Syracuse Research Computing Resources
Syracuse University Research Computing resources are available to those working for faculty sponsored research efforts. Students working independently and intending to either publish findings in academic publications or are seeking grant funding are encouraged to secure faculty sponsorship before requesting access.
Not sure if you qualify? Please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are happy to review your computational needs and recommend next-steps.
Need Access? If you are seeking access, see our Requesting Access page to get started.
Syracuse Research Computing provides a range of computing resources to support diverse research needs:
- OrangeGrid, a high-throughput computing (HTC) cluster
- Zest, a high-performance computing (HPC) cluster
- Academic Virtual Hosting Environment (AVHE), a private cloud focused on the unique needs of the research community
- Crush, a virtual private cloud for computationally intense research computing needs
- SUrge, a growing computing cluster with hundreds of GPUs located within our clusters, supporting GPU enabled applications
Through our continued partnerships, we also support research computing needs in the cloud, including Microsoft Azure.
Resource Comparison
| Resource | Type | Funding | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| OrangeGrid | HTC Cluster | Not required | Many independent jobs |
| Zest | HPC Cluster | Not required | Parallel, multi-node jobs |
| SUrge | GPU Infrastructure | Not required | Provides GPUs to clusters |
| AVHE | Private Cloud | Not required | CPU VMs, unique needs |
| Crush | Private Cloud | Not required | Intense computing, dynamic solutions |
| Azure | Cloud Partnership | Funding required | Specific needs, cloud services |
Data Sensitivity & Compliance: Before requesting resources, tell us about your data. Sensitive data (HIPAA, FERPA, controlled exports, etc.) or grant requirements significantly impact which computing resources are appropriate. Some resources cannot be used for certain data types. We need this information during consultation to ensure compliance and proper resource selection.
What We Need to Know
When requesting computing resources, provide information about:
Computational Requirements
- CPU needs: How many cores? Parallel or independent jobs?
- Memory needs: How much RAM per job?
- Storage needs: How much data? How long to keep it?
- GPU needs: What type of work? How many GPUs?
- Runtime: Minutes, hours, days, or weeks per job?
Data & Compliance Requirements
Critical: Data sensitivity requirements significantly impact which computing resources are appropriate.
Tell us if your data involves:
- Protected health information (HIPAA)
- Student data (FERPA)
- Export-controlled data (ITAR, EAR)
- Controlled unclassified information (CUI)
- Grant-specific data agreements (NIH, NSF, DOD)
- IRB approvals or data use agreements
Workflow Information
- What software or tools will you use?
- Batch-friendly or requires GUI?
- Timeline and scale of work?
- Previous HPC/HTC experience?
Ready to Get Started?
Email researchcomputing@syr.edu to request a consultation.
See our complete requesting access guide for what to include in your request.