Container Platform Overview

Our container platform is based on Kubernetes orchestrator and docker container images. We have adopted rancher Kubernetes distribution, so our platform UI is available through Rancher dashboard. Currently, the platform is built on Linux and x86_64 binary architecture (no Arm or Microsoft Windows is possible), we provide GPU accelerators (currently only NVIDIA), and SSD storage. We also provide InfiniBand 100Gbps and 200Gbps interconnect networks between selected nodes.

In general, this platform can be used for almost anything, starting with a simple web application, see the hello world example, to running a full remote desktop, see the ansys application, or running a complex workflow pipeline, see the nextflow example.

This platform offers users to focus solely on their applications, so that required knowledge comprises of using the application or containerizing the application only. In the latter case, knowledge of creating dockerfiles is required (see dockerfile section). However, almost no knowledge of infrastructure is needed such as mounting NFS and so on.

Academic affiliation or sponsored account is required to use this platform. Users can log in via CESNET AAI, Elixir AAI or EGI AAI. No additional membership is required for a standard project with limited resources.

End user can use this platform in the following three ways:

1. Use pre-built applications through the infrastructure, see Rancher Applications in the navigation on the left.

2. Leverage existing Docker images from around the world hosted on a registry such as hub.docker.com, in this case see limitations.

3. Advanced users can also create their own application, see dockerfile section.