As AI-driven research and high-performance computing continue to expand, many research teams are opting to procure their own dedicated supercomputers to meet project demands. However, configuring and maintaining rackmount servers and cluster infrastructure can be complex, particularly for teams with limited experience in infrastructure and compliance.
To address this need, UBDA offers complimentary hosting and colocation services for rack servers associated with eligible UGC- or ITF-funded projects. These services include free administrative management, system monitoring, and application-level support, enabling research teams to leverage facility expertise and focus on their core objectives without the burden of infrastructure operations. This is particularly valuable when it comes to compiling the PolyU ITS security protocols, which often require attention and procedural standards.
While participation is voluntary, Principal Investigators (PIs) are encouraged to make their hosted rack servers available to other PolyU researchers during idle periods. This collaborative practice promotes efficient resource utilization and fosters cross-disciplinary engagement.
Since 2023, UBDA has successfully supported the deployment of a wide range of GPU-accelerated systems across multiple academic departments. These include high-performance configurations such as Hopper and Ampere SXM GPU servers integrated with NL Switches and NVLink, as well as mid-range setups equipped with Blackwell and Lovelace PCIe GPUs for project-specific workloads. Please note that all equipment remains under the ownership of its respective department (not UBDA).
Application Procedure
Interested parties are welcome to schedule a consultation with UBDA to discuss hosting and colocation requirements. During this meeting, UBDA will access server compatibility (including rack-mountability, power supply rating, and network interface) and provide recommendations aligned with the project's technical and operational needs. If needed, UBDA can also offer pre-procurement support, such as equipment suggestions, price quotations and input on tender specifications.
Once the departmental or project-owned servers are procured and delivered to the PolyU campus, UBDA will assist with setup, including physical cabling, network configuration, and liaison with PolyU ITS on matters such as firewall settings, network security, and IP address assignment. Following deployment, UBDA will provision access for the PI’s research team and continue to provide system monitoring and technical support throughout the server's operational lifecycle.
To apply, please submit the following information.
1. Name of the Project Principle Investigate (PI)
2. Project Title
3. Project Description
4. Application to be hosted and intended purpose of the equipment
Consultation on Server Specifications and Budget Evaluation
Download:
2. Tender Specification Template
If requested, UBDA can assist in preparing formal quotations, recommending configurations compatible with the MCR P404 environment, and drafting tender specifications to support the procurement process.
Server Location and Service Provisioning
All the rackmount servers will be placed in the PolyU Main Computer Room (MCR), located in P404. Once mounted in the rack, each server will be physically safeguarded, and any physical access has to be preregistered and authorized.
Depending on research requirements, UBDA provisions virtual machines (VMs) or Linux system containers (LXCs) using the hardware of co-located servers. These environments are customized to meet each user's computing needs. Authorized researchers and staff are granted "root" privileges, allowing full control over software installation and environment management. Upon provisioning, users will receive PolyU service IPs that are linked to their VMs or LXCs.
To help illustrate the setup process, UBDA usually deploys a separated GPU-enable virtual machine from the Lovelave-2024 Cluster for users to experiment with while their co-located servers are being configured. This allows users to begin setting up their computing environment in parallel with the hardware deployment. If upgrades or modifications to GPUs or other hardware components are required, UBDA will coordinate the necessary arrangement upon request.
Although it’s uncommon for hosting service users to withdraw their servers from the MCR, this option remains available upon request
Acknowledgment Guideline for Hosting Participants
As this is a no-cost hosting service, and the equipment remains under the ownership of its respective department (not UBDA), we kindly request that any research outcomes resulting from the use of the co-located servers include an acknowledgment of UBDA’s administrative and technical support in related publications. Such acknowledgment contributes to our KPI and play a vital role in securing annual funding from the PolyU Resources Advancement and Management Committee (RAMC) for new equipment and ongoing operations.
Suggested acknowledgements for academic publications.
1. We gratefully acknowledge the University Research Facility in Big Data Analytics (UBDA) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University for their administrative and technical support in hosting our computing server infrastructure.
2. This research was supported by the University Research Facility in Big Data Analytics (UBDA) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, which provided server administration and technical assistance.
Thank you for your support!
For more information or to arrange a consultation, please contact with our scientific officer Dillian Wong (dillian.wong@polyu.edu.hk)
