Induction Week
Overview of Physics Computing
Ian McArthur - Physics IT Manager
6th October 2014
Organisation of Physics IT support
Most of IT support is centralised, i.e. shared across the whole
department.
Central covers general desktop support (windows, Mac OSX, Linux),
email, network, databases, web etc – things that can be effectively
shared across the department.
There is some sub-department support which is generally for
computational work, Linux based. Some sub-departments such as
PP have their own Linux support staff supporting their own
computing clusters and subject specific applications.
Particle Physics IT strategy
Desktops as general purpose devices (mainly MS windows some Linux)
Access to centralised compute and data servers – clients use X-windows,
SSH or RDP to connect to interactive sessions on the servers.
Provides access to the widest range of applications – familiar desktop
interface.
Desktop systems are provided in the Oxford offices at remote sites (CERN),
laptops for those travelling regularly if they have a good case (usually year 2
onwards).
Provide local compute farms for final-stage analyses, rapid turn around and
interactive work (known as the local cluster, or tier-3) – large runs are done
on the grid.
Most of LHC reconstruction and Monte Carlo should be grid based.
Currently about 544 cores and 600TB in local cluster, about 1768 cores and
1300TB in local tier-2 grid resources.
We make all necessary services available remotely, e.g. email (including
web based), ssh to compute servers, remote file access etc.
PP Training and Support
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There is help for new Particle Physics students at
http://www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/research/particle-physics/particle-physicscomputer-support
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Local PP courses
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Two double Lectures starting in Mid October. These attempt to get you
using the local facilities effectively and as quickly as possible. We try to
concentrate on the specifics of PP applications and the Oxford systems . 1:
Overview, 2:Local Cluster, 3:Large Scale Computing 4:Python and pyROOT
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2 Introduction to Programming in C/C++ in weeks 1 and 2. Please sign up
with s.brisbane1@physics.ox.ac.uk if interested)
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More advanced object-orientated programming workshops in week 9.
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We will circulate information on other courses at IT services, RAL etc whenever we
hear of them.
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Use generic email addresses to ask for help with PP Linux systems
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pp_unix_admin@physics.ox.ac.uk (Linux)
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See the Introductory Computing Manual (http://wwwpnp.physics.ox.ac.uk/~west/intro_manual/intro_manual.html) which you should work
through online.
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Library of computing books (Room 661)
Who does what in IT ?
Central
Or PP
Main tasks
Ian McArthur
C
IT Manager
Pete Gronbech
P
GridPP UK project manager
Ewan MacMahon
P
GridPP admin
Kashif Mohammad
P
PP & Grid Support
Sean Brisbane
P
PP system Admin and PP user support
Stig Topp-Jorgensen
P
PP data acquisition systems
John Harris
C
Windows System administration
Richard Smith
C
IT Support – Mainly OSX some Windows
Russell Allcock
C
IT Support – windows desktops, printing, user support etc
Chris Hunter
C
Network Manager and Anti-Virus
David Newton
C
Network support
Russell Jones
C
IT Support - General
John Macallister
C
IT Support (Clarendon)
Greg Agacinski
C
Web development
Martin Carter
C
IT Support (Astrophysics)
Mark Munro
C
Linux system admin AOPP and central services
Bernard West
C
Database and Web applications
John Harris
Richard Smith
Russell Allcock
Chris Hunter
David Newton
General IT Support, Desktops,
Printing, laptops etc
Network Support
Room 667
Room 663
Pete Gronbech
Kashif Mohammad
Stig Topp-Jorgensen
Ewan Macmahon
Sean Brisbane
Particle Physics Linux, Grid etc
Data Acquisition
Room 661
Room 662
Physics IT Services (SLD)
IT Shop
Client hardware support (standard systems)
Client Software Support (standardised installs)
Client Application Support (common applications)
Network Provision
Anti-virus
Home folder storage
Shared services/applications (Email, printing, code repositories, remote access
servers, Wikis, Ticket tracking etc)
Cost Recovered Services (Virtual machines, web servers, storage and compute
servers)
User support related to the above services
Web applications and databases
Hardware support for Project based computing (advice on standard hardware)
Software support for Project based computing (compilers etc)
Software Licensing – some can be used at home. Always check conditions with IT
support staff if you are unsure.
Media Services Unit
Poster printing
Bulk printing
Photography
Meeting Room/Lecture Theatre support
Videoconferencing systems (room and desktop/laptop
based)
Desktop and Laptop image loading
Steve Lee
Darren Wallace
Duncan Vivian
General Training and Support
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Courses at the University IT services(apply early)
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Use support information on the web. Please check FAQs before going to IT support staff – it’ll
make you popular!
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We want to improve the web pages – please tell us what you’d like to see there. (start at
http://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/it)
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Use generic email addresses to ask for help
itsupport@physics.ox.ac.uk (windows + general queries)
network@physics.ox.ac.uk (network)
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OU IT services (OUCS) offer a number of computing courses suitable for various levels. You can
browse these at http://www.it.ox.ac.uk/courses/. Log-in requires your campus SSO account, (user
name of the format abcd1234), which should have been provided to you by your college. None of
you are signed up to any of these automatically.
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For those of you that are quite new to Linux, we recommend that you sign up to
one or more of their introduction to Linux courses.
Accounts
Physics Network account

Login to most central physics services (all operating systems)
MS Windows , Apple OSX and Linux desktops
VPN (remote tunnelling into our network)
web pages that require authentication or for editing
Connection to the department’s wireless network (physics_s)
Etc etc
PP Unix login
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Only required to log in to older PP Linux servers and desktops in the cryo lab.
Grid certificate

To allow you access to grid resources worldwide (and local)
University Single Sign On (SSO)
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University mail system (nexus)
Various campus wide services (e.g. VPN, WebLearn, HFS backups, wireless
services etc)
Never share account details with anyone, including us!!
Security
Access to the building – first physical barrier – Obey the rules.
Personal – don’t leave your valuables about – insurance never covers the
cost of laptops because of excesses. Insure your own.
Network – Never reveal your passwords to anyone.
Client Security
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Centralisation of management wherever possible
Reduces manpower required
Ensures minimum acceptable patch levels
Un-trusted machines (e.g. self-managed laptops) are placed on a separate
network and given similar access right to systems anywhere on the internet.
Backups (data security)
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Windows and UNIX system backed up weekday nights
Data disks are often too large to be backed up. So keep your data in the right
place to take advantage of this valuable service.
Don’t be tempted to keep your files on local system disks or laptops.
If you aren’t sure, please ask, don’t wait for a disaster.
Email
The Department has own Exchange system but this is running down
over the next few years in favour of the campus system NEXUS. All
new mailboxes after Sep 2014 (including yours !) will be on NEXUS.
You will probably have been given a college email address and you
will also have an @physics.ox.ac.uk address which we set to
forward to the same mailbox on NEXUS.
Nonetheless, please be careful to make sure you’re reading all your
mailboxes, or forwarding all to one place.
Please assume that your physics.ox.ac.uk will always be forwarded
to NEXUS. If you want to forward onto some external provider such
as gmail, hotmail etc, then this can be done on NEXUS.
Do’s and Don’ts
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Get to know the IT support staff. They are here to help you to do your work more
effectively. Help the IT support staff to help you. Feedback is very important !
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Always contact IT support staff if you need
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More network connections
A system moved
A system fixed or upgraded
New software installed
Make IT related purchases (software or hardware)
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Never attempt to connect any system to the wired network without permission of IT
support staff who will provide the necessary configuration details.
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Use the web pages (FAQs) to try to solve problems. Try
http:///www.physics.ox.ac.uk/it OR
http://www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/research/particle-physics/particle-physics-computer-support
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Check licensing terms and conditions before running any software on your privately
owned systems
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Be aware of all the rules and policies in place…….
Misuse
Unacceptable behaviour includes but isn’t limited to
attempting to gain unauthorised access to a facility;
making offensive material available over the Web;
generating, sending or downloading/viewing pornographic material;
using someone else's username and/or password;
disregarding the privacy of other people's files;
giving your username or password to someone else, or being otherwise careless with
them;
generating messages which appear to originate with someone else, or otherwise
attempting to impersonate someone else;
sending messages which are abusive or a nuisance or otherwise distressing;
displaying offensive material in a public place;
introducing programs with malicious intent;
trying to interfere with someone else's use of the facilities;
disregard for "computer etiquette";
sending chain email;
being wasteful of resources;
software piracy (including infringement of software licences or copyright provisions)
never download copyrighted material, it could end up with you being sent down!)
using the facilities for commercial gain without explicit authorisation;
physically damaging or otherwise interfering with facilities.
IT Policies
All University policies are on the web at
http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/lso/statutes/
See
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Computer Usage Rules and Etiquette
Data Protection: University Policy
Freedom of Information Policy
Information Security Policy (more info will be circulated shortly)
Information Technology: Regulations Relating to the Use of Information Technology
Facilities
These refer to legal requirements and other external policies such as use of
the academic network (JANET) and software licensing agreements.
Physics Department policy adopts the above and adds a few internal
policies. Please see
http://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/IT/general/policies/
Information Security Policy
Department must
1. Put policy and structure in place
deal with reviews and issues (a
small group has been formed)
2. Identify all sensitive information
and perform risk assessments.
3. Take necessary steps to protect
sensitive or valuable information.
4. Provide advice on when safeguards
are required and how best to use
them.
If you have data of this type,
please contact Ian McArthur.
3 RESPONSIBILITIES 5
Council 5
PRAC ICT sub-committee (PICT) 5
Heads of department 5
Users and External Parties 5
4 RISK ASSESSMENT AND THE CLASSIFICATION OF
INFORMATION 6
Risk assessment of information held 6
Personal Data 6
5 PROTECTION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND
ASSETS
6 PROTECTION OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION 7
6.1 Storage 7
6.2 Access 7
6.3 Remote access 8
6.4 Copying 8
6.5 Disposal 8
6.6 Use of portable devices or media 8
6.7 Exchange of Information and use of Email 8
6.8 Cryptographic controls 9
6.9 System planning and acceptance 9
6.10 Backup 9
6.11 Further information 9
6.12 Hard Copies 9
Protective marking 9
Storage 9
Removal 9
Transmission 10
Disposal 10
6.13 Enforcement 10
7 COMPLIANCE 10
Contents of University Policy Doc
Checklist
Done ?
Task
Check your Physics and SSO credentials, activate SSO, change
passwords.
Check Email to all accounts, forward where necessary.
Understand University and Department policies concerning use of IT.
Learn how to use the web site.
http://www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/it-new/central-physics-website/newcomers-guide-to-theweb
Update profile on web site (login to your pages).
Update personal details/contact information
https://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/administration/login/
Visit new user and getting started web sites
http://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/it/newusers.htm
http://www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/research/particle-physics/particle-physics-computersupport
Work through the computing introductory manual online.
http://www-pnp.physics.ox.ac.uk/~west/intro_manual/intro_manual.html
Any Questions
?