1. Getting Started

The Cyberscience Center (hereinafter referred to as the “Center”) is an interdisciplinary large-scale information infrastructure Joint Usage / Research Center that conducts practical surveys and research to promote informatization in research, education, etc., develops and provides infrastructure equipment, etc., and performs other necessary specialized work.

The Center has installed a large-scale scientific computing system and inherited the functions and knowledge accumulated by the former Supercomputer Center, one of the forerunners of the Center, to provide a state-of-the-art large-scale scientific computing environment and advanced use environment, as well as technical support for users.

⏵ Cyberscience Center Large-scale Scientific Computing System

2. Form of Use

The large-scale scientific computing systems of the Center can be used in the following ways. Please refer to the relevant sections for details.

University and academic use ￫ Item 3.2
Use by private companies ￫ Item 3.3
Joint research with the Center ￫ Item 5.1
Joint Usage / Research Center of Interdisciplinary Large-scale Information Infrastructure Joint Research Project（JHPCN）￫ Item 5.2
Innovative High Performance Computing Infrastructure（HPCI）￫ Item 5.3
Other Usage → Item 6

3. Application for Use

3.1. About Eligibility

It can be used by those who fall under any of the following. The use of the large-scale scientific computing system is limited to the purpose of academic research and education, etc. (including the use of external organizations such as private sector as part of social contribution).

Teachers and students of universities, junior colleges, colleges of technology and inter-university research institutes
Researchers at MEXT Competent Agencies and Incorporated Administrative Agencies for which the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology is the competent minister
A person who exclusively engages in research at a research institution for the purpose of academic research that is recognized by the Director of the Cyberscience Center of Tohoku University (hereinafter referred to as the “Director”).
Persons who conduct research using scientific research grants from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Japan Society for the
A person who conducts research commissioned (entrusted) by the national government or a local government
In addition to the above, persons who have been specially approved by the Director of the Center.

■Internal Regulations

⏵ Tohoku University Cyberscience Center Internal Rules on the Use of Large-Scale Scientific Computing Systems
⏵ Tohoku University Cyberscience Center’s internal rules on usage fees for large-scale scientific computing systems
⏵ Tohoku University Cyberscience Center Private Sector Internal Use Regulations for Large-Scale Scientific Computing System

3.2. University and Academic Use

3.2.1. Procedures for Use

User registration is required to use a large-scale scientific computing system.

■Application for use

Please fill out the necessary information on the application form and submit it to the Digital Services Support Division (reception). Later, we will send you the “System Use Approval Form” containing your user number (login ID) and initial password.

↓ Usage Application

■Change

If there is a change in the contents of the application, fill in the necessary information in the Notification of Change of Use and submit it to the Digital Services Support Division (reception).

↓ Notification of Change in Use

■Cancellation

Usage will be automatically continued from the following fiscal year onwards. If you wish to cancel usage, please fill out the necessary information on the cancellation form and submit it to the Digital Services Support Division (reception).
↓ Notice of Cancellation
As for the use change notice and the use cancellation notice, you don’t have to use the application form and you can write the contents in the body of the e-mail.

3.2.2. Note for Foreign Users (for academic advisors and host faculty)

Non-Japanese users who wish to apply for use of the supercomputer system should do so in accordance with the instructions provided at the link below.

⏵ Security Export Control at Tohoku University (using a supercomputer)

The following documents must be submitted to apply for use. Please download and submit either of them.

↓ Habitability Checklist (Japanese version)

↓ Habitability Checklist (English version)

3.3. Use by the private sector

As part of its social contribution activities, the Center provides the private sector with application software and supercomputers developed at the University. For more information on the Private Sector Service, please visit the Center’s website: ⏵ “Private sector use” And the following ⏵ “Application Guidelines for Large-Scale Computing System Services for Private Sector Use at Tohoku University Cyberscience Center” See.

3.3.1. Application for Use

The following documents must be submitted at the end of application, use, and use.

↓ Private Sector Service Assignment Application Form
↓ Private Sector Usage Service Pledge
↓ Private Sector Utilization Service Report

3.3.2. Usage Issue Category

Applications are accepted for the following two use issue categories.

■ Use of large-scale computation

We will solicit particularly outstanding issues in various fields, including life science, manufacturing technology, information and communications, environmental energy, and social infrastructure issues. We will solicit issues for the use of cutting-edge simulation software and supercomputers developed at universities from private companies and support the creation of innovation by companies. There are two types of use, Non-proprietary Use and Proprietary Use. After setting a goal, we will determine the period of use with one year as a division. You can apply for continued use when the issue is completed. In that case, you will be charged for the use and the burden charge system for private companies will apply.

■ Trial use

We will solicit applications from the private sector for use issues that will lead to the discovery of new needs and the creation of innovation. The field is not specified. The purpose is to discover the potential demand for high-performance computing in industry and to lay the groundwork for paid use of advanced simulation software and supercomputers developed at universities. We will solicit private sector companies that have not used this center before, such as for use in projects to promote shared use of advanced research facilities. In principle, the results of use will be made public, and it is possible to use the computer system for up to one month free of charge.

3.3.3. Non-proprietary Use / Proprietary Use

For the Non-proprietary Use, it is necessary to submit a service report including the results of use within 30 days of the end of use. In addition, it is necessary to submit articles on the results to SENAC within one year. The Center can disclose the names of companies using the open results type, the contents of research, and the results to the general public. The usage burden is twice that for university and academic use.

In the Proprietary Use, it is not necessary to report the results of use and the details of use, but it is necessary to submit a report on the services used. The Center may report the names of companies using the Proprietary Use to the Center’s internal meeting. The usage burden is four times that of university and academic use.

3.3.4. Eligibility

All of the following conditions must be met.

To be used in Japan
To comply with the internal rules concerning the use of the large-scale scientific computing system of the Cyberscience Center of Tohoku University
Use only for the purpose of the adopted subject.
Limited to peaceful use only
To give consideration to the protection of human rights and interests
Compliance with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Bioethics and Safety
Compliance with “Security Trade Control” by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Promptly submit a usage report after completing the assignment.

3.3.5. Available Software

Gaussian16
Quantum Espresso
OpenFOAM
GROMACS
LAMMPS
Singularity
Application software developed by RIST that can be used by private companies

4. Usage Fees

4.1. About usage fees

There are 3 usage fees, which are Computational Fees, File Storage Fees and File Output Fees.
(Attached Table1 [University / Academic Use],Attached Table2 [Use by Private Companies (Non-proprietary Use)] and Attached Table3 [Use by Private Companies (Proprietary Use)])
If you use a computer, there will be an expense for computational fees.
Shared use (Usage-dependent) is determined by the number of VEs used (in the case of AOBA-S and AOBA-A) or the number of nodes (in the case of AOBA-B) and the elapsed time.
In the case of shared use (Fixed amount), you can pay the usage fee in advance and use each computer until the time corresponding to the usage fee is charged.
There will be no refund if the time spent using the computer is less than the usage fee.
You can also add the usage fee in the middle of the fiscal year.
Dedicated use is achieved by occupying a VE or node, so there is no need to wait for other users to finish their jobs.
Users directly pay the expenses to the Center for university and academic use, use by private companies, and joint research with the Center.
A discount system for computational fees is applied to joint research with the Center.
Invoices are usually sent semi-annually (every 6 months) to the accountant who is responsible for collecting users.
The period of use and the time of request for usage fees are items 4.2 Please refer to the.

■ University / Academic Use

Attached Table 1: Basic Usage Fees [University / Academic Use] applies. Please contact the Digital Services Support Division (reception) to confirm whether the user is eligible for academic use.

■ Use by Private Companies

The Appended Table 2 Basic Usage Fees [Use by Private Companies (Non-proprietary Use)] applies to the use of the Non-proprietary Use, and the Appended Table 3 Basic Usage Fees [Use by Private Companies (Proprietary Use)] applies to the use of the Proprietary Use.

4.2. Request for the Usage Fees

Billing for Charges are generally made semi-annually (Table 1).
The amount of less than 5,000 yen for the first semester will be carried over to the second semester.
The amount of less than 5,000 yen for the second semester will not be charged.
The billing schedule may change as the system is updated.
Please check the large-scale scientific computing system news for details.
⏵ Large-Scale Scientific Computing System News
If the Person in Charge of Accounting is outside the Organization and specifically requires a usage fee invoice that includes the name of the payment expense,
or if there are any questions regarding the appropriate fields on the invoice,
please contact the Accounting Section (cc-kaikei[at]grp.tohoku.ac.jp) by the middle of September and March, before the invoices are issued.
In addition, if it is necessary to issue an invoice outside the normal billing period, please contact the Digital Service Support Division (reception) (cc-uketoku[at]grp.tohoku.ac.jp).

Table 1 Usage Period and Issuance of Invoices
	Period of Use	Invoicing
Previous term	April - September	Mid-October
Later stage	October - March	Mid-April

5. Joint research with the Center / JHPCN / HPCI

5.1. Joint research with the center

In order to build a better supercomputing environment for researchers, this center is inviting applications for joint research on supercomputing. This joint research will cover [A] projects to support young and female researchers, [B] emerging projects, and [C] general projects. Users will conduct research on vectorization and parallelization of programs processed by the supercomputer AOBA in cooperation with this center.

Applications for the same research topic (content) can only be submitted for a maximum of three years. In addition, if you have already applied to another center for the same research topic (content), please explain the difference in the research plan, such as the reason for using the resources of the other center.

5.1.1. Qualifications of Applicants

Persons qualified to use the Center’s large-scale scientific computing system

5.1.2. Application period and application method

⏵ Refer to the center’s news article

5.1.3. Requirements for Joint Research

The research period shall be as stated in the application period.
Research on vectorization and parallelization of programs will be conducted jointly with the staff of this center.
You are requested to provide program codes, etc. to the Center in order to conduct the Joint Research.
When publishing the research results of the joint research or the results obtained from the program that is the research results in a paper, etc., clearly state the contribution of the Center based on the joint research (e.g. co-authors, acknowledgments, etc.).
At the end of the fiscal year, you will be requested to submit a Report on the Results of Joint Research (designated form). This report must also clearly state the Center’s contributions.
Within one year after the completion of the joint research, you are requested to submit the results of the joint research to SENAC, the public relations magazine for the Center’s large-scale scientific computing system. This article must describe the specific contents and effects of the vectorization and parallelization of the program, as well as the joint efforts with the Center.
If you have reported your research results to an academic conference, etc., please submit a separate copy to the Center.
Adoption of Challenge [A] and Challenge [B] The JHPCN Emerging Joint Research Challenge will be adopted from among the challenges. The adopter of the JHPCN Emerging Joint Research Challenge may be requested to present at a symposium hosted by the JHPCN.
In principle, please apply for the HPCI system assignment or the JHPCN assignment for the following fiscal year and beyond.
Because the computer system is shared, there may be a wait for the execution of a request depending on the usage situation. Please consider the waiting time and use the system as planned.

5.1.4. Details of Grants, etc.

For [A] and [B], the Center will bear 2/3 of the Computation Burden Expenses (full amount).
As for the assignment [C], the Center will bear 2/3 of the amount exceeding 200,000 yen of the calculation burden expenses.
The maximum amount borne by the Center shall be 5 million yen for both [A], [B] and [C].
The subsidy covers the cost of computation for shared use, and exclusive use is not eligible for the subsidy.

5.2. Joint Usage / Research Center of Interdisciplinary Large-scale Information Infrastructures (JHPCN)

The Center is authorized by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology as an “Interdisciplinary Large-scale Information Infrastructure Joint Usage / Research Center.”
The “Interdisciplinary Large-scale Information Infrastructure Joint Usage / Research Center” consists of eight facilities for shared use, each of which has a supercomputer at Hokkaido University, Tohoku University, University of Tokyo, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagoya University, Kyoto University, Osaka University, and Kyushu University. In April 2010, the “Interdisciplinary Large-scale Information Infrastructure Joint Usage / Research Center” began full-scale activities as a “network-type” organization.
The purpose of this network is to contribute to the further advancement and constant development of Japan’s academic and research infrastructure by conducting interdisciplinary joint use and research on so-called grand challenge problems that have been considered extremely difficult to solve or clarify in the fields of the global environment, energy, materials, genomic information, web data, academic information, time series data from sensor networks, video data, program analysis, and other general information processing fields, using information infrastructure such as super-large-scale computers, large-capacity storage, and networks.
This network has many leading researchers in the above fields, and we can expect further development of research themes through joint research with these researchers.
Please refer to the JHPCN website for details such as how to apply.

↗ JHPCN website

5.2.1. Activities of the Cyberscience Center

The Center provides a computing environment that can respond flexibly to the demands of increasingly diverse user applications by operating two supercomputers: a vector type and a scalar type.

In addition, we are working to advance science and create innovation using high-performance computers by establishing a system for conducting collaborative research using this center in cooperation with faculty and technical staff, and by conducting research on computer architecture, high-performance infrastructure software, and high-performance computing technology in close cooperation with computer scientists and computer scientist to advance programs, etc.

5.3. Innovative High Performance Computing Infrastructure (HPCI)

The HPCI is a fundamental system that connects Fugaku with major supercomputers throughout Japan via a network to realize an innovative computing environment that meets a variety of needs. The Center is a member of the HPCI system.

5.3.1. About HPCI (from the HPCI website)

■ Overview of HPCI

The HPCI is a fundamental system that connects Fugaku with major supercomputers throughout Japan via a network to realize an innovative computing environment that meets a variety of needs. The Center is a member of the HPCI system.

■ What is HPCI?

The Innovative High-Performance Computing Infrastructure (HPCI) is a shared computing infrastructure built in response to a proposal from the HPCI Preparatory Stage Consortium, the predecessor of the HPCI Consortium, and has been shared since September 28, 2012. HPCI is a scientific and technological computing environment that enables a wide range of HPC users across the country to efficiently use HPC resources across the country by connecting computing systems and storage systems at universities and research institutions in Japan through high-speed networks. Through the operation of HPCI, we will respond to diverse user needs, create groundbreaking research results, contribute to the development of science and technology and the strengthening of industrial competitiveness, and contribute to the development of human resources and the expansion of the base of supercomputing.

5.3.2. How to apply for assignments

In principle, applications for public use of the HPCI system shared computing resources other than Mt. Fugaku and Mt. Fugaku are invited once a year. However, in order to promote use by industry, trial use of industrial use and paid use (individual use) in which the results are not disclosed are accepted as needed throughout the year. Those who wish to use the resources can apply for a research project and use them after screening.

Please refer to the HPCI website for details on how to apply.

↗ HPCI website

6. Other Usage Methods

Use the Center’s large-scale scientific computing system Other usage methods. For application methods, please contact the Digital Service Support Division (reception) (cc-uketuke[at]grp.tohoku.ac.jp).

6.1. Use at the institutional (departmental) level

When using a large-scale scientific computing system, we also provide a service that allows users to use the system by paying an annual fixed amount of usage fees on a per-user or per-institution (department) basis.
This is a system that allows each laboratory to use the system without paying individual usage fees if it is a member of an institution (department).
It is possible to respond to the new needs of researchers who have not had the opportunity to use computers, to perform large-scale simulations that could not be performed with computers in the laboratory, and to reduce the cost of introducing computers on our own and operating costs.
An annual flat rate can be used according to your budget, with a mix of exclusive and shared use as needed.

6.2. Free Supply of Supercomputers for Human Resource Development in Computational Science and Computer Science

This is a system in which large-scale scientific computing systems can be used free of charge for the purpose of educational contribution and human resource development in the fields of computational science and computer science. It is provided only for educational purposes such as lecture practice in graduate schools and undergraduate schools (excluding use for graduation theses, master’s theses, and doctoral theses).

6.3. Free Supercomputer Program for Undergraduate Students

Under this system, undergraduate students (in their third and fourth year) can use a large-scale scientific computing system free of charge in order to prepare their graduation thesis, etc. For research projects that have been selected after a faculty member of the Center has reviewed the content, the large-scale scientific computing system can be used free of charge (there is an upper limit on the number of node hours that can be used).

If you are going to publish your research results in an academic journal, etc., please acknowledge the contribution of the Center.
You will be asked to submit a progress report at the end of the fiscal year.
You will need the approval of your supervisor to apply.
Technical college students are fifth year students in the regular course and advanced course students.
There is a maximum of two applications per supervisor.

7. How to confirm the usage fee

The usage fees can be checked on the user portal.
⏵ User portal site
On the User Portal, those who have a user number of a large-scale scientific computing system can do the following.

Review Available Project Codes
Confirmation of billing statement for each project code / user number
Download of journal CSV file for each project code / user number
Changing the LDAP Password
SSH public key enrollment

You can log in to the user portal site from the “Login Page” link. You will need your UserID (user number of the large-scale scientific computing system) and Password (LDAP password. The initial password is the one written on the usage approval form.)

8. Submission of research results

The Center strives to contribute to the development of research by introducing the world’s most advanced large-scale scientific computing systems that support academic research, and by improving and expanding the environment for their use. In order to continue to improve the system, it is necessary to widely promote the fact that large-scale scientific computing systems are essential in many research fields and that research results have been obtained.

Therefore, users are requested to submit a list of research results obtained using the Center’s large-scale scientific computing system.

List of Research Results　：Name of author, title of paper, journal (volume and page number), year of publication
How to Submit　　　：To:seika[at]cc.tohoku.ac.jp
Due Date　　　：Until mid-April of the following fiscal year
Contact　　　：Digital Service Support Division (Reception) cc-uketuke[at]grp.tohoku.ac.jp

When presenting your thesis, etc., please clearly state that you used the Center.

■ Example

” Part of the experimental results in this research were obtained using supercomputing resources at Cyberscience Center, Tohoku University.”

9. Contact Information

Please contact the Digital Service Support Division (reception) (cc-uketuke[at]grp.tohoku.ac.jp) for inquiries about usage applications and usage fees. If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the center. Please use the usage consultation form for inquiries.

⏵ Usage Consultation Form