Getting legacy scientific software to compile on a modern HPC system can be a real headache. Recently, one of our users encountered this problem while trying to build and run MITgcm, an ocean and climate model, on Olivia.
The model relies on older compilers that don't work with today's module environments, and the usual troubleshooting wasn't getting anywhere.
How we helped
Our NRIS container specialist, Jean Iaquinta, took a different approach. Rather than trying to force compatibility between the old and new software stacks, Jean built a custom Apptainer container using the Earth System Modelling Environment. This gave the user a self-contained, legacy-compatible environment in which MITgcm could be built without the usual conflicts.
What's also worth noting: the solution scales. The container runs smoothly across multiple nodes on Olivia, taking full advantage of the cluster's high-speed network, so there's no performance compromise.
The result was a reproducible workflow that the user can rely on going forward, without having to revisit the same compatibility issues every time.
Facing something similar?
Compiler mismatches and tricky software dependencies are some of the most common reasons researchers lose time on HPC systems. If you're stuck on something like this, our Extended User Support (EUS) service exists for exactly these situations. You get direct help from specialists in our High-Level Support Team — not just pointers to documentation.
Don't hesitate to reach out. We'd rather help you get unstuck quickly than have you spend weeks on something we can likely sort out together.