The following paragraphs are designed to help grant applicants accurately describe the various UBC Advanced Research Computing (ARC) systems and services when completing grant applications. Systems are described separately, to allow the inclusion of only the necessary components in an application. Exact technical details are omitted as they are both constantly changing and not particularly relevant to the grant application. In the event these details are required, links to a current version of the detailed technical specification are supplied. Applicants are encouraged to modify the provided text to suit or include it in applications verbatim. The Sockeye system also lists a DOI should researchers wish to acknowledge the contributions of that system.
UBC ARC
UBC Advanced Research Computing (“UBC ARC”) is a support unit dedicated to ensuring researchers with complex computations needs receive the resources and the support they require to successfully carry out their research activities. In addition to managing research systems such as the UBC ARC Sockeye cluster or the UBC ARC Chinook storage system, and software offerings such as REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture), UBC ARC aids researchers with systems and solutions architecture, grant applications, and training and support for local, regional, and national digital research infrastructure. ARC also provides consultation on matters of data privacy, security, data sharing agreements, and regulatory compliance.
UBC ARC Sockeye
The UBC ARC Sockeye (“Sockeye”) system operated by UBC Advanced Research Computing (“UBC ARC”) is a locally managed computing cluster available to UBC researchers at no charge. Modern CPU core density coupled with high-performance storage and networking subsystems enable high-performance computing (“HPC”) and high throughput computing (“HTC”) workloads while a significant complement of GPU hardware enables GPU-accelerated workloads typical of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and a growing number of applications designed to take advantage of accelerator technologies. The on-premises nature of its computational and storage capabilities makes Sockeye suitable for addressing data of all sensitivity levels.