MSI User Documentation
The Minnesota Supercomputing Institute (MSI) provides high performance computing, interactive computing, data storage, software, and research support for eligible faculty, staff, and students at the University of Minnesota.
This site focuses on how to use MSI systems day to day. For account requests, eligibility, service descriptions, and policy information, use the main MSI website.
Note
MSI systems are only accessible from the UMN network. On campus, connect to eduroam or wired ethernet. Off campus, connect to the UMN VPN before attempting to log in.
More information on our support staff can be found on this page.
Tip
Requests for additional topics or questions can be directed to our email help@msi.umn.edu.
Start Here
If you are new to MSI, this sequence covers the basics:
Get Started with MSI for account eligibility, PI groups, and allocations.
Use MyMSI for group management, user agreements, primary group changes, and account settings.
Learn MSI terminology for common terms such as partitions, modules, and Tier 1/Tier 2 storage.
Choose a connection method to use Open OnDemand, SSH, X11, or Citrix. Most new users should start with Open OnDemand.
Connect to interactive compute or submit Slurm jobs for batch workloads.
Review storage options and software access before moving data or building environments.
Common Tasks
If you were recently invited to join an MSI project, we recommend visiting these pages to get familiar with connecting and performing data transfers into MSI systems.
Open OnDemand support for browser-based desktops, shell access, file management, and interactive applications.
Connecting to Compute to access running jobs from login nodes, Open OnDemand, or VS Code.
Job sizing and resource efficiency to request the right amount of CPU, memory, and time.
Using a private partition for labs with dedicated compute nodes and lab-specific queues.
File Storage for a comparison of home, project, scratch, and Tier 2 storage options.
MSI software catalog to find installed applications and module names.
MSI tutorials and the MSI YouTube channel for live and recorded training.
Access and Services
Request MSI access if you are an eligible UMN faculty member.
Review MSI getting started information for eligibility and onboarding details.
Learn about MSI high performance computing and data storage services.
See the MSI service catalog for purchasable or specialized services.
Getting Help
Use the search box in the left sidebar to quickly find commands, references, and how-to pages.
Visit MSI Support Staff for ticket guidance, office hours, phone support, and support channels.
Check the MSI status page for maintenance notices and current service issues.
Email help@msi.umn.edu to open a support ticket if you cannot find an answer here.
MSI staff schedule hybrid instructional sessions year round on a range of topics. Recorded sessions are posted on the MSI YouTube Channel
Getting Started
Compute
Storage