---
title: Accessing Slurm Cluster
#tags:
keywords: slurm, batch system, merlin5, merlin6, gmerlin6, cpu, gpu
last_updated: 07 September 2022
#summary: ""
sidebar: merlin6_sidebar
permalink: /merlin6/slurm-access.html
---

## The Merlin Slurm clusters

Merlin contains a multi-cluster setup, where multiple Slurm clusters coexist under the same umbrella.
It basically contains the following clusters:

* The **Merlin6 Slurm CPU cluster**, which is called [**`merlin6`**](/merlin6/slurm-access.html#merlin6-cpu-cluster-access).
* The **Merlin6 Slurm GPU cluster**, which is called [**`gmerlin6`**](/merlin6/slurm-access.html#merlin6-gpu-cluster-access).
* The *old Merlin5 Slurm CPU cluster*, which is called [**`merlin5`**](/merlin6/slurm-access.html#merlin5-cpu-cluster-access), still supported in a best effort basis.

## Accessing the Slurm clusters

Any job submission must be performed from a **Merlin login node**. Please refer to the [**Accessing the Interactive Nodes documentation**](/merlin6/interactive.html)
for further information about how to access the cluster.

In addition, any job *must be submitted from a high performance storage area visible by the login nodes and by the computing nodes*. For this, the possible storage areas are the following:
* `/data/user`
* `/data/project`
* `/shared-scratch`
Please, avoid using `/psi/home` directories for submitting jobs.

### Merlin6 CPU cluster access

The **Merlin6 CPU cluster** (**`merlin6`**) is the default cluster configured in the login nodes. Any job submission will use by default this cluster, unless 
the option `--cluster` is specified with another of the existing clusters.

For further information about how to use this cluster, please visit: [**Merlin6 CPU Slurm Cluster documentation**](/merlin6/slurm-configuration.html).

### Merlin6 GPU cluster access

The **Merlin6 GPU cluster** (**`gmerlin6`**) is visible from the login nodes. However, to submit jobs to this cluster, one needs to specify the option `--cluster=gmerlin6` when submitting a job or allocation.

For further information about how to use this cluster, please visit: [**Merlin6 GPU Slurm Cluster documentation**](/gmerlin6/slurm-configuration.html).

### Merlin5 CPU cluster access

The **Merlin5 CPU cluster** (**`merlin5`**) is visible from the login nodes. However, to submit jobs 
to this cluster, one needs to specify the option `--cluster=merlin5` when submitting a job or allocation.

Using this cluster is in general not recommended, however this is still available for old users needing
 extra computational resources or longer jobs. Have in mind that this cluster is only supported in a 
**best effort basis**, and it contains very old hardware and configurations.

For further information about how to use this cluster, please visit the [**Merlin5 CPU Slurm Cluster documentation**](/gmerlin6/slurm-configuration.html).