Matlab use cases

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Some use cases describing how to offload MATLAB computation to the cluster.

Use MATLAB on a compute node via VNC

This entails running a MATLAB client (GUI) via VNC on a compute node on Cheaha.

This is a typical use case in the following scenarios

  1. Computation needs to be offloaded to a compute node on the cluster to free the user's desktop for development
  2. Computation is too large to be performed on the user's desktop and needs more resources

The vnc session needs to be setup in two stages as described in Setting_Up_VNC_Session.

It will open a vnc window with a terminal on the cheaha.

To portforward and login to a compute node use the following command from the terminal in the vnc session

$ qlogin -l vf=memory,h_rt=hr:min:sec

Load the mathworks module and start matlab

$ module load mathworks/R2012a 
$ matlab

MATLAB will now start interactively in the VNC session and is running on the compute node on Cheaha.


MATLAB Support / Mailing List

As with any application or computer language, learning to use MATLAB to analyze data or to develop or modify MATLAB applications is an individual responsibility. There is ample application documentation available from the Mathworks website, potential outreach to colleagues who also use MATLAB, and options for consultation with Mathworks. Mathworks also host on-campus training seminars several times a year and provides many on-line learning tutorials.

Installation support for MATLAB at UAB is provided by your local IT support organization and the Docs wiki.

Mathworks Website

Your first and best option for application-specific questions on MATLAB is to refer to the on-line MATLAB documentation. The Mathworks site also provides a a support matrix and an on-line knowledge base.

UAB MATLAB Wiki

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Contributing to the wiki is as easy as clicking the login link on the top-right of the page and signing in with your UAB BlazerID. If you are unsure about making an edit, you can make suggestions for improvement on the page's Discussion tab or discuss the proposed improvement in the MATLAB user group.

UAB MATLAB User Group

At UAB, MATLAB installation support is provided by your local IT support group. Support for application specific questions is available from peers in your research group. We realize that some people are not as familiar with MATLAB as others. For this reason, we have established a MATLAB user forum (mailing list) where users of MATLAB at UAB can help answer each others questions.

This is a network of volunteers sharing their knowledge with peers. You are encouraged to reach out to this community for questions on using MATLAB by

Archives of MATLAB user group discussions are available on-line at https://vo.uabgrid.uab.edu/sympa/arc/matlab-user. You may find your question is already answered in these archives.


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