log in to lxplus as follows:

ssh [CERNusername]@lxplus.cern.ch

or (for SLC5)

ssh [CERNusername]@lxplus5.cern.ch

or (for SLC4)

ssh [CERNusername]@lxplus4.cern.ch

then you can check your mail there (and forward it if necessary back to Glasgow) by typing pine

-- CatherineWright - 28 Jul 2008