DELTA Allocations
Using Delta
Delta is a computing and data resource funded by the National Science Foundation through its Advanced Computing Systems and Services (ACSS) program, offering computing and data resources that enable GPU-accelerated computing with access to CPU resources and storage.
- For all Delta Allocation Opportunities, Allocation awards will focus primarily on GPU applications, but would not preclude a CPU-only allocation.
Delta offers three allocatable resources:
- Delta CPU Core hours for use on the CPU nodes.
- Delta GPU A100 GPU hours for use on either of Delta’s Nvidia A100 or A40 GPU node types – GPU charge rate will be based on relative cost of GPU used.
- Delta Storage Storage requests must be associated with a compute request
Allocations are awarded to Delta through the following methods:
ACCESS
The majority of Delta is allocated through ACCESS and is the preferred path to getting compute time on Delta. ACCESS offers four allocation opportunities beginning with an entry level requiring only a project description.
The lower three opportunities of Explore, Discover and Accelerate are open and processed continuously for fast turnaround. The Explore opportunity accepts requests submitted by Graduate Students with a faculty or staff co-PI. The Maximize opportunity is open twice a year.
ACCESS awards are suitable for:
- General research allocations
- Educational allocations
- Startup allocations
- Campus Champion allocations
NAIRR PILOT
A portion of Delta’s GPU resource is allocated through the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) Pilot program. The NAIRR Pilot offers an opportunity for AI/ML projects to obtain computational resources necessary for advancing AI and ML research.
NAIRR Pilot requests for resources are reviewed on a continual basis.
Click on the ABOUT NAIR PILOT ALLOCATIONS below for more information on resources made available from the NAIRR Pilot program.
ILLINOIS
A portion of the Delta system is also available to Illinois researchers primarily to fill needs not met by the ACCESS program. ACCESS is the first choice as small awards are easily available and scale out to much larger awards than the Illinois program can support.
- Allocations may be requested for proof-of-concept cases or strategic campus collaborations on a first-come first-served basis at the Delta Discretionary request page. (NCSA account required)
- Click here for the Delta Discretionary request page
- An NCSA account is required to access the Delta Discretionary request page. Please allow up to 24 hours for account creation once requested.
- Click here to request an NCSA account
- In the Delta Discretionary request, please include information about why your project is not suitable for an ACCESS request.
To inquire about Delta allocations, please email help@ncsa.illinois.edu
Other Illinois Opportunities
Allocations for Innovative/Exploratory, Outreach, Science Gateways, and Data Science areas are also available.
TO INQUIRE ABOUT OTHER DELTA ALLOCATIONS, PLEASE EMAIL HELP@NCSA.ILLINOIS.EDU
