STAR at the SCDF¶

The SCDF provides the computing, storage, and batch resources for the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). STAR users log in through the SCDF SSH gateways to dedicated STAR interactive nodes, run batch jobs on the HTCondor pool, and use the rhic.bnl.gov AFS cell and the shared SCDF storage systems.

For STAR software, analysis frameworks, and collaboration-specific documentation, see the STAR collaboration website (external).

Getting Started¶

• Start here: Accounts — Requesting an SCDF account. Specify STAR as your experiment on the request form.
• SSH Gateways — All logins pass through the SCDF SSH gateways
• Accessing Interactive Nodes — Connect through the gateway to a STAR node (see below)

Interactive Nodes¶

See the example ~/.ssh/config for ProxyJump setup through the gateway.

Batch Computing¶

• HTCondor — Batch system for STAR analysis jobs. Submit from the starsub nodes.
• HTCondor Policy Changes — Do not require CPU_Experiment == "star" in job requirements
• CRS Batch Software — Production reconstruction system used by STAR (selected users). STAR CRS jobs submit from rcrsuser3; see CRS Job Information and CRS User Administration.

Storage¶

• AFS — STAR area at /afs/rhic.bnl.gov/star in the rhic.bnl.gov cell. Tokens via klog.krb5 against the RHIC.BNL.GOV Kerberos realm.
• Storage — GPFS, dCache, HPSS, and transfer tools

Grid¶

• Obtaining a Grid Certificate — Includes STAR-specific values for the certificate request form
• Installing a Grid Certificate
• Joining the STAR VO — STAR VOMS enrollment

Collaboration Services¶

• Git Services — STAR Gitea at https://git.racf.bnl.gov/gitea/STAR/; members of the star group have read/write access
• Email — RHIC users' mail is served from rcf.rhic.bnl.gov

Help¶

• Help & Support — Open an RT ticket. Mention STAR as your experiment so the request is routed correctly.