IT Center Changes

As you know, we operate our cluster in 1-cluster-concept. This also means that the system is supported by multiple funding sources with different budgets. The NHR share (Tier-2) is the largest. Unfortunately, the project quota for RWTH-s, RWTH-thesis and RWTH-lecture (Tier-3) in the machine learning segment (GPU partition) is currently overbooked. Therefore, the following changes will take effect immediately for all new project applications (already granted projects are not affected):

• RWTH-s projects: reduction of the maximum project size to 4000 GPU-h per project per year
• RWTH-lecture and -thesis projects: reduction of the maximum project size to 1500 GPU-h per project

In order to ensure that all users can still successfully carry out their research projects, we propose the following approach for future proposals:

• If you do not need more than 4000 GPU-h, please apply for RWTH-s as before.
• If you do not need more than 10000 GPU-h and would like to conduct a project in the field of machine learning or artificial intelligence, please apply for a WestAI project.
• If you do not need more than 10000 GPU-h, you are welcome to apply once (!) for an NHR Starter project. Please note that this category is intended as preparation for an NHR Normal or Large project. An extension is therefore only possible with a full proposal and should be for more than 10000 GPU-h. NHR Starter projects are allocated centrally by the NHR office; if you choose this route, please select RWTH as your preferred center.
• If you need more than 10000 GPU-h, please apply for resources within an NHR Normal or Large project. To ensure appropriate use of the system, NHR projects undergo a science-led peer-review process.

We are convinced that this step is in the interest of all users in order to avoid overloading the GPU partition (ML segment).

Furthermore, please note that in future, NHR Normal projects may request up to 20 million core-h.

Please refer to the project catalogue for a complete overview (including a decision flow chart),

Please contact servicedesk@itc.rwth-aachen.de for any further questions.