1608355 : xfel-sim partition appears drained / job cannot start¶

Created: 2026-06-11T13:48:17Z - current status: new¶

Anonymized Summary:¶

A user attempted to run a Genesis4 job on the xfel-sim partition but encountered issues. The job remained pending with the error: Nodes_required_for_job_are_DOWN,_DRAINED_or_reserved_for_jobs_in_higher_priority_partitions.

Partition status showed: - xfel-sim up 23 drng@ max-[REDACTED][001-018,020-024] - xfel-sim up 1 drain* max-[REDACTED]019

The user asked if xfel-sim is under maintenance/reservation or if alternative actions (partition/submission changes) are needed.

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Solution / Next Steps:¶

1. Check Node Status:
2. Some nodes (drng) may be reserved for higher-priority partitions (e.g., upex-*), while others (drain*) are manually drained (possibly for maintenance).

3. Use sinfo -p xfel-sim or contact support (maxwell.service@desy.de) for updates.

4. Alternative Actions:

5. Submit to a lower-priority partition (if acceptable), avoiding conflicts with higher-priority reservations.

6. Adjust job timing to avoid peak hours (see power-saving notice).

7. Preemption Note: Lower-priority partitions (e.g., exfel, upex) cannot preempt each other. Reservations/dedicated partitions are immune to delays.

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References: - Priorities and Preemption Rules - Power-Saving Measures (June–July 2025)