Learning Forum

[Konstantinos Lekkas]

Hi everyone

I would like to run 3D FDTD optimization on a linux cluster. I need to click run optimization but the cluster does not allow me to open the file. I can only upload an "x.sh" file and I can run the simulation by using sbatch, but I cannot run the optimization.  I searched on Lumerical Ansys website but this topic is not included anywhere. I only found information about running parameter sweep without the CAD "https://optics.ansys.com/hc/en-us/articles/360034922933-Running-parameter-sweeps-without-the-CAD". But, I am not interested in parameter sweep. Another information is about running simulations on your cluster "https://optics.ansys.com/hc/en-us/articles/360026165714-Running-simulations-on-your-cluster". There is not any information about running optimization without opening the CAD on the cluster. Could you show me the steps how to run optimization on the cluster without opening CAD file? 

[Afroditi Petropoulou]

Hello,

Thank you for contacting us.

Optimizations require a CAD/GUI. Do you have a CAD license for your cluster?

Best regards,

Afroditi

[Konstantinos Lekkas]

Hi Afroditi

Thank you for the reply. I don't know if the cluster has a CAD license. I will ask my department's IT team and I will come back with more information.

Best Regards

Konstantinos

[Lito]

@xh19363, 

Just to add, API/script (lumapi, lumopt) is part of our CAD/GUI environment and will require a GUI connection and a GUI license to run. 
>Lumerical product components and licensing overview – Ansys Optics 
>Python API overview – Ansys Optics 

If you want to run the scripts without a GUI/Desktop connection, we have the KB below as a workaround. With newer versions of Lumerical you can use the "QT_QPA_PLATFORM" variable together with (hide=True) option. For the older versions you can use virtual display (Xvfb). Note that running the script (.py or .lsf) even with the CAD/GUI 'hidden' will always checkout a GUI license. 
>Running CAD jobs on headless Linux systems – Ansys Optics

[Konstantinos Lekkas]

Thank you very much Lito