HPC Policies 2016

Introduction

Access to the usage of the HPC cluster of the University of Oldenburg is designed to be as simple and barrier-free as possible. Nevertheless, there are some basic legal rules that we require from all users to be followed. These refer to data protection legal consents, fair and correct usage behavior and some further obligations, which in most cases are automatically complied with anyway.
On this page you can read through the user agreement and download it as a PDF in German or English language.
If you use the cluster, you accept the terms of the user policies shown below.

User Policies for the local HPC cluster at the University of Oldenburg

(unofficial English translation, version 1.0, March 2021)

§1 Scope

(1) The user policies apply to the use of the high-performance compute (HPC) cluster operated at the University of Oldenburg and are binding for all users.

§2 Entitled users and user account

(1) Members of the University of Oldenburg with their research projects and external users who collaborate with members of the university are entitled to use the system.

(2) Entitled users can apply for HPC access:

a. HPC access is requested electronically through the University websites with a valid University user account (username of the form 'abcd1234').

b. When applying, the user must assign himself or herself to a so-called Unix group. As a rule, this is the Unix group corresponding to the working group in which the research project is located.

c. If necessary, a member of the working group can arrange for a new Unix group to be set up by emailing hpcsupport@uol.de. The leader of the working group will be informed after the group has been set up.

d. In the context of courses or training, user accounts can be assigned to the group 'student' or special course accounts can be created.

(3) The user is obliged to announce a change of group membership (e.g. electronically via the university's web pages).

(4) The HPC access is terminated:

a. at the latest with the expiration of the user account.

b. when the specified group membership loses its validity.

c. when the course or training has been completed.

§3 Data privacy

(1) By using the HPC Cluster, users agree that their username can be associated with their real name.

(2) Users agree that their use of the HPC cluster can be recorded by the job scheduler and evaluated for statistical purposes. Information about the duration and number of jobs executed, the resources used, the user ID, and the Unix group is recorded. The evaluated data will be used internally and to fulfil reporting obligations internally and to third parties. All data directly linked to a user ID will only be used internally.

§4 Technical operation and scientific support

(1) The HPC cluster is operated by the IT services in the Data Center of the University of Oldenburg.

(2) Whenever possible, downtimes for necessary maintenance work will be announced at least 21 days in advance.

(3) Scientific computing (a department in the central facility for technical-scientific infrastructure (BI)) provides scientific support for the use of the HPC cluster. The services offered include consulting, the installation of scientific applications, writing and providing the HPC documentation, and offering of HPC training.

(4) Requests regarding the technical operation of the HPC cluster or scientific applications can be directed to hpcsupport@uni-oldenburg.de.

§5 Available resources and allocation

(1) The technical description of the current HPC cluster can be found on the websites of the Scientific Computing division and in the HPC documentation.

(2) The allocation of resources is done software-controlled by a so-called job scheduler taking into account fair-share aspects. To a small extent, resources can also be reserved for exclusive use, provided the utilization status supports this (e.g. for teaching or scheduled projects).

§6 Data storage

(1) With the permission to use the HPC cluster, each user receives one or more directories for the storage of data in connection with scientific projects.

(2) The exact regulations through data security (e.g. by backup) can differ depending on the directory and can be found in the HPC documentation.

(3) The data stored on the HPC cluster can be made available to other users on their responsibility (e.g. within a project).

(4) The data on the HPC storage will be deleted 180 days after the expiration of the usage authorization (see §2.4).

§7 Obligations of users

(1) The available resources of the HPC cluster for computing and data storage must only be used for scientific purposes, and in accordance with the guidelines of good scientific practice.

(2) Users are obliged to inform themselves about the use of the HPC cluster in the available documentation or by attending an HPC training. Questions can be directed to hpcsupport@uni-oldenburg.de at any time.

(3) Access (login) to the HPC cluster is only possible within the campus network. If necessary, this may require the configuration of a VPN according to the instructions on the university's websites. Setting up a direct connection to the HPC cluster from outside the campus network is not allowed.

(4) Users ensure that all current security updates are installed on the computer used to access the HPC cluster, and that an up-to-date malware protection is active.

(5) Users must report any events that may compromise the security of their account immediately (e.g. stolen or lost laptops, unusual activities such as failed logins).

(6) All computations (jobs) must be executed via the job scheduler (see §5.2). Requested and used resources should be compared by the user and, if necessary, adjusted.

(7) Users are obliged to ensure that allocated resources are used efficiently as much as possible. Inefficient jobs may be interrupted by HPC Support.

(8) Users will notify the hpcsupport@uni-oldenburg.de of a change of the working group.

(9) Publications containing results from the use of the central HPC cluster must acknowledge this accordingly (e.g. in the Acknowledgments).

§8 Documentation

(1) Information on using the HPC cluster are documented in the HPC Wiki at

http://wiki.hpcuser.uni-oldenburg.de/.

§9 Cost Sharing

(1) The staff of the Scientific Computing division is financed in part by the working groups using the HPC cluster in form of a cost-sharing model.

(2) The costs are divided between the working groups based on the respective use of the HPC cluster and can be taken from the currently valid table of fees for Scientific Computing.

(3) The costs are invoiced annually through the institute/department.

(4) The advisory board of Scientific Computing advises the dean of Faculty V on the amount of the cost contribution and decides on the distribution key.

(5) The workgroups can find out about their usage by using a tool deployed on the HPC cluster.