Apply for HPC resources of a new project

[Overview - applications | Compute projects | Storage projects | Further information and policies | Adding users to project | Further questions ]

If you wish to apply for a project which will have resources allocated at HPC2N, the Principal Investigator (PI) has to apply for one according to the rules described on project allocations web page. There are two types of projects - compute and storage - each of which have different sizes of projects you can apply for: small, medium, and large. You apply for all of them on the NAISS SUPR page, under rounds. To do so you need an account at SUPR.

When you start a project application, the progress will be saved as 'In Preparation' on your SUPR page, and you can continue working on it later. Just remember to save the changes you make to each of the sections!

Compute projects

You will need to fill in more information for the larger projects, than for the smaller ones. However, there is some information you will need regardless of the type of project: Title, Abstract, Resource Usage (how do you plan to use the requested resources), Classification (VR classification codes - only in Swedish), length of project (1-12 months), which resource(s) you wish to use, and the amount of core hours/month you need.

Much of the information on the application will be filled in, but you should check that your contact information and such is correct.

Note, to apply for a project, you need to be the PI.

Local project requests:

HPC2N's cluster "Kebnekaise" is now only open for local project requests. 

• Information and application here, at Local Compute rounds.

Small level requests:

• Max core hours/month/resource depends on the resource. It is currently around 5000 core hours/month. Available resources and limits can be seen here.
• Applications can be submitted to HPC2N at any time via the SUPR small project application page.
• Evaluation of applications are performed locally, approximately once a week.
• For small projects and new groups that want to gain experience in using HPC-systems

Medium level requests:

• Max core hours/month/resource depends on the resource (available resources and limits here)
• Applications can be submitted to HPC2N at any time via the SUPR medium project allocation page.
• Evaluation of applications are performed locally and assesses the feasability of using the requested resources
• Evaluations are handled monthly, if you have waited for more than a month, contact us through mail to support@hpc2n.umu.se.

Before filling out the form to apply for a medium level project, you should read the instructions.

Large level requests:

• Applications for more time than the maximum available for a medium project on the intended resource (available resources here).
• Minor applications for supplementary resources can be included
• Calls for applications for large level projects are issued by SNAC twice a year. There are instructions here and an applications form here
• Applications are evaluated by SNAC and they also decide on the allocations, based on scientific merit, need for the resources, efficient use of the resources, and impact
• Note that if a large level application is granted time, the PIs existing medium and small level projects will be terminated.

Before filling out the form to apply for a large level project, you should read the instructions. 

You can read the slides here from the seminar by Philipp Schlatter: "SNIC and SNAC: Handling of large-scale computer time allocations in Sweden.". 

Make sure you have the following information handy before filling in the form:

1. your name and affiliation,
2. which project you are taking part in.

Please, also read the

Rules for using HPC2N resources and services

before you start applying for an account. Take a look at an overview the available resources at HPC2N.

Storage projects

The default storage in your home directory at HPC2N is 25GB, so you would almost certainly need to apply for a storage project as well as a compute project. (See more information about our file systems here).

Storage projects are applied for through SUPR. While storage projects needs to be applied for separately, they are usually linked to a compute project.

There are three sizes of storage project in SUPR; small, medium, and large. You will need to fill in more information for the larger projects, than for the smaller ones. However, there is some information you will need regardless of the type of project:

• Title
• Abstract
• Resource Usage (how do you plan to use the requested resources, size of your expected data, expected number of files)
• Data Management Plan (type of data, processing, data flow, how will the data be backed up)
• Directory Name (you get to chose the name for the project storage at HPC2N, or if you want to use the default, named for your project ID)
• Classification (VR classification codes - only in Swedish)
• Length of project (1-12 months)
• Which resource(s) you wish to use

Much of the information on the application will be filled in, but you should check that your contact information and such is correct.

Note, to apply for a project, you need to be the PI.

Local project requests:

HPC2N's cluster "Kebnekaise" is now only open for local project requests. 

• Information and application here, at Local Storage rounds.

Small level requests:

• Max storage depends on the resource. It is currently 2000GiB at HPC2N.
• Applications can be submitted to HPC2N at any time via the SUPR small storage project allocation page.
• Evaluation of applications are performed locally, approximately once a week.
• If you have or are applying for a Small compute project, this is the storage project you would usually apply for with it.

Medium level requests:

• Max storage depends on the resource. It is currently 10000GiB for HPC2N.
• Applications can be submitted to HPC2N at any time via the SUPR storage allocation page.
• Evaluation of applications are performed locally and assesses the feasability of using the requested resources
• Evaluations are handled monthly, if you have waited for more than a month, contact us through mail to support@hpc2n.umu.se.

Before filling out the form to apply for a medium level project, you should read the instructions which also lists the requirements for applying for a medium storage project.

Large level requests:

• Applications for more storage than the maximum available for a medium storage project on the intended resource.
• Calls for applications for large level storage projects are issued by SNAC twice a year. There is more information as well as instructions here. You apply through SUPR, from their Storage project application page.
• Applications are evaluated by SNAC and they also decide on the allocations, based on scientific merit, need for the resources, efficient use of the resources, and impact
• Minor applications for additional allocations to be added to an existing LARGE project allocation can be included.

Before filling out the form to apply for a large level project, you should read the instructions which also lists the requirements for applying for a large storage project.

About user accounts and projects.

Policies

• Each user should have one, and only one user account with HPC2N.
• Each user account may be added to as many projects as the user is participating in.
• A user should not have multiple user accounts for different projects. 
• After the project has been approved and assigned a project ID, existing user accounts can be added to the project.
• If you do not yet have a user account, you may apply for a new one as described on the User Account page.
• Having a user account is now dependent on being a member or PI of a project.
• Projects CANNOT be extended any longer, but a new project application can be created based on the old project.

Adding users to existing projects

All user administration for all types of projects are handled by the PI (or the appointed proxy-PI) in SUPR. The users must first have an account in SUPR and have signed the NAISS User agreement. Signing it can be done on the "Personal Information" page in SUPR.

While storage projects needs to be applied for separately, they are usually linked to a compute project. The storage project PI can link one or several compute projects to the storage project, thereby allowing users in the compute project access to the storage project without the PI having to explicitly handle access to the storage project.

Projects

Please look under project info for details on how to obtain project information about current and past projects at HPC2N.

Expiring compute projects

If you have jobs still in the queue when your compute project expires, the priority of those jobs are lowered drastically. However, your job will not be removed, and you can change the project account for the job with this command

scontrol update job=<jobid> account=<newproject>

Questions?

If you have any questions about how to apply for a project, add users, etc., mail them to: support@hpc2n.umu.se

More information here about SNAC. They are responsible for allocating the resources in Sweden.