New ICDS Prices and Usage Model 2025

Bookmark this page to access up-to-date information on the upcoming price reductions and usage models. You can jump ahead to learn more about:

 

New Pricing, Effective January 2025

ICDS has negotiated new, lower pricing for Roar Restricted and Roar Collab compute and storage resources. These new prices will go into effect in January 2025. You can view the price list here (PSU login required).

Q: Do current SLA holders need to do anything to

A: No- the new lower rates will be applied to your January bill automatically and will be reflected in that statement.

Q: What about F&A?

A: The University will apply F&A externally funded purchases of ICDS resources.  However, you’ll find that pricing for ICDS compute and storage resources will be lower in January 2025, even with F&A applied. While ICDS itself does not bill for F&A, the price list linked above includes F&A charges to give users a clear sense of their “out the door” costs.

Q: How are the rates for the different product offerings calculated?

A: In brief: access to compute hardware that is newer and/or more expensive to purchase or maintain (like GPUs) is more expensive than access to older or less expensive hardware. While ICDS does not operate to realize a profit, finances must be carefully balanced to accommodate staff expenses, projected utilization, and ongoing maintenance and development. If you’re curious to learn the details of the methodology behind current ICDS pricing, click here (PSU login required). LINK COMING SOON

Q: I have questions about my particular situation; who can I talk to?

A: ICDS will be offering numerous opportunities to learn about the new pricing as well as the upcoming usage model. Check out our list of upcoming webinars and one-on-one sessions to learn more.

 

New Usage Model Available February 2025

The current ICDS service level agreement model (sometimes referred to as a “condo model”) is common among university sponsored HPC facilities. The model requires users to estimate their computation and storage needs and commit to a long term contract. This type of system does present limitations for many users:

  • While you have access to your full allocation at all times, if your needs are intermittent, this capacity is wasted.
  • Users must contract for a substantial amount of resources for an extended period.  Researchers with smaller needs (or budgets) tried to make do with the (limited) open queue, or simply didn’t make use of HPC.

Beginning in February 2025, users will have expanded options for accessing ICDS  compute and storage resources.

New Pay per Use Functionality

Beginning in February 2025, ICDS will allow users to purchase compute and storage access on an as-needed basis.

  • Potential for significant cost savings; pay only for the resources you use.
  • Utilize different hardware configurations (such as GPUs) without the long term commitment of an SLA
  • Better access for researchers with tighter budgets; no minimum purchases, no contract time commitment

Reserved Allocations

For those users who find value in the current model, ICDS will offer Reserved Allocations. These allocations give users immediate access to a set amount of compute resources for a term of one or more years. Please note that “bursting” will no longer be available with this type of model. If you have intermittent or “bursty” workflows, the Pay per Use option will be more economical.

Additional Changes

  • The Open Queue will transition to accommodate student/classroom use and very basic jobs. The queue will be comprised of mostly older hardware and so may not be suitable for jobs running some software with hardware constraints.
  • New “priority queues” (forthcoming) will accommodate users who need their jobs to start right away (for example, while debugging).

Browse the list of Events below to learn more about the new usage model and how to be among the first to utilize it. ICDS will send additional updates as this functionality becomes available.

 

Events

Kickoff Information Session: Overview and FAQ

Friday, December 6, 10:00-11:00 a.m. via Zoom

This webinar will cover the basics of the upcoming price changes and usage model. ICDS leadership will discuss how these advancements were developed and will answer your questions. This session will be recorded and posted on this page following the event.

Q&A Open Office Hours

Do you have questions about the new pricing or usage model? Stop by any time to one of our upcoming virtual Office Hours to discuss your situation on-on-one. No registration is required.

Startup Sessions: Begin Using Pay per Use and Reserved Allocations

COMING FEBRUARY 2025.

Schedule a one-on-one session with an ICDS account expert to get started with the new usage model.

 

Share Your Feedback and Get Involved

ICDS relies on the input of researchers like you to develop products and services that meet the needs of HPC research practitioners. Following the recent ICDS external review (PSU login required) the new pricing structure and usage models were developed in close collaboration with faculty advisory groups. Are you interested in becoming involved with the ICDS Cyberinfrastructure Faculty Advisory Committee or Power Users Group? Do you have feedback or ideas on how to further improve ICDS services? We’d like to hear from you!

We’d like to hear from you!