HPC/Module naming scheme 2016

Configuration files used

You have files: .bashrc and …		Remark	CentOS-5 uses		CentOS-6 uses
			module names	files	module names	files
–	–	Starting situation.	old	.bashrc only	new	.bashrc only
–	.modules-el6	Switch over, recommended.	new	.modules-el6 and .bashrc		.modules-el6 and .bashrc
.modules-el5	–	Avoid! – file ignored on EL6.	old	.modules-el5 and .bashrc		.bashrc only
.modules-el5	.modules-el6	For advanced users.	old	.modules-el5 and .bashrc		.modules-el6 and .bashrc

Configuration steps

New-style modules only (recommended)

To switch over to new hierarchical module names on both CentOS releases it's perhaps easiest to continue making all your module choices in ~/.bashrc, but you have to signal on the older platform to use the new module style:

1. Create a customization file for new names, but leave it empty (you'll configure your choices in the next step). Use the command:

   touch ~/.modules-el6
   

2. Edit your .bashrc file and update your module selections as follows:
   • Remove version numbers from module names of the old-style packagename/version, leaving only packagename. This is the recommended approach, as you will automatically benefit from future versions.
   • To insist on a specific version for a package affected by the new-style names, use the form packagename/compilername/version or packagename/mpiname/compilername/version as appropriate. To see available flavors and versions, separately run the command module avail packagename.

Alternatively:

1. Keep a copy of your previous module selections in a conspicuously named but unused file, e.g., .modules-el5.inactive.
2. Adapt the file to new module names.
3. Remove all previous module customizations from ~/.bashrc.

cd ~
grep module .bashrc > .modules-el5.inactive
cp .modules-el5.inactive .modules-el6

vi .modules-el6    # adapt module names
vi .bashrc         # remove all lines with "module" commands

CentOS-dependent module selection

If you encounter difficulties with making your module selection work in both CentOS-5 and CentOS-6, use separate configurations:

1. Move all your previous module commands from .bashrc to ~/.modules-el5, where they will apply only on CentOS-5.
2. Place all your module selections for CentOS-6 in ~/.modules-el6. Get started using the contents of the .*-el5 version.