VO-specific software and modules

Introduction

VOs sometimes have a need to deploy their own software at a particular site. For this the Software Group Manager VOMS role is available. Not all VOs have this role and not all VOs with this roles are supported at each site. However, if you are an SGM for a VO which is supported at Nikhef then this HOWTO will explain how you can deploy your own software and add your own module to the available modules for the modules command.

VOMS Role

In this HOWTO the VO vlemed was chosen as the example. This VO has a role

/Role=sgm

available, which gives users who possess that role the right to install software in the VO specific software area

VO Specific software area

Normally this software area is denoted using the environment variable

VO_<VO>_SW_DIR

e.g. for vlemed it is VO_VLEMED_SW_DIR

deploy software

cd $VO_VLEMED_SW_DIR

- wget - tar xzvf

add module

mkdir -p $VO_VLEMED_SW_DIR/modules/mypackage
cd $VO_VLEMED_SW_DIR/modules/mypackage
wget modulefile

#%Module1.0#####################################################################
##
## fsl modulefile
##

proc ModulesHelp { } {
        global fslversion

        puts stderr "\tSet up the environment for FSL"
        puts stderr "\n\tVersion $fslversion\n"
}

module-whatis   "sets FSL environment"

# for Tcl script use only
set     fslversion      5.0

set fsldir      "$env(VO_VLEMED_SW_DIR)/fsl-5.0"

prepend-path    PATH    "$fsldir/bin"
setenv          FSLDIR  "$fsldir"

Use the module

• launch normal job
• check MODULEPATH

$ echo $MODULEPATH
[SNIP]:/etc/opt/vl-e/modulefiles::/data/esia/vlemed/modules

• check available modules

$ module avail
[SNIP]
------------------------------------ /data/esia/vlemed/modules -------------------------------------
fsl/5.0       mypackage/5.0

• use it:

$ module load fsl

show that it does not pick up the vlemed version:

$ module list
Currently Loaded Modulefiles:
  1) fsl/4.1.4

use

module load fsl/5.0

for that

• new packages are picked up automatically:

$ module load mypackage
$ module list
Currently Loaded Modulefiles:
  1) fsl/4.1.4       2) mypackage/5.0