What Is The HPC Driving Test?

As is common with many other HPC facilities, the University has implemented a short interactive test for anyone needing access to HPC resources.

All HPC users must pass (100% correct) the HPC driving test
You must pass this test before registering a HPC Project on Comet.
You must pass this test before you can log on to Comet, even if a member of an existing HPC Project

This is an 'open book' quiz with each question linking to the relevant documentation page.

You can take as many practice tests and live tests as needed. The intention is to ensure that new users have the knowledge required to benefit from the system without negatively impacting their own or others work, and to ensure that they know how to engage with our documentation.

The test is not meant as a detailed introduction to the HPC facilities, but to ensure that all users are aware of the absolute minimum essential knowledge needed to access and run software on the system. For more detailed introductory training, consider accessing our Training & Workshop material.

Project Owners

In the rare case that a project owner does not need to log in to the Comet system, someone who has passed the test can make a HPC Project request instead, allowing proposed owners to accept their role.

The owners of a project are intended to be administrative contacts in most cases.
A student may request a project, provided they name two staff owners (and the proposed owners support the request)

Project owners can add additional users to the HPC Project as Members, and those members can be given the Project Manager role. Project Managers in turn can manage the members of a project on behalf of the owners. Project Managers do not need to be members of staff.

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