High Performance Computing: ACCESS

Advanced Cyberinfrastructure Coordination Ecosystem: Services and Support (ACCESS).

The NSF funds a consortium that supports and shares access to supercomputing resources housed at diverse research institutions.

Through ACCESS, researchers may gain access to flexible pools of computational time that can be expended using a range of large-scale computational facilities.

What resources are available on ACCESS?

In general, available resources can be classified as High Performance Computing (HPC) machines, High Throughput Computing (HTC) machines, visualization, data storage, testbeds, and services. For a complete list, please visit the ACCESS Resources page.

How can I create an account and access ACCESS resources?

If you already have an account registered under the former XSEDE project, there is no need to create a new one.

ACCESS accounts are free of charge and can be created via the ACCESS new user page. Having an ACCESS account does not automatically grant an allocation to any ACCESS resources. Compute time on ACCESS resources is granted via the formal allocation process. But registering an account is the first step to applying for, or being added to, an allocation.

What is an ACCESS allocation?

ACCESS Allocation is an application process where users are awarded access to compute, visualization, and or storage resources, as well as to extended support services. ACCESS has various allocations from short-term exploratory requests to year-long projects. In order to utilize ACCESS resources, an allocation must first be.

What allocation types are available?

Once you have an ACCESS account, you may apply for one of the allocation types. When requesting computing resources, ACCESS provides four options.  These are tiered levels designed to support a range of needs from entry-level exploration to large-scale computational workloads. Each tier aligns with a best estimate of resource needs and can be upgraded as those needs are clarified, so don’t be afraid to start small.  The four options are defined as follows:

• Explore ACCESS – Intended for purposes that require smaller levels of resources. Suitable for trying out resources or for running benchmarks.  This tier is also suitable for instructors who want to provide access for small-scale classroom activities.  These allocations are available for the duration of your supporting grant or for 12 months without a grant (with possible extensions of up to five years). Multiple requests are allowed if you have more than one supporting grant or need to keep your classroom or other non-research activity separate from your research efforts.
• Discover ACCESS – Intended to fill the needs of many small-scale research activities or more broadly defined resource needs. This tier is geared toward allowing many researchers, Campus Champions, and Gateways to request allocations with a minimum amount of effort.   so they can complete their work.  These allocations can be requested at any time with a one-page description of the project that details how it will leverage ACCESS resources.  Once awarded, these allocations are available for the duration of a supporting grant or for a period of 12 months without a supporting grant, though extensions are possible.
• Accelerate ACCESS – Designed to support activities that require more substantial, mid-scale resource levels needed to pursue research objectives. Use cases include activities such as the consolidation of multi-grant programs, collaborative projects, preparing for one or more Maximize ACCESS requests, and for supporting gateways with growing communities. These allocations can be requested at any time via a well-defined plan for the utilization of the requested resources.  A three-page project description must be submitted for merit review, requiring closer observance of the allocation policies and review criteria.   Once awarded, these allocations are available for the duration of a supporting grant or for a period of 12 months without a supporting grant, though extensions are possible.
• Maximize ACCESS – For all projects with resource needs that exceed those provided by an Accelerate ACCESS allocation, a Maximize ACCESS request is required. ACCESS does not place an upper limit on the size of allocations that can be sought at this level, however, resource providers may impose their own limits on the allocated resources.

Who is eligible to request an allocation?

To apply, the principal investigator (PI) must be a researcher or educator at a U.S.-based institution, including federal research labs or commercial organizations, though additional information may be needed from researchers not affiliated with academic or non-profit research institutions. A postdoctoral researcher is eligible to serve as PI. After receiving an allocation, PIs can request that students be given accounts to use the allocation. For more information, please read the complete allocation-related policies.

How do I get started?

To get started, visit the ACCESS documentation page. For information about the resources available through the ACCESS project, click here. Each listed Resource Provider (RP) is linked to a detailed summary of their specifications and guides to utilizing their resources.

Does Lafayette have a campus contact?

Peter Goode, goodep@lafayette.edu, can provide guidance with questions.

What training is available for ACCESS?

At this time, we’re not aware of any formal or informal training opportunities, however, as resources become available and we become aware of them, they will be published here.