For Researchers


It’s easy to get started.

1

Create an account

To use ACCESS resources and manage your project, create an account.

Register for an ACCESS ID
ID Management FAQ

2

See what resources are available

ACCESS Resource Providers from across the United States provide you access to NSF-funded advanced computing systems and services at no cost to you.

Explore available resources

3

Prepare and request an allocation

With your ACCESS ID, apply for an allocation and receive credits to use a resource. An EXPLORE ACCESS allocation project type is a good place to start. Apply and get access in as little as 1–2 business days.

Get your first project


Quick links:


What type of ACCESS resources are available?

ACCESS Resource Providers from across the United States provide you access to advanced computing systems and services – at no cost to you.

Some of the many resources in the ACCESS portfolio include:

  • Compute resources – High-performance computing clusters (GPU and CPU based) accessed by logging in to front-end nodes. Researchers can install their application software and run batch computing jobs under a scheduler on these resources.
  • Storage resources – Data storage systems for storing and managing large amounts of data.
  • Cloud resources – Cloud infrastructure where researchers can launch and run virtual machines.
  • Science gateways – A community-developed set of tools, applications, and data integrated through a web-based portal or a suite of applications built to use ACCESS resources.

Explore the ACCESS Resource Catalog for a list of current resources.

What are allocation project types and credits?

There are four different ACCESS allocation project types to choose from: EXPLORE, DISCOVER, ACCELERATE and MAXIMIZE. You select a project type based on your research needs – from small-scale use up to large-scale research activities. Each project type has different requirements, duration, review process and credit amounts to use.

About project types
Using and exchanging credits

How do I find the right ACCESS resource for my research needs?

You can explore available resources through the Resource Catalog, which provides descriptions of available resources and relevant information such as availability of GPUs.

The ACCESS Resource Advisor (ARA) provides another method to find suitable resources by asking questions about your research domain, software needed, hardware requirements and other information to make recommendations.

If you’re looking for particular software, say Jupyter Notebooks or Open OnDemand, you might find the Software Documentation Service (SDS) useful to explore which resources provide the software you need.

Where can I find training and documentation?

Visit the Events & Trainings page. If you join an Affinity Group you’ll get notified of trainings recommended by your Resource Provider or your community group.

The ACCESS Documentation pages contain articles, training materials, user guides, and various other sources of information to assist researchers in effectively utilizing ACCESS resources and services.

The ACCESS Knowledge Base includes training material and documentation contributed by the community on a variety of topics of interest.

How do I prepare and request an allocation?

With your ACCESS ID, apply for an allocation and receive credits to use a resource. You will select an allocation project type based on the scale of your resource needs. An EXPLORE ACCESS allocation project type is a good place to start. Apply and get access in as little as 1–2 business days.

Be prepared to submit a proposal that includes:

  • Scientific background and justification for your research
  • Clearly defined research questions
  • A detailed resource usage plan outlining your computational needs
  • Justification for the amount of resources you’re requesting
  • Information on any other computing resources you have access to

Get your first project
Prepare your request

Are there tools available to run my project?

ACCESS is “self-serve.” You connect directly to the resource you need and run the software necessary to complete your task. ACCESS OnDemand is an easy-to-use web interface that gives you remote access from any device, without requiring any client software installation. For those who need workflows/pipelines or cross-site runs, Pegasus is an easy-to-use workflow management tool managed from within a Jupyter Notebook.

Are support services available?

Ask.CI is the Q&A forum for the research computing community. Ask a question, answer a question, or add to the discussion.

Campus Champions provide information on ACCESS and cyberinfrastructure resources to researchers and educators on their campuses and they assist users to quickly get start-up allocations of computing time. Find a Champion on your campus!

CCMNet facilitates cyberinfrastructure (CI) mentorship connections and knowledge exchange with other mentor-centric programs, reaching out to under-served groups and providing best practices and guidance on mentorship to benefit the entire CI community. Review currently available mentorships or request a new mentorship engagement to assist with your needs.

Still need help? Open a help ticket and ACCESS or appropriate Resource Provider staff will be happy to answer your questions.

How do I manage my project and add other users?

You’ll need to have the role of PI, co-PI, or Allocation Manager to request/manage projects and add users.

How to manage your project
How to add users

How do I track my project’s performance quality?

Use ACCESS XDMoD to improve your job and allocation-usage efficiency. Log in and click on the Job Viewer tab. Enter your job number and resource in the search box to see how efficiently your job is running.

Log in to ACCESS XDMoD

Are reports and citations required by ACCESS?

Progress reports are required in order to receive the second half of your ACCESS credits. At this point, you may request a one-time increase in credits and/or an extension. Upon completion, a final report must be submitted summarizing the work and acknowledging ACCESS. Publications can be added using the My Publications tool.

How to add a publication
How to acknowledge ACCESS

How can I get involved in the ACCESS community?

There are many ways for researchers to get involved in ACCESS – as a reviewer, moderator, beta tester, mentor, and more.

Get Involved

I’m a researcher

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