...

• Create a stand-along cluster using new hardware ($25K for minimum of 3 years operations (thusto confirm!). Thus, ~$8K/yr in hardware)).
  • Uses new OS and related cluster management software.
  • Install and configure necessary applications.
  • Enable NetID-based access, if possible (limit 2-3 days for a "go/no-go" decision on this functionality)
• Confirm old nodes can successfully be added to that new cluster.
• Migrate users and data to new cluster.
• Migrate old nodes to new cluster.

...

• Time for install of all necessary applications, many of which are new to Lulu. Then configure, verify, and de-bug new-installation-related issues.
• Whether NetID-based access will succeed. But note that this is not a do-or-die step, thus we will limit the duration of our investigation, with the hope that we can make this happen.

Tasks and estimated timing

...

See unknowns, above, which related to tasks which will obviously take additional time to accomplish.

Other provisioning models and related ideas

• We can walk through rates and scenarios, as appropriate.
• We can meet with CAC since they may be willing to do more with a commitment of $25K than is published with their $400 min. offering.
  • Brainstorming idea: Would they be willing to add hardware to CAC's RedCloud to get a buyer of that hardware a better cost and/or privileged access?

Buy cycles, on demand

...

Good for irregular high-performance demands, especially if have high peaks of need and long-lasting jobs.

...

• ChemIT rates are set by the CCB Computing Cmt and may change at any time. The rate for a group's single system (in a cluster or not) is $2.98/month, or $35.76/yr.

Table, related to our options