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Creating and Managing Projects at ASC

MUSICA

These instructions are only valid for VSC-4 and VSC-5. If you want to create a project on MUSICA, please see the specific MUSICA page.

LEONARDO

This description is also mostly valid for projects on LEONARDO, but application is only possible when there is a specific call. More details are in the description of LEONARDO.

Creating a New Project

Logging in to the Service Page

Navigate to our service page.

Select your organization from the list under 'Login for Project Managers' on the left side.

Log in using your organization's credentials.

Other organizations

If your organization is not listed, visit our identity provider to register. After registering, inform us of your username, and we will add it to our system. You may then use “IdP VSC” as your organization for login.

Requesting a New Project

Click 'Request Project' in the left menu bar.

Select the appropriate project type as listed below.

Provide a project title (it need not match any official title).

Specify the institute, subunit, or department for which the project is conducted.

  • You are initiating a new parent project for a new collaboration or a large project with multiple sub-parts → select 'create new parent project'.
  • You are part of an existing parent project → select from the dropdown list.

The 'Parent Project' field should remain at default unless:

Indicate whether the project involves Personal Data in accordance with GDPR.

Click 'Create'.

Project Types

Test: For short-term test runs, with a limit of 90 days and 100,000 CPU core hours. Not billed or accounted.
This is not possible on LEONARDO.

Funded: Projects from organizations which have free access to VSC resources, if they are funded by agencies such as FWF, FFG, ERC, or federal states.

Internal: Projects funded through internal budgets, requiring peer review.

External: Projects from organizations without free VSC access, categorized as:

  • External-Scientific: For scientific research with reduced core-hour rates.
  • External-Commercial: For applied research or commercial purposes.

Application: Projects applying for funding, which reserve VSC resources in advance.
This is not possible on LEONARDO.

Private: Projects involving privately purchased hardware integrated into VSC systems.
This is not possible on LEONARDO.

Following project creation, you will receive a unique project ID and a dedicated project page. Your affiliation and role as the project manager will be automatically assigned.

Selecting a Resource Pool

On the project page, select 'Request Resources from a Resource Pool':

  • VSC-4: Our older cluster featuring Intel nodes (48 cores, 96GB/384GB/768GB RAM). Recommended if Intel architecture is preferred.
  • VSC-5: Our newer cluster with AMD nodes (128 cores, 512GB/1TB/2TB RAM), some Intel nodes(96 cores, 384GB RAM), and A40/A100 GPU nodes. Ideal for GPU use, AMD architecture, or if no specific requirements.
  • LEONARDO-B: GPU Booster Module of the European Pre-Exascale cluster LEONARDO. Can only be requested if there is a specific call.
  • LEONARDO-D: Data centric partition of the European Pre-Exascale cluster LEONARDO. Can only be requested if there is a specific call.

Click 'Request New Project Part' and input the required details:

  • The start date is pre-set to the current date but may be adjusted if necessary.
  • Specify the anticipated number of cores used in parallel (for feasibility assessment).
  • List the software to be utilised.
  • Use the comment section for any additional pertinent information.
  • At the bottom, retain default settings unless specific adjustments are required. Resource types are explained below.

Click 'Submit Query' to create a project part for the selected resource pool.

Resource Types

CPU Contingent: Estimated CPU core hours required. Extendible during the project. Fixed at 100,000 hours for test projects. Not accounted for private projects.
Note that LEONARDO also has an additional line with GPU contingent.

Project End: Duration of the project in days from the start date. Extendible even post-expiration. Default is 366 days; test projects are limited to 90 days.

$DATA Inodes: Number of inodes in the DATA storage volume. Default is 1 million, extendible.

$DATA Size: Size of the DATA storage volume in GB. Default is 10TB, extendible up to 100TB. Larger sizes require discussion.

$HOME Inodes: Number of inodes in the HOME storage volume. Default is 1 million, extendible.

$HOME Size: Size of the HOME storage volume in GB. Default is 100GB, only extended for very specific exceptions.

LEONARDO

there are no selectable storage resources on LEONARDO

Uploading Required Files

If applicable, upload the necessary documents in the 'Files' section:

  • Project description (2-4 pages). [every project type except test and private]
  • Proof of funding for funded projects.
  • Reviewer list (minimum of 3) for internal projects.
  • Quota or contract for core hours for external projects.
  • GDPR data handling contract if Personal Data is involved.
  • for LEONARDO projects the complete Aurelio application.

You will receive a confirmation email for each uploaded file.

Once all required files are uploaded (or if no files are needed), click the red bar at the top of the project part to request a technical review.

Review Process

Technical Approval

The ASC team will review the project to ensure feasibility and resolve any administrative or technical issues.

The ASC team will also create the necessary file directories for the project.

Peer Review (Internal Projects Only)

Internal projects will be sent to the listed reviewers.

Feedback from reviewers will be incorporated into the project evaluation.

Steering Committee (SC) Review

Projects of types funded, internal (post-peer review), external, and application will be reviewed by the SC.

  • For core-hour requests below 5 million, only the SC members of the requesting organisation review the project.
  • For requests above 5 million core-hours, the entire SC reviews the project.

Test and private projects are only subject to technical review.

You will receive an email notification once the project is approved.

Adding Users

Once the project is granted, create cluster user accounts as follows:

  • Enter the user's first and last name, email address, and phone number (must be capable of receiving text messages).

Alterantive second factor

If no SMS capable number can be provided, contact us for an alternative yubikey authorisation.

  • Enter a unique username (only small letters and numbers or underscore are allowed) and a secure password (minimum of 10 characters, including one lowercase letter, one uppercase letter, one digit, and one special character).

Assign the user to the relevant resource pools.

The user will receive an email with instructions (password not included).

Users may now log into the cluster and commence work on the project.

LEONARDO

users on LEONARDO are not created via our system. Please see LEONARDO access.

For further assistance, please contact us via the support page.