tests in hpctestlib cannot be run on offline node

[laraPPr]

In the EESSI test-suite we are currently using a couple of tests from the hpctestlib

• GROMACS
• QuantumESPRESSO
• Metalwalls

We are currently making sure that all the test in the EESSI test-suite can also work on ofline nodes because this is the set-up of some of the systems we are testing. See EESSI/test-suite#263.

The three tests that are mentioned all fail on offline nodes because they require data to be downloaded during the test run. We also have a TensorFlow test in the EESSI test-suite that requires a download and are taking the following approach to work arround this by telling the test not to dowload and look for the file elsewhere when on an offline system, see EESSI/test-suite#275.

Since we manage the TensorFlow test ourself itself it is simple to do this. For the tests that are managed within hpctestlib this is less trivial since we are currently relying on evironment variables that are specific to the EESSI test-suite.

Because of this we are asking. Would the ReFrame be interested in looking into updating the tests in hpctestlib so that they can also be run on offline nodes? Or should we start managing these tests ourselves if we want them to be able to run on offline nodes?