Source: Own illustration
Since November 2020, the IT Center of RWTH Aachen University is a National High Performance Computing Center (NHR). Together with seven other funded computing centers in the NHR network, we offer scientists from all over Germany the opportunity to use computing resources and expertise for high-performance computing. RWTH Aachen University and TU Darmstadt have joined thematically to form the “National High Performance Computing Center for Computational Engineering Sciences” (NHR4CES), and thus cooperate in the context of NHR.
For years, RWTH Aachen University, like TU Darmstadt, has successfully operated high-performance computers of national importance – so-called Tier 2 computers. Parts of both systems have since been open to academic researchers from all over Germany. In this way, HPC is promoted nationwide and further funding is ensured.
Because of the alliance is now changing the way computing resources are requested and granted.
New project categories for Tier 2
Tier-2 project categories, which involve large research projects, will no longer separate members of RWTH Aachen University from other members of German public or government-recognized teaching and research institutions.
This change is accompanied by the fact that the project categories will be subject to a new structure in the future: “RWTH Medium” and “BUND” will no longer be available for new applications.
To replace these categories, two new project classes are introduced: “NHR Normal” and “NHR Large”.
Requesting computing time for Tier 2 projects
Computing time will be requested through the common NHR4CES portal. The process is very similar to the previous procedure.
NHR Normal
Normal-sized projects have resources available ranging from 1 million to 8 million core hours.
NHR Large
Large projects have more than 8 million core hours available up to a maximum of 35 million core hours.
All projects run for up to one year and undergo a scientific review process.
And what happens to ongoing projects?
Ongoing projects will continue as planned. Project extensions in these categories are still possible until November 30, 2021 with a maximum project duration until June 31, 2022.
Project review and approval
New projects that will belong to the NHR Normal category in the future will be conditionally approved and given an initial quota as soon as the scientific review is available. The final approval decision will be made after evaluation of all major projects by the NHR4CES panel, which meets quarterly.
Therefore, a subsequent reduction in computing resources is possible.
Next application period
The next project period for NHR4CES will begin on 02/01/2022 and end on 01/31/2023.
Applications for this computational period can be submitted on 01 November.
Applications received after this date can only be considered for the next calculation period and no further reminder will be sent. New projects can be requested on a quarterly basis.
Requesting Calculation Time for Tier 3 Projects
The process does not change for requesting Tier 3 computing projects, which are smaller projects with less than 0.24 million core hours. The RWTH Small, RWTH Thesis, and RWTH Lecture categories will remain.
For more information on the project application process, visit IT Center Help, the Quick Reference Card to illustrate the application, approval and allocation process, or the NHR4CES website.
Responsible for the content of this article are Tim Cramer and Janin Vreydal.
