Problems with /var mounting on HPC

[danudwary]

Hi there. This is a suggestion to solve a problem that probably only affects me. On our HPC machines at NERSC, we cannot use Docker for security and compatibility reasons, and use an alternative called Shifter. The evomining container won't work at this time, because Shifter prevents mounts to /var, and I get root-related errors when it tries to create the /var/www/html/EvoMining/exchange dir, and, I'm assuming, other later actions. I assume this may also be an issue with Singularity, and any other HPC-capable Docker-alikes, but I'm unable to test.

If you were to move this all out of var and into, say, someplace not normally controlled by root, /data or something, it would be helpful. To me. I recognize this won't be a priority. :) So, consider it a gentle suggestion.

[nselem]

Hello, Im considering a conda version of EvoMining. Will that be helpful to you ? Will you join me in a hackaton?

[danudwary]

A conda package would be very helpful, yes! I'm afraid I don't know much about how to produce packages, but I'm happy to help test.

[jthiels]

Hi, it's not only you-- on many if not all HPC clusters you can't use Docker because of security issues. Here at the University of Michigan, we use Singularity currently on the Great Lakes cluster. A conda environment would be very welcome! Any movement on this?

[nselem]

No doubt this is an issue, I'm working on it, but at a very slow pace. We will hold a hackathon in June 4-10, If you have time and would you like to join you are welcome. I will let you know if we succeed