Exploring idea and value in moving select Chemistry clusters to CAC, from 248 Baker Lab.

Table of contents

Current purpose of this project, at this stage

We are investigating the degree to which CAC can host our high-performance research compute clusters reliably and cost-effectively.
The new system might be called, "Chemistry's Aggregated Cluster". Summary purpose Oliver submitted to CAC, 12/22/2016:
- Duplicate and expand on current functionality of Chemistry's existing aggregated cluster serving multiple research groups. Each research group can access only their group's compute nodes, with sharing of nodes across groups only by permission.
- Develop clear, robust, and affordable workflows for technical support (break/fix, enhancements, de-bugging, optimizing, and technical consultation), administrative support, and financial tracking and accounting between Chemistry researchers, Chemistry IT staff, and CAC staff.

CAC ticket tracking

Date started	Ticket	Notes


1/13/17	[CAC Help #31163] AutoReply: Resource change request on Private Cluster Management, oh10_0001	Asked when we can drop off our test cluster hardware.

Created project number and name within Chemistry IT's Project Excel sheet:
- https://cornellprod.sharepoint.com/sites/AS/AIT/ChemIT/_layouts/15/start.aspx#/
Created a project page within Chemistry IT's Project "ChemIT-Projects" OneNote repository.

12/23/16: Kevin Ashman <kda1> provided CAC with all requested accounting information.

12/22/2016

Oliver spoke to Lenetsky to open up a CAC Project so they can charge us.
- Pre-approved up to $10,000 for set-up and testing. (N.B. $20K would be too high, for this stage of evaluation.)
Sumitted CAC Project Request Form <https://www.cac.cornell.edu/services/Projects/Project.aspx>.
- Some of the text I entered.

Fall 2016

Started conversations on this topic, including with Chemistry researchers, CAC, and RedBarn.
Created flyer.
Consolidated 4 clusters under one head node (CLAW: Collum, Loring, Abruna, and Widom)