The Hummingbird Cluster is the only campus-wide Open Access High-performance Computing (HPC) Cluster. Originating as an experimental project based on donated (used) equipment that ran the original Bay Area Craigslist, it has grown through grants, campus investments, and in-kind donations. Now housed at the UCSC's Colocation Facility in Quincy, Washington, the cluster can expand to meet the growing need while using 100% renewable hydroelectric power.
No one is ever charged to use Hummingbird. Anyone with a CruzID and a desire to use HPC is welcome to join the community. Because Hummingbird is (and will remain) Open Access, this allows a broad set of users to have free access, unlimited compute cycles, HPC training, and even one-on-one help from expert technicians and research facilitators to which they otherwise would not have access. We have even granted access to alumni who want to continue their research, but don't have the resources.
While we have been very successful in growing the cluster through increasing its impact on campus research (and education), we often find ourselves without good alternatives when it comes to small purchases, like replacing a worn out hard drive or fixing a broken computer node. In order to be a fully reliable service for the campus, it would be helpful to allow the broader campus to make contributions to a Hummingbird Care fund. The fund will be used for spare parts, extra cables, and to allow the potential to repair failed components without delay. Donations to the Hummingbird Care fund allow our community team of volunteers and staff to sustain this vital service.
