Access to ARC systems for people external to VT
Research is often a collaborative enterprise and researchers at Virginia Tech may find it useful to have the ability to collaborate with external researchers on the ARC computational systems.
There are three components that all users (both internal and external) need to access and use ARC resources:
VT username (PID)
Access to VT networks
Access to a Project/Allocation on Coldfront
VT username (PID)
Former VT students who have graduated, alumni, and retirees retain a VT username (PID), so they do not have to obtain a new PID.
For all other external collaborators, a VT PI will need to request a sponsored PID for the external user.
Note
Individuals that are not Virginia Tech students or employees may have a need for a VT username. These individuals cannot create their own usernames, but the department with which they are associated can sponsor them and request a PID for them by requesting this service.
Access to VT networks
ARC resources are accessible only from the Virginia Tech network. Users must connect either through eduroam while on campus or through the Virginia Tech VPN when accessing resources from off campus.
For external collaborators who do not have an active Virginia Tech affiliation, the sponsoring Virginia Tech PI must arrange for access by submitting either:
a Non-Paid Affiliation (P86) request, as appropriate.
Refer to the Virginia Tech guidance on non-paid affiliations to determine which affiliation type and request process is appropriate for the external collaborator.
Access to a Project/Allocation on Coldfront
The sponsoring VT PI will need to login to their ColdFront account to manage their Projects and Allocations. They then will need to add the external user to an active project.
External individuals without a Virginia Tech PI sponsor
At this time, ARC accounts are available only to external individuals who are actively collaborating with a Virginia Tech Principal Investigator (PI). The sponsoring PI must be affiliated with a Virginia Tech department that is willing to sponsor and approve the external individual’s university affiliation and access.