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HPC Interactive HPC Research Supercomputing UCloud

DeiC Interactive HPC Revolutionises Interdisciplinary Research with User-Friendly Supercomputing Access

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With 10,000 users, DeiC Interactive HPC has established itself as one of Europe’s most popular HPC facilities, thanks to an unprecedented democratisation of access to advanced computing resources. These resources, once reserved for specialised research fields and technically adept specialists, are now accessible to any researcher with a dataset and a vision.

Through a newly developed, simple, and graphical user interface, DeiC Interactive HPC, also known as UCloud, makes it easier than ever to gain interactive access to supercomputing. This approach reduces technical barriers and enhances research collaboration by offering shared, easily accessible virtual environments. As a result, DeiC Interactive HPC supports dynamic and interdisciplinary research, accelerating research processes and promoting innovation in fields ranging from bioinformatics to digital humanities.

Democratising Access to HPC

The trend towards more interactive use of technology, including HPC, reflects efforts to make the STEM field more inclusive and accessible, mirroring broader societal changes towards diversity and inclusion in technology and science. DeiC Interactive HPC’s user-friendly approach has attracted a broad spectrum of users, including those from nearly all Danish universities and individuals with varying levels of technical expertise, notably many students.

“We are proud to highlight the growing diversity among DeiC Interactive HPC users, a development that further distinguishes DeiC Interactive HPC from traditional HPC systems. We see continuous growth in user numbers and are now celebrating surpassing 10,000 users across a very broad spectrum of research disciplines, which is impressive in the HPC field. Of these users, 50% are students, reflecting DeiC Interactive HPC’s success in attracting new users and serving as a bridge to larger European HPC facilities,” says Professor Kristoffer Nielbo, representing Aarhus University in the DeiC Interactive HPC Consortium.

By simplifying access to supercomputers, DeiC Interactive HPC democratises powerful data processing resources, enabling a wider range of researchers and academics to conduct innovative research without the steep learning curve traditionally associated with HPC. This inclusivity fosters scientific collaboration and creativity, enriching the HPC community with a diversity of perspectives and ideas.

“We continuously work to improve DeiC Interactive HPC with a democratic approach, using user feedback to ensure our focus is in the right place. This is also reflected in our new update – UCloud version 2 – which aims to increase efficiency and improve the user experience for researchers. It is part of our DNA as an interactive HPC facility to always keep the user in mind and develop apps and user interfaces based on user needs. Therefore, we encourage our users to reach out to us with their wishes and ideas,” says Professor Claudio Pica, representing the University of Southern Denmark in the DeiC Interactive HPC Consortium.

An All Danish and Highly Secure System

Despite its internationally sounding name, UCloud, DeiC Interactive HPC is part of the Danish HPC landscape, funded by Danish universities and the Ministry of Education and Research. The increased focus on developing a new generation of highly user-friendly applications means that researchers and other university staff can now use intuitive applications for transcribing sensitive data via DeiC Interactive HPC.

“DeiC Interactive HPC has already developed applications based on the same transcription technology found online and made them available in a secure environment through the UCloud platform. These transcription applications are just the beginning of a series of targeted secure applications that do not require prior experience, and we are always open to user input and ideas that arise from their unique needs but often prove beneficial to many,” says Lars Sørensen, Head of Digitalisation, representing Aalborg University and CLAAUDIA in the DeiC Interactive HPC Consortium.

By making advanced data processing more accessible to researchers from various disciplines, DeiC Interactive HPC helps break down the technical barriers that previously limited access to these resources. With an increasing number of students and new users from diverse backgrounds combined with continuous engagement in user-centred innovation, DeiC Interactive HPC not only supports the academic community but also plays a crucial role in promoting a more inclusive and productive research environment.


For further information and high resolution graphics, contact:
Kristoffer Nielbo, Director of Center for Humanities Computing, Aarhus University, 26832608 kln@cas.au.dk

UCloud offers access to advanced tools such as quantum simulation apps and H100 GPUs as well as applications aimed at data analysis and visualisation.

In data analysis, Python and Jupyter notebooks are particularly prominent, catering to the interactive, ad hoc, and data-centric workflows common in the field. These tools are highly valued for their user-friendliness in handling rapidly changing software environments and offer rich user interfaces, a significant advantage compared to traditional HPC setups, which can be more complex or less flexible.

Furthermore, the integration of tools such as Conda for managing software packages, Jupyter notebooks, Rstudio, Coder, and Dask for parallel computing significantly enhances the usability of HPC resources for interactive and on-demand data processing needs. These tools help bridge the gap between the hardware of complex HPC systems and the user-friendly software environments that data scientists require.

About DeiC Interactive HPC

Use Cases and News

News About the New UI

DeiC Interactive HPC (UCloud) is a successful collaboration between three universities: SDU, AU, and AAU.

Aalborg University, CLAAUDIA, represented by Lars Sørensen

SDU, eScience Center, represented by Professor Claudio Pica

Aarhus University, Center for Humanities Computing, represented by Professor Kristoffer Nielbo


DeiC Interactive HPC revolutionerer tværfaglig forskning med brugervenlig adgang til supercomputing 

Med 10.000 brugere har DeiC Interactive HPC cementeret sin position som en af Europas mest populære HPC-faciliteter, takket være en hidtil uset demokratisering af adgangen til avancerede computerressourcer. Disse ressourcer, som tidligere var forbeholdt specialiserede forskningsområder og teknisk kyndige specialister, er nu tilgængelige for enhver forsker med et dataset og en vision.  

Gennem en nyudviklet, enkel og grafisk brugergrænseflade gør DeiC Interactive HPC, også kendt som UCloud, det nemmere end nogensinde før at få interaktiv adgang til supercomputing. Denne tilgang reducerer de tekniske barrierer og forbedrer samtidig mulighederne for forskningssamarbejde ved at tilbyde delte, lettilgængelige virtuelle miljøer. Således understøtter DeiC Interactive HPC dynamisk og tværfaglig forskning, som accelererer forskningsprocesser og fremmer innovation inden for alt fra bioinformatik til digital humaniora. 

Demokratisering af adgang til HPC 

Tendensen til mere interaktiv brug af teknologi, herunder HPC, afspejler bestræbelser på at gøre STEM-området mere inkluderende og tilgængeligt, hvilket igen afspejler en bredere samfundsmæssig forandring og udvikling i retning af diversitet og inklusion i teknologi og videnskab. DeiC Interactive HPC’s brugervenlige tilgang har tiltrukket et bredt spektrum af brugere, herunder brugere fra stort set alle Danmarks universiteter samt personer med forskellige niveauer af teknisk ekspertise – ikke mindst mange studerende. 

“Vi er stolte over at fremhæve den voksende diversitet blandt brugerne af DeiC Interactive HPC, en udvikling der yderligere adskiller DeiC Interactive HPC fra de traditionelle HPC-systemer. Vi ser en kontinuerlig vækst i andelen af brugere og kan netop nu fejre, at vi har rundet 10.000 brugere fordelt på et meget bredt spektrum af forskningsdiscipliner, hvilket er imponerende i HPC-regi. Af disse brugere er 50% studerende, hvilket vidner om DeiC Interactive HPC’s succes med at tiltrække nye brugere og fungere som en brobygger til de større europæiske HPC-faciliteter,” udtaler professor Kristoffer Nielbo, der repræsenterer Aarhus Universitet i DeiC Interactive HPC-Konsortiet. 

Ved at forenkle brugernes adgang til supercomputere demokratiserer DeiC Interactive HPC adgangen til kraftfulde databehandlingsressourcer, hvilket gør det muligt for et større udvalg af forskere og akademikere at skabe innovativ forskning uden den stejle læringskurve, der traditionelt er forbundet med HPC. Denne inklusivitet fremmer ikke kun videnskabeligt samarbejde og kreativitet, men beriger også HPC-fællesskabet med en mangfoldighed af perspektiver og ideer.  

“Vi arbejder kontinuerligt på at forbedre DeiC Interactive HPC, og vi gør det med en demokratisk tilgang, hvor vi anvender brugerfeedback til at sikre, at vores fokus er rette sted. Det afspejler sig også i vores nye opdatering – UCloud version 2- der har til formål at øge effektiviteten og forbedre brugeroplevelsen for forskerne. Det er en del af vores DNA som interaktiv HPC-facilitet, at vi hele tiden har brugeren for øje og udvikler apps og brugergrænseflade efter brugernes behov. Derfor opfordrer vi også vores brugere til at række ud til os med deres ønsker og ideer,” udtaler professor Claudio Pica, der repræsenterer Syddansk Universitet i DeiC Interactive HPC-Konsortiet. 

Pæredansk og topsikret system 

Til trods for sit internationalt klingende navn, UCloud, er DeiC Interactive HPC en del af det danske HPC-landskab, som er finansieret af de danske universiteter og Uddannelses- og Forskningsministeriet, og et øget fokus på udvikling af en ny generation af særdeles brugervenlige applikationer, betyder at forskere og andet universitetspersonale allerede nu kan bruge intuitive applikationer til transskription af følsomme data via DeiC Interactive HPC. 

“DeiC Interactive HPC har allerede udviklet applikationer baseret på den samme transskriptionsteknologi, som man finder online, og gjort dem tilgængelige i et sikret miljø gennem UCloud-platformen. Disse transskriptionsapplikationer er blot begyndelsen på en serie af målrettede sikre applikationer, der ikke kræver forudgående erfaring, og vi er som altid åbne for brugernes input og ideer, som opstår af deres unikke behov, men som ofte viser sig, at være til gavn for mange,” udtaler digitaliseringschef Lars Sørensen, der repræsenterer Aalborg Universitet og CLAAUDIA i DeiC Interactive HPC-konsortiet. 

Ved at gøre avanceret databehandling mere tilgængelig for forskere fra forskellige discipliner, hjælper DeiC Interactive HPC med at nedbryde de tekniske barrierer, der tidligere har begrænset adgangen til disse ressourcer. Med en stigende andel af studerende og nye brugere fra varierede baggrunde kombineret med kontinuerligt engagement i brugercentreret innovation, understøtter DeiC Interactive HPC ikke blot det akademiske samfund men spiller også en vigtig rolle i at fremme et mere inklusivt og produktivt forskningsmiljø. 


For yderligere information og grafikker i høj opløsning, kontakt: 
Kristoffer Nielbo, Center for Humanities Computing, Aarhus University, 26832608 kln@cas.au.dk

UCloud tilbyder adgang til både avancerede værktøjer som kvantesimuleringsapps og H100 GPU’er såvel som applikationer rettet mod dataanalyse og visualisering. 

Inden for dataanalyse er Python og Jupyter-notebooks især fremtrædende, da de imødekommer de interaktive, ad hoc og datacentriske arbejdsprocesser, der er almindelige i feltet. Disse værktøjer er højt værdsat for deres brugervenlighed i håndtering af hurtigt skiftende softwaremiljøer og tilbyder rige brugergrænseflader, hvilket er en betydelig fordel sammenlignet med traditionelle HPC-opsætninger, som kan være mere komplekse eller mindre fleksible. 

Derudover forbedrer integrationen af værktøjer som Conda til styring af softwarepakker, Jupyter-notebooks, Rstudio, Coder og Dask til parallel computing væsentligt brugbarheden af HPC-ressourcer til interaktive og on-demand databehandlingsbehov. Disse værktøjer hjælper med at overbygge kløften mellem komplekse HPC-systemers hardware og de brugervenlige softwaremiljøer, som dataforskere har brug for. 

About DeiC Interactive HPC

Use Cases and News

News About the New UI

DeiC Interactive HPC (UCloud) er et vellykket samarbejde mellem tre universiteter: SDU, AU og AAU.

Aalborg Universitet, CLAAUDIA, repræsenteret af Lars Sørensen

SDU, eScience Center, repræsenteret af professor Claudio Pica

Aarhus Universitet, Center for Humanities Computing, repræsenteret af professor Kristoffer Nielbo

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Interactive HPC UCloud UCloud status

New UCloud User Interface 

DeiC Interactive HPC is excited to roll out the new User Interface on the UCloud platform, designed to simplify processes and enhance the user experience. The updated interface, serving 10,000 users (and growing), signifies the dedication to delivering an easy-to-use interface that provides researchers with access to advanced interactive computing power, along with comprehensive data analysis and visualisation tools.

The launch of this new user interface marks a significant overhaul. Our team has meticulously redesigned every aspect, from its overall look-and-feel to the functionality of each page. Our primary objective has been to create an enhanced platform for users. We’re excited to see how researchers will benefit from the improved efficiency and usability when engaging with the platform,” says Dan Sebastian Thrane, Special Consultant at the eScience Center, University of Southern Denmark (SDU), and leader of the cloud team, which has been responsible for the development and implementation of the UI update.

Key changes of the new user interface include:

  1. Restructured dashboard layout to prioritize important information.
  2. Redesigned application catalogue with improved discoverability features.
  3. Improved space utilization with keyboard control, infinite scroll and better performance.
  4. File management now includes drag-select, drag-and-drop, and copy-paste for quicker access, along with a location bar for easy navigation.
  5. New two-level sidebar navigation replaces the top navigation bar, making it easier to find and access sub-pages within specific categories.
  6. Streamlined resource allocations integrate sub-projects, simplifying creation and management. The interface has been redesigned for improved organization and efficiency.
  7. Job submission enhancements allow users to switch between different app flavors and receive notifications for job status changes.

The updated interface reflects extensive research and meticulous examination of every aspect of the user interface, with the goal of addressing common pain points and improving both the overall layout and user experience. Designed with a focus on simplicity, efficiency, and consistency, the new interface aims to empower users while maintaining the core workflow on UCloud. This ensures that researchers can seamlessly manage their data and run applications as they normally would. 

All these enhancements mark a significant step forward in optimising the digital infrastructure and is available by May 14th 2024. For further details about the new user-interface, changes to accounting and a brand-new application catalog, visit UCloud.

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Interactive HPC Supercomputing UCloud

Adding 16 NVIDIA H100 GPUs to the DeiC Interactive HPC service marks significant milestone in computational research

Denmark has marked a significant milestone in computational research with the addition of 16 NVIDIA H100 GPUs to the DeiC Interactive HPC service, and 16 more are expected by the end of the year. The tender for the acquisition of the GPUs was awarded to Lenovo. This addition signifies a big leap forward for Danish researchers, who can now easily access the new GPUs through UCloud, and positions Denmark at the forefront of AI innovation. We recently had the privilege of talking with Dr. Valerio Rizzo, head of AI & SME at Lenovo’s EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) division, about the AI revolution that is currently taking place and Lenovo’s role in the production of the world’s most powerful hardware for AI. 

Collaboration between Lenovo and NVIDIA

NVIDIA is the company behind the industry-leading graphics processing unit (GPU), H100, currently the most sought-after hardware for AI and used extensively by some of the biggest AI companies in the world, including OpenAI, Microsoft and Google. H100 is generally 2-3 times faster than the previous A100 generation, and an impressive 30 times faster for AI workloads such as large language models (LLM). The recently announced supercomputer, Gefion, by Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF) and the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO) will make use of the same technology. 

In the past, Danish researchers had to either search abroad or pay commercial cloud providers expensive fees to use these powerful machines. However, since January this year the 16 H100 GPUs have been available via the DeiC Interactive HPC service, provided by a consortium of universities consisting of Aarhus University (AU), Aalborg University (AAU) and the University of Southern Denmark (SDU). The H100 GPUs are hosted at the SDU data center and available via the user-friendly platform, UCloud, that powers the DeiC Interactive HPC service…

To read more please go to SDU eScience to read the full story

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HPC Interactive HPC Supercomputing Tutorial UCloud UCloud status

No More Waiting for Resources

Streamline your workflow when using DeiC Interactive HPC

Have you ever experienced delays due to high demand for computing resources on UCloud (DeiC Interactive HPC)? The key to faster access and reducing system strain is efficient resource management.

Over-requesting can lead to unnecessary waiting because DeiC Interactive HPC operates by allocating resources to users as the requested resources become available, without the use of priority queues. Consequently, if you select a large machine for a relatively small task, you will need to wait for other tasks requested for these larger but fewer machines to finish, leading to prolonged waiting.

“Users with little or no experience in assessing the amounts of resources needed have a tendency to request more than they actually need.  This causes unnecessary queues and frustration for other users. However, we also see experienced users choosing the large machines simply out of habit instead of starting small, and subsequently migrate to a larger machine only when necessary.”

Jes Elgin, Cloud Engineer at DeiC Interactive HPC

To avoid delays, users need to accurately assess and request only the necessary resources for their task. Starting with conservative estimates can expedite access and improve overall system efficiency.

“Choosing small will always give you a head start as there are more small machines, and you can always upgrade to a large machine if you need it. You don’t have to start over, and you won’t lose any data.”

Jes Elgin, Cloud Engineer at DeiC Interactive HPC

So, choose your machine based on a qualified estimate of resources needed. If unsure start small and seek advice from experienced colleagues or the DeiC Front Office.

For optimal use of interactive HPC and to enhance your research, consult our guide on Interactive HPC Best Practices.

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Interactive HPC Supercomputing UCloud

9000 users on DeiC Interactive HPC

DeiC Interactive HPC has achieved another remarkable feat: it now has more than 9000 users! The graph shows the rapid and steady growth of the user base, which has tripled in just two years. More about this new milestone here

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Event Workshop

Interactive HPC Consortium workshop

A few days ago, Center for Humanities Computing at Aarhus Universitet had the pleasure of inviting Interactive HPC Consortium colleagues from CLAAUDIA, Aalborg Universitet and the SDU eScience Center to a workshop day at the wonderful Moesgaard Museum.

“We have these collaborative workshops every six months to stay informed and improve the Interactive HPC service, but also to stay connected with what we consider to be close colleagues from the other two universities.
Meeting up in person adds an essential layer to this cross-university collaboration, positively impacting the operation and development of the DeiC Interactive HPC facility. Through these gatherings, innovations are cultivated collectively among partners, each contributing their unique perspective. Given the consistently productive outcomes of these workshops resulting in several working groups that tackle delegated tasks in the coming months, we are considering expanding to a two-day workshop next time to facilitate more in-depth discussions and collaboration,” says Kristoffer Nielbo, Director of Center for Humanities Computing.

This recent workshop hosted no fewer than 25 people who convened to discuss the general status, infrastructure, education, and branding of DeiC Interactive HPC. The day concluded perfectly with a visit to the exhibitions at Moesgaard Museum and its grounds. Everyone looks forward to the next Interactive HPC workshop hosted by CLAAUDIA in wonderful Aalborg.

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call Supercomputing

Apply for HPC resources

The first national call for HPC resources H2-2024 is now open.

As a researcher at a Danish university, you have various options for gaining access to computing power at both Danish and international HPC facilities.

Deadline for application is 12. March. For more information, visit DeiCs website.

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Interactive HPC Quantum computing Supercomputing UCloud

DeiC Interactive HPC offers integration of advanced Quantum Computing Applications

Recently two advanced quantum computing applications were deployed on DeiC Interactive HPC: the NVIDIA CUDA Quantum Platform and the NVIDIA cuQuantum Appliance.

These applications show the continuous commitment to offer cutting-edge technologies to the Interactive HPC users.

“With these new applications, DeiC Interactive HPC is at the forefront of bringing quantum computing into practical, real-world use,” says Emiliano Molinaro, leader of research support at the SDU eScience Center. “The platform is now uniquely equipped to support the development of quantum algorithms and simulations, offering unprecedented level of computational power and flexibility.”

We hope that DeiC Interactive HPC’s deployment of these NVIDIA applications will be useful for a wide array of users, from academic researchers to industry professionals, seeking to explore the uncharted territories of quantum computing. It represents not only an enhancement of DeiC Interactive HPC’s offerings but also a significant contribution to the Danish quantum computing ecosystem.

Check out the full story on the SDU eScience website.

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Conference DeiC Event HPC Interactive HPC Supercomputing Teaching UCloud

Video use case: DeiC Interactive strengthens teaching in digital methods

Historian Adela Subotkova teaches history students at the University of Aarhus in digital methods. For her, DeiC Interactive has become an essential tool that has significantly facilitated and improved teaching.

Visit deic.dk to view video use case from the 2023 DeiC Conference

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DeiC HPC Interactive HPC Supercomputing UCloud UCloud status

Another milestone – 8000 users on DeiC Interactive HPC

Interactive HPC hits another milestone: There are now more than 8000 users! This is an increase of 1000 users during less than 3 months!

The activity on the platform has been sky-high during the past few weeks – possibly amplified by the many researchers who praised the platform and inspired others at the DeiC conference on the 7-8th of November.

Check out the story and read more about why the platform is so succesful at SDU eScience.