Researchers, PhD students, and instructors at Aarhus University (AU) can apply for computational resources on Interactive HPC.
At AU, all staff and students are automatically allocated a personal workspace that includes 2,000 CPU core-hours per year and 50 GB of storage. The annual allocation of core-hours is reset to 2,000 CPU core-hours at the end of April. These resources are tied to individual workspaces and cannot be extended. Their purpose is to support onboarding, training, and small-scale experimentation on the platform.
For research, teaching, and other substantial computational work, additional resources must be obtained through formal application processes. These are organised into different tiers based on project size and resource requirements: Tier-1, Tier-2, and national allocations through DeiC.
Interactive HPC resources are funded through DeiC and split into a local and a national pool. Tier-1 and Tier-2 projects draw on local resource pools while larger projects may require access to national resources.
If your project requires relatively modest computational resources, the simplest option is to apply for a Tier-1 project. Applications are submitted directly through the Interactive HPC system by selecting “Apply for Resources” on the front page, which opens a form with several mandatory fields.
Applicants should carefully select the appropriate resource types and provide a clear and accurate description of their project requirements with an qualified estimate of the nessecary compute and storage needs. This description is a key part of the evaluation process and will be assessed in relation to the requested resources.
A Tier-1 project typically allows allocations of up to approximately 20,000 CPU core-hours and 100 GPU-hours.
The eligibility threshold for Tier-1 projects will change during the year depending on the overall usage of the local resource pool. The more unused resources, the higher the threshold will be.
Tier-1 projects are subject to a storage limit of 150 GB and a maximum duration of six months. Extensions for additional compute time and project period may be requested if necessary; however, additional storage cannot be granted under this scheme.
Applications are usually processed within a few working days.
If your project requires resources beyond those available under a Tier-1 project, you may apply for a Tier-2 project. These applications are handled by the HPC Forum AU.
To initiate the application process, contact the DeiC Front Office, where you will be guided through the application procedure. An initial inquiry does not need to include a full application.
Tier-2 projects do not in general have a fixed upper limit on resource allocation. However, all allocations are evaluated in relation to the available funding at Aarhus University.
As with Tier-1 applications, a clear and well-justified project description and resource estimate is essential, as it forms the basis for assessing the requested resources.
Applications are typically processed within a few weeks.
For projects that exceed local capacity, resources can be requested through national DeiC Calls and DeiC sandbox.
These schemes provide access to national HPC systems including Interactive HPC and are intended for large-scale or particularly demanding computational projects.
Interactive HPC can be used for teaching activities. Teaching projects follow the same application structure, tiers, and evaluation criteria as research projects.
Applications must include a description of how students will use the platform and justify the requested resources accordingly.
Departments at AU may establish a larger, shared project (a “super project”) covering multiple courses. This project can then at the department level be divided into smaller sub-projects for individual courses. The department is then responsible for managing and distributing resources across these sub-projects, providing flexibility in planning and execution.
Students attending courses cannot apply for resources themselves for neither course work nor exams. Also, the instructor also be first line support for any issues encountered by the students during the course.
Even though students cannot themselves apply for resources, Interactive HPC can be used for bachelor’s and master’s thesis projects when the student’s supervisor apply for resources under either Tier-1 or Tier-2.
The supervisor is responsible for supporting the project and serves as the primary point of contact for both technical and academic aspects of the work.
As with teaching projects, a department may establish a larger, shared project (a “super project”) covering multiple or all theses projects. This project can then at the department level be divided into smaller sub-projects for individual students' thesis work. The department is then responsible for managing and distributing resources across these sub-projects, providing flexibility in planning and execution.
