Singularity

Container is a lightweight, portable package containing software, libraries, and dependencies, which ensures consistent execution across different computing environments.

Singularity is a container tool for HPC environment, which does not required root privileges, ensuring security on shared clusters.

Key Features:

• Isolation: Runs independently from the host system
• Portability: Move software reliably between systems
• Efficiency: Minimal overhead compared to virtual machines

Use Case:

• Minimize dependency conflicts
• Rapid deployment for complex software

How to Create Containerized Environment (Singularity)

Method 1: Upload pre-configured Singularity container image to EdUHK-HPC-Portal

Method 2: Download pre-built Singularity container image from external resources (e.g. Container Library or Docker Hub)

Users can run the “singularity build” command via SSH terminal (CLI) to download pre-built images. When using build you must specify a name for your container like so:

# Load singularity module
$ module load singularity

# Download container image form Container Library (example)
$ singularity build ubuntu.sif library://ubuntu

# Download container image form Docker Hub (example)
$ singularity build lolcow.sif docker://godlovedc/lolcow

# Purge module
$ module purge

For more information about Singularity, please refer to Singularity Official Guide