Who can get an OSC account and how do you access OSC resources?

Updated

The Ohio Supercomputer Center (OSC) provides accounts to researchers, students, faculty, and businesses, and you request access through the OSC system gateway or client portal. Eligibility generally depends on having an institutional affiliation or a project sponsor, and once your account is active you can use OSC services such as cluster computing, research data storage, and software development resources.

Who can get an OSC account

OSC organizes its audience into three broad groups, each with its own entry point on the site:

  • Researchers — faculty, research staff, and collaborators who need compute, storage, or software engineering support for projects.
  • Students — undergraduates and graduates involved in coursework, research experiences, or programs such as the Summer Opportunity for Undergraduates and the AI Research Experience.
  • Businesses — companies engaging with OSC through industrial engagement and partnership programs.

The homepage rotator illustrates how this works in practice: faculty and students at institutions like Wright State University and Ohio University use OSC for hands-on coursework and data-driven research, and a Campus Champion helps connect users with those resources. That pattern — an institutional connection plus a person or program that sponsors or facilitates access — is the typical route in.

How to access OSC resources

  1. Go to the access entry point. OSC lists "Access OSC" with links to the System Gateway and the Client Portal, alongside "Get an OSC account."
  2. Request an account. Use the account request path from the homepage or the "Get an OSC account" link. Expect to identify your affiliation and, where relevant, your project or sponsor.
  3. Log in through the System Gateway or Client Portal. The System Gateway is the technical entry point for systems; the Client Portal is where you manage account and project matters.
  4. Check status and costs. OSC publishes System Status and Usage Metrics, and a Service Costs page, so you can confirm availability and what a given service involves before committing.
  5. Start using services. Once in, you can reach cluster computing, research data storage, education and web software development, research software engineering, and AI/data analytics and machine learning resources.

What you can do once you have access

Service area What it covers
Cluster computing Running computational jobs on OSC systems
Research data storage Storing and managing project data
Software development Education and web software development, research software engineering
AI, data analytics, ML Artificial intelligence, data analytics, and machine learning work
Facilitation and gateways Service Center, Gateways, and facilitation support
Protected data Protected Data Service for sensitive projects

Practical notes before you apply

  • Affiliation or sponsorship matters. The examples on OSC's site all involve university faculty, students, or staff, often with a Campus Champion or program connecting them to resources. If you are outside a university, the business and industrial engagement route is the relevant path.
  • Support exists if you get stuck. OSC lists Client Support, a Service Center, and Technical Support, plus a staff directory.
  • Cite and manage your project. OSC provides guidance on citing OSC and on managing projects and budgets, which is useful once your account is active.
  • Check status first. Before planning work, look at System Status and Usage Metrics so you know the systems are available.

If you are unsure which path fits you, start from the audience that matches your situation — Researchers, Students, or Businesses — and follow the "Get an OSC account" or "Access OSC" link from there.