APAC National Facility


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Getting Accounts or Otherwise Applying for Resource on the APAC National Facility

Contents

Preliminary Information

Computational Projects

Start-up project accounts

Merit Allocation of compute time

Partner Time Allocation

Data Projects

Start-up project accounts

Merit Allocation of data resources

Other forms

Dataset Hosting

Third Party Software Request

Additional User Form for NEW users on existing projects.

Preliminary Information

Who may have an account The APAC National Facility (NF) is available for use by researchers and postgraduate students (through their supervisors) at Australian universities and the CSIRO. All access is subject to conditions of use and other policies, including a requirement to acknowledge APAC in publications.
Use of the NF systems for commercial purposes or by commercial organisations is possible by negotiation (email help@nf.apac.edu.au for details).

When to Apply Generally proposals may be submitted at any time, however proposals to the Merit Allocation Scheme (MAS) are prefered at the twice yearly call for proposals.

How to Apply Read on to see which scheme you should apply under and the relevant policies, then load up the application form by clicking on the linkin the left hand column if provided, or selecting the link for the form from within the explanatory text. Forms are to be filled in and submitted online.

Cost & ARC Resource Valuation The NF operates on a resource share model whereby the resources of the NF systems have been allocated to APAC (for the MAS) and other share-holders (mainly APAC partners) in accordance with the contributions they have provided to the NF. As a result of this model, researchers granted resources under the MAS or by the partners are not charged by APAC for their use of the systems at the NF.
The APAC Board has determined that for the purposes of indicating the in-kind value of grants to bodies such as the ARC, a figure of $0.50 per processor hour on compute systems should be used. Contact us for a valuation for usage of the data system. Projects with commercial support may be expected to make a financial contribution.

Notes for Project Renewal Applications When you try to access a form for project renewal you will be required to authenticate yourself first. The reason for this is that if there is data available from a previous application for the project, the application form loaded will contain pre-filled in values for some parts of the form. It is very important that you:

Read and Correct the pre-filled items. Out of date information will not be appreciated by the resource allocation committee concerned.

It there is out of date data on the form which the form does not allow you to edit, simply email to help@nf.apac.edu.au) to have the information updated for you.

Other Links Research Fields, Courses and Disciplines (RFCD) classification codes.
Acceptable Formats for the Project Descriptions to be submitted with the applications.

Merit Allocation and Partner Share Computational Projects
Apply using the online FORMS.

Start-up accounts FORM Small start-up grants are available to help researchers evaluate the suitability of the National Facility to their research and to assist in framing applications for substantial grants. Postgraduate students can be connected users on projects with their supervisors as the principal investigator.

Merit Allocation Scheme (MAS)
for Computational Projects Before submitting a proposal for time under the MAS you are strongly urged to read the first two of the documents listed below:

General description of the MAS including information on the types of projects that will be supported.

Criteria used by the Merit Allocation Committee to evaluate MAS project proposals.

Call for Applications

Members of the Merit Allocation Committee

Current and past grants including brief project descriptions.

Note:
The Federal Government has given approval for CSIRO researchers to obtain resource grants under the Merit Allocation Scheme. CSIRO researchers may therefore apply to the scheme for such grants.

FORMS NEW Merit Scheme Computational project
Existing Merit Scheme Computational project - continuation

Partner Time Allocation for Computational Projects Some APAC partner organizations have a formal "Partner Share" available to them to allocate at their own discretion outside of the Merit Allocation Scheme. If your organisation is a member of one of APAC's regional partners, you are eligible to apply for a Partner Share grant. These grants are generally smaller than MAS grants.
Note: With the transition of APAC to the new NCRIS program for NCI (National Computational Infrastructure) some partners no longer have shares. This change will be effective as of July 1, 2007.

FORMS NEW Partner Share project
Existing Partner Share project - continuation

Merit Allocation Data Projects

Start-up projects Small start-up grants are available to help researchers evaluate the suitability of the National Facility Data systems for their research and to assist in framing applications for substantial grants. Postgraduate students can be connected users on projects with their supervisors as the principal investigator.

Merit Allocation Scheme (MAS) for Data Projects APAC also supports data projects, through the merit allocation committee. (Data projects are not necessarily using computational resource on the supercomputers.) Data projects may
involve complex data association using specialised data organisation,

have massive data requirements from external sources such as instruments,

need data intensive computation or analysis.

Data resources may include on-line, archival and database storage, and computational resource for data analysis.
Note the Data Projects Policy for Access.
Projects are expected to have had a start-up grant as above before making a full apllication for a Data project. Before submitting a data proposal under the MAS you are strongly urged to read the documents:

Description of the Merit Allocation Scheme for Data (MASD) including the types of projects, resources available, criteria, and conditions of Applications and Use.

Members of the Merit Allocation Committee

FORMS NEW Merit Scheme DATA project
Existing Merit Scheme DATA project - continuation
This same form is to be used for existing MAS Data project renewal and existing MAS and Partner share computational project data storage update requests. Note that MAS and Partner share computational projects are automatically allowed up to 20 Gbytes of storage on the mass data store tape system. They may use the form to apply for more than the automatic 20GB.

Other Forms

Dataset Hosting The APAC National Facility will consider applications for provision of services and access for datasets required by the research community. To qualify for hosting at the APAC National Facility such datasets must be of National importance or must require other services of the APAC National Facility.

Third Party Software Request If there is third-party software not currently installed on the APAC National Facility that is essential to your project or which you believe would be useful, please complete the form.

Adding Additional User Use this form if you want to connect to an existing project a new person who does not yet have a login on any of the APAC National Facility facilities. For people with existing usernames who require connection to, or disconnection from a project, the Principal Investigator needs only email the details to help@nf.apac.edu.au.

Email problems, suggestions, questions to

Who may have an account	The APAC National Facility (NF) is available for use by researchers and postgraduate students (through their supervisors) at Australian universities and the CSIRO. All access is subject to conditions of use and other policies, including a requirement to acknowledge APAC in publications. Use of the NF systems for commercial purposes or by commercial organisations is possible by negotiation (email help@nf.apac.edu.au for details).

When to Apply	Generally proposals may be submitted at any time, however proposals to the Merit Allocation Scheme (MAS) are prefered at the twice yearly call for proposals.

How to Apply	Read on to see which scheme you should apply under and the relevant policies, then load up the application form by clicking on the linkin the left hand column if provided, or selecting the link for the form from within the explanatory text. Forms are to be filled in and submitted online.

Cost & ARC Resource Valuation	The NF operates on a resource share model whereby the resources of the NF systems have been allocated to APAC (for the MAS) and other share-holders (mainly APAC partners) in accordance with the contributions they have provided to the NF. As a result of this model, researchers granted resources under the MAS or by the partners are not charged by APAC for their use of the systems at the NF. The APAC Board has determined that for the purposes of indicating the in-kind value of grants to bodies such as the ARC, a figure of $0.50 per processor hour on compute systems should be used. Contact us for a valuation for usage of the data system. Projects with commercial support may be expected to make a financial contribution.

Notes for Project Renewal Applications	When you try to access a form for project renewal you will be required to authenticate yourself first. The reason for this is that if there is data available from a previous application for the project, the application form loaded will contain pre-filled in values for some parts of the form. It is very important that you: Read and Correct the pre-filled items. Out of date information will not be appreciated by the resource allocation committee concerned. It there is out of date data on the form which the form does not allow you to edit, simply email to help@nf.apac.edu.au) to have the information updated for you.

Other Links	Research Fields, Courses and Disciplines (RFCD) classification codes. Acceptable Formats for the Project Descriptions to be submitted with the applications.

Start-up accounts FORM	Small start-up grants are available to help researchers evaluate the suitability of the National Facility to their research and to assist in framing applications for substantial grants. Postgraduate students can be connected users on projects with their supervisors as the principal investigator.

Merit Allocation Scheme (MAS) for Computational Projects	Before submitting a proposal for time under the MAS you are strongly urged to read the first two of the documents listed below: General description of the MAS including information on the types of projects that will be supported. Criteria used by the Merit Allocation Committee to evaluate MAS project proposals. Call for Applications Members of the Merit Allocation Committee Current and past grants including brief project descriptions. Note: The Federal Government has given approval for CSIRO researchers to obtain resource grants under the Merit Allocation Scheme. CSIRO researchers may therefore apply to the scheme for such grants.

FORMS	NEW Merit Scheme Computational project Existing Merit Scheme Computational project - continuation

Partner Time Allocation for Computational Projects	Some APAC partner organizations have a formal "Partner Share" available to them to allocate at their own discretion outside of the Merit Allocation Scheme. If your organisation is a member of one of APAC's regional partners, you are eligible to apply for a Partner Share grant. These grants are generally smaller than MAS grants. Note: With the transition of APAC to the new NCRIS program for NCI (National Computational Infrastructure) some partners no longer have shares. This change will be effective as of July 1, 2007.

FORMS	NEW Partner Share project Existing Partner Share project - continuation

Start-up projects	Small start-up grants are available to help researchers evaluate the suitability of the National Facility Data systems for their research and to assist in framing applications for substantial grants. Postgraduate students can be connected users on projects with their supervisors as the principal investigator.

Merit Allocation Scheme (MAS) for Data Projects	APAC also supports data projects, through the merit allocation committee. (Data projects are not necessarily using computational resource on the supercomputers.) Data projects may involve complex data association using specialised data organisation, have massive data requirements from external sources such as instruments, need data intensive computation or analysis. Data resources may include on-line, archival and database storage, and computational resource for data analysis. Note the Data Projects Policy for Access. Projects are expected to have had a start-up grant as above before making a full apllication for a Data project. Before submitting a data proposal under the MAS you are strongly urged to read the documents: Description of the Merit Allocation Scheme for Data (MASD) including the types of projects, resources available, criteria, and conditions of Applications and Use. Members of the Merit Allocation Committee

FORMS	NEW Merit Scheme DATA project Existing Merit Scheme DATA project - continuation This same form is to be used for existing MAS Data project renewal and existing MAS and Partner share computational project data storage update requests. Note that MAS and Partner share computational projects are automatically allowed up to 20 Gbytes of storage on the mass data store tape system. They may use the form to apply for more than the automatic 20GB.

Dataset Hosting	The APAC National Facility will consider applications for provision of services and access for datasets required by the research community. To qualify for hosting at the APAC National Facility such datasets must be of National importance or must require other services of the APAC National Facility.

Third Party Software Request	If there is third-party software not currently installed on the APAC National Facility that is essential to your project or which you believe would be useful, please complete the form.

Adding Additional User	Use this form if you want to connect to an existing project a new person who does not yet have a login on any of the APAC National Facility facilities. For people with existing usernames who require connection to, or disconnection from a project, the Principal Investigator needs only email the details to help@nf.apac.edu.au.