Following a long tradition of announces and releases during the SuperComputing conference, and while SC23 is underway in Denver CO, Stanford Research Computing is proud to unveil Sherlock OnDemand 3.0, a cutting-edge enhancement to its computing and data storage resources, revolutionizing user interaction and efficiency.

The upgraded Sherlock OnDemand is available immediately at https://ondemand.sherlock.stanford.edu

This new release brings a host of transformative changes. A lot happened under the hood, but the visible changes are significant as well.

Infrastructure upgrades:

  • A new URL: Sherlock OnDemand is now accessible at https://ondemand.sherlock.stanford.edu, in line with our other instances, for a more homogeneous user experience across Research Computing systems. The previous URL will still work for a time, and redirections will be progressively deployed to ease the transition.

  • New engine, same feel: a lot of internal components have undergone substantial updates, but the familiar interface remains intact, ensuring a seamless transition for existing users.

  • Streamlined authentication: Sherlock OnDemand now uses OIDC via the Stanford central Identity Provider instead of SAML, resulting in a lighter, more robust configuration for enhanced security.

  • Enhanced Performance: expect a more responsive interface and improved reliability with the eradication of 422 HTTP errors.

User-centric features:

  • Expanded file access: all your Oak groups, are now conveniently listed in the embedded file browser for easier and more comprehensive access to your data. And if you have rclone remotes already configured on Sherlock, you’'ll find them there as well!

  • Effortless support tickets: you can now send support tickets directly from the OnDemand interface, which will automatically include contextual information about your interactive sessions, to simply issue resolution.

  • New interactive apps: In addition to the existing apps, VS Code server, MATLAB, and JupyterLab join the platform, offering expanded functionalities, like the ability of loading and unloading of modules within JupyterLab directly.
    Yes, you read that right: we now have VS Code and MATLAB in Sherlock OnDemand!
    The RStudio app has also been rebuilt from the ground up, providing a much better and reliable experience.

  • Customizable working directories: users can now select a working directory across all interactive apps, for easier customization of their work environment.

For more details and guidance on using the new features, check out the updated documentation at https://www.sherlock.stanford.edu/docs/user-guide/ondemand/.

This update delivers a brand new computing experience, designed to empower you in your work. Sherlock OnDemand 3.0 marks a significant milestone in optimizing user access to computing resources, lowering the barrier to entry for new users, and empowering researchers with an unparalleled computing environment. We're excited to see how it will enhance your productivity and efficiency, so dive into this transformative experience today and elevate your computing endeavors to new heights with Sherlock OnDemand 3.0!

And as usual, if you have any question, comment or suggestion, don’t hesitate to reach out at [email protected].