National Resources

When the RSS resources are not enough to meet your research needs - there are great tools available through the NSF.

What is Access?

The NSF’s ACCESS (Advanced Cyberinfrastructure Coordination Ecosystem: Services & Support) program builds upon the successes of the 11-year XSEDE project, while also expanding the ecosystem with capabilities for new modes of research and further democratizing participation.

Researchers can apply for and gain access to some of the most cutting edge systems in the world that expand capabilities beyond what we can offer on site at UM. Access also expands on the user support provided in XSEDE to provide documentation, user support groups, and even consulting through the MATCH program

How to Get Started?

Step 1: Get an Account

The first step is to get an account with Access so that you can make resource requests. You can head to the portal to fill out your information and follow the guide that will direct you through the account creation process.

Please note that if you are already an XSEDE user - you can use your current XSEDE login. Do not create a duplicate account.

Step 2: Review Opportunities

Access distributes resources via credits. The levels of scale and support are dependent on how many credits you are awarded and how you would like to allocate them.

There are four opportunities:

Explore Access: Explore ACCESS allocations are intended for purposes that require small resource amounts. Researchers can try out resources or run benchmarks, instructors can provide access for small-scale classroom activities, research software engineers can develop or port codes, and so on. Graduate students can conduct thesis or dissertation work.

Discover Access: Discover ACCESS projects are intended to fill the needs of many small-scale research activities or other resource needs. The goal of this opportunity is to allow many researchers, Campus Champions, and Gateways to request allocations with a minimum amount of effort so they can complete their work. These allocations can be requested at any time. They are available for the duration of your supporting grant or for 12 months without a grant (with possible extensions up to five years). Multiple requests are allowed if you have more than one supporting grant or need to keep your classroom or other non-research activity separate from your research efforts.

Accelerate Access: Accelerate ACCESS allocations support activities that require more substantial, mid-scale resource amounts to pursue their research objectives. These include activities such as consolidating multi-grant programs, collaborative projects, preparing for Maximize ACCESS requests, and supporting gateways with growing communities. These allocations can be requested at any time. They are available for the duration of your supporting grant or for 12 months without a grant (with possible extensions up to five years). Multiple requests are allowed if you have more than one supporting grant or need to keep your classroom or other non-research activity separate from your research efforts.

Maximize Access: For projects with resource needs beyond those provided by an Accelerate ACCESS project, a Maximize ACCESS request is required. ACCESS does not place an upper limit on the size of allocations that can be requested or awarded at this level, but resource providers may have limits on allocation amounts for specific resources. The review process is similar to the XSEDE process for large allocations

Please visit Access Allocations for more detailed information.