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Scientific Computing Facilities Resource Requests

This page contains pointers to web-based forms which may be used to renew existing projects, add/delete users to/from existing projects, create new projects, and request additional resources on SCV supported systems.

We also have a page where current principal investigators and users can monitor their projects/accounts.

Current principal investigators with existing projects should follow the update/renewal pointer below to access forms to add/delete users, update projects, or request additional processor time or project disk space on the Linux Clusters, the IBM Blue Gene, or the IBM pSeries.

Note:
Researchers who are applying for a project on the the Katana Cluster, IBM p655 systems, or IBM BlueGene facilities need only fill out the above web forms. We no longer utilize paper forms to apply for access to any of our facilities.

Note on Boston University ID numbers:
Many of the forms will ask for your Boston University ID number. If you are a member of the BU community or have previously been given a BU ID number, please enter your University ID number. If you do not have a BU ID number, we will issue you a BU ID number which you should keep a record of. All ID numbers are treated confidentially.

Brief instructions on using the forms to maintain existing projects and create new ones

Note: Once you provide all of the necessary information on any of these forms and submit them, you should get a message back indicating that “Your application has been submitted.” Until you get this message, your application has not been submitted and likely some kind of error occurred in processing your application. Read messages returned carefully to see what might be wrong and what to do to correct it. Contact us if you have difficulties.

Applying to have a new project created on the SCF
If you are a current BU faculty or research staff member you should go here and fill out the form. Fill out all requested information, even if you are already a principal investigator on another project. Carefully read any messages you get back after clicking on Submit to make sure your submission was accepted. Your account will be created on the Katana Cluster and the IBM p655 systems. Once your project has been approved, you will appear on the Principal Investigator (PI) list and through this you will be able to add additional user accounts to your project.

Undergraduate or graduate student interested in a startup account
For students not associated with an existing SCF project and interested in startup accounts (limited to a few months and very limited CPU resources), we have created a startup project which we can add you to. Please send email to help@scv.bu.edu if you are interested in this. For those students working closely with a professor on a project that they expect to go on for quite a while, they should not take this option and instead have their professor create a normal research project.

Renewing an existing project
Principal investigators should go here, select your login ID from the list, enter your login ID and SCF (non-Kerberos) password when requested, select the “Renew” option for the project you wish to renew and then fill out the form. Select Active on the form to have your project continue. Also, indicate which of your current users are still on your project and answer all other questions on the form. Projects must be renewed once a year.

Adding a user to an existing project
Principal investigators should go here, select your login ID from the list, enter your login ID and SCF (non-Kerberos) password when requested, select the appropriate “Add User” option for the project you wish to add someone to and then fill out the form. Enter the name of the person you wish to add, his/her BUID, login name, and other requested information. Carefully read any messages you get back after clicking on Submit to make sure your submission was accepted. Accounts are created on the Katana Cluster and the IBM p655 systems.

Deleting users from an existing project
Principal investigators should go here, select your login ID from the list, enter your login ID and SCF (non-Kerberos) password when requested, select the “Delete users” option for the project you wish to delete users from and then fill out the form. For each person you wish to delete, simply change the indicator under “Delete User?” from No to Yes. You may also use this form to (un)set the expiration date for each user on your project. Note that your own name will not be included on the list as we generally require principal investigators to have an account on their own project.

Getting access to the IBM Blue Gene system
The IBM Blue Gene system has been in production use since October 1, 2006. However, users are not automatically given access to this system, due to special rules that apply to it. External users need to submit identity documentation (such as a passport) to us and both internal and external users need to fill out a web form.
If you are a current SCF user, you should go to your SCF User Information page (accessing this page will require your BU login ID and SCF [non-Kerberos] password) and then submit the Update Personal Information form and follow the identity information instructions on it if you are not a current BU student, faculty, or staff member.
New users also need to do this once their account is approved for the other systems. Nobody is granted immediate access to the Blue Gene system when their SCF account is first created.

Change (or create) an expiration date for a user on one of your projects
Principal investigators should go here, select your login ID from the list, enter your login ID and SCF (non-Kerberos) password when requested, select either the “Delete users” or “Renew/Change Project” option from the list, and then fill out the form. Either of these forms will allow you to alter or create an expiration date for a user on your project. The “Delete users” form is somewhat simpler to use. This allows you to note in advance that a user will only be on your project for a limited period of time (for example, only during the summer).

Requesting additional CPU allocation for an existing project
Principal investigators should go here, select your login ID from the list, enter your BU login ID and SCF (non-Kerberos) password when requested, select the “Request additional CPU allocation” option from the list, and then fill out the form. This form should be used to request additional CPU allocation beyond the amount you initially requested when you created (or last renewed) the project. These requests will be reviewed and you should make sure to fully fill out the form with the reasons for your request.
Reviews can take a very long time to process but accounts will remain fully active, even with a negative CPU balance, while this review takes place so as long as you have submitted a request for additional CPU time, you should absolutely keep working, even if you have a negative balance.

Request general /project disk space for an existing project
Principal investigators should go here, select your login ID from the list, enter your login ID and SCF (non-Kerberos) password when requested, select the “Request or update project disk space” option from the list, and then fill out the form. This form should be used to request new or additional project disk space (either backed up nightly in /project or not backed up in /projectnb) for those projects which require large quantities of disk space beyond what their users’ home directories will support. These requests will be reviewed and you should make sure to fully fill out the form with the reasons for your request. Additional information on this disk space is available.

Requesting other additional resources on an SCV supported machine
All users can go here and fill out the form. Indicate what machine you are requesting the change on and detailed information on what additional resources you need and why. These requests are not guaranteed to be approved and are looked at on a case by case basis depending on your needs and our resources. Requests can be made by any person who has an account on an SCV supported system.

Send questions and comments to scfacct@bu.edu.