Workstations
Linux-based workstations for the UT Dallas School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics are supported by Cyberinfrastructure Research Computing (CIRC).
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Our team does not provide support for printers. We will make a best effort attempt to set them up on Linux machines we manage but we don’t troubleshoot the printers themselves. |
Supported hardware configuration
Many different hardware configurations are supported. The following table outlines preferred configurations options to consider when purchasing:
Hardware Component |
Minimum |
Recommended |
CPU |
Quad-core Intel or AMD (64-bit) |
Hex-core+ Intel Core/Xeon or AMD Ryzen/EPYC |
Memory |
8 GB DDR3 |
32 GB DDR4 |
Storage[1] |
64 GB SSD |
512 GB NVMe |
GPU[2] |
Nvidia Kepler Architecture or any AMD |
Nvidia GTX 1650/1660, Nvidia RTX 3070/3080/3090, Quadro RTX |
Out-of-band |
Not Required |
Dell iDRAC, Supermicro BMC, HP iLO, etc. |
Network |
1GbE RJ45 LAN |
1/10GbE RJ45 LAN |
| If procuring a new Linux workstation, please email circ-assist@utdallas.edu with the details of your workloads and budget so a CIRC team member can assist in the configuration and purchasing of the system. |
Supported OS configuration
Beginning Fall 2022, all deployments of workstations will be based on the an in-house Ubuntu 20.04 image and central configuration management via Ansible. This configuration method allows CIRC team members to easily manage users, software, packages, and updates, providing better support to the user and easier administration for the CIRC team.
A benefit of utilizing the CIRC Ubuntu installation is access to the campus-wide MooseFS filesystem, as well as a large supported software stack and full-time support staff. However, note that this installation does not allow users to have administrative access due to security and audit concerns.
| If your workstation is currently running a CentOS/RedHat or older Ubuntu installation and you’d like your system redeployed to the CIRC Ubuntu installation, please email circ-assist@utdallas.edu with the hostname, IP, and administrator credentials (if applicable). |
Workstation FAQ
Can I install Python and R Packages?
Yes, most R and Python packages can be installed in userspace. If you run into dependency issues please email circ-assist@utdallas.edu following the Getting Help guidelines.
Why can’t I have administrator access?
Due to the way the systems are configured, only a limited number of people have root access to your machine. This access is mainly used for debugging specific issues. All systems administration is done via configuration management that cannot be easily and safely delegated to other individuals.
Can I set up my workstation on my own?
Yes, but note that this configuration will not be supported by CIRC and will likely not have access to the UTD Active Directory (for NetID authentication), will not have access to MooseFS, and will not be centrally managed via our configuration management.
Are there any other choices other than Ubuntu?
No, CIRC members spent many hours of testing various configurations for ease of setup, user experience, and system administration and Ubuntu was the best choice across all factors. If a RedHat derivative is needed, you can utilize containers or virtual machines to run those workloads.