ColdFront is an open-source resource allocation management tool designed for high-performance computing centers, enabling efficient management of resources and user allocations. AImageLab-HPC utilizes ColdFront to allow users to request and manage access to various resources available within our data center. Access to any AImageLab-HPC services requires an active allocation to the relevant resource.

Getting started with ColdFront is straightforward - all you need is an AImageLab-HPC user account. Faculty members and PIs can use ColdFront to:

• Submit a Resource Proposal
• Add or Remove Users
• Complete Yearly Project Review

If you’re not a faculty member or a PI, you can still login to ColdFront to view information about the projects you’re part of and the resources you have access to, but you will not be able to submit proposals or manage allocations.

Resource Proposals

Access to AImageLab-HPC computational resources - GPU time, WORK storage, and associated SLURM accounts - is granted exclusively through the formal proposal process. There is no direct allocation request button; all new resource requests must go through a proposal.

After logging into ColdFront for the first time, click Propose a new Project to begin. A full description of the proposal process, including instructions on preparing and submitting a proposal, is available on the Requesting Computational Resources page.

Once your project has been provisioned, take a moment to add any publications, grants, or research output that will help track the scientific impact of our center.

Allocation Renewals

Allocations are approved for the time period defined by the proposal start and end dates. You will have the option to renew your allocation before it expires to continue using the resources. You can renew beginning 60 days before expiration, and you will receive email reminders starting 30 days prior. Allocations cannot be renewed once they have expired - you must submit a new proposal.

Add or Remove Users

Users can be added to or removed from your project in ColdFront. To add a user to your project, they must already have an AImageLab-HPC account. Please direct them to this documentation to create their own account.

To add users to your project, follow these steps:

1. Login to ColdFront
2. Click on your project
3. Under the Users section, click the Add User button
4. Enter the user’s username, first/last name, or email address (be sure to select the All Fields radio button)
5. Click the Search button, and a list of users will be displayed
6. Select the users by checking the box next to their name and click the Add Selected Users to Project button

You can also remove users from your project by clicking on your project and, under the Users section, clicking the Remove User button.

Delegate Manager Role

When adding a user to your project, you can optionally designate them as a “Manager” by selecting their role using the dropdown next to their email. A “Manager” has the same permissions as the PI to add/remove users, request/renew allocations, and manage project information such as grants, publications, and research output. Managers can also complete the annual project review. You can modify a user’s role at any time by clicking the Edit button next to the user’s name.

Notifications - All users on a project will receive notifications about allocations, including reminders of upcoming expiration dates and status changes. Users may uncheck the box next to their username to turn off notifications. However, Managers and PIs on the project cannot turn off notifications.

Allocation Change Requests

To request a change to an existing allocation, such as adjusting compute hours or storage, use the allocation change request feature in ColdFront. Navigate to your active allocation for the resource you want to modify, then click on the Request Change button. Enter the amount you would like and submit.

Please Note: Allocation changes are subject to review and approval by AImageLab-HPC staff. You will receive a notification once your request has been processed.

Complete Yearly Project Review

AImageLab-HPC requires an annual review of all projects. We ask that PIs or project managers update the project description and field of science if necessary, and remove any users who should no longer have access. During this review, we also request that you update your grant and publication information to ensure it is up to date. This information is essential for reports AImageLab-HPC provides to the administration, demonstrating the research and work enabled by our resources.

When your project review is due, you will see a banner at the top of the project detail page that includes a link to the project review process along with the message: You need to review this project.

Warning: New allocation requests and allocation renewals will not be accepted until the project review has been submitted.