About the Research Cloud

The University of Melbourne offers cloud computing services to all researchers and research students affiliated with the University. This service is available due to the University being one of the initial nodes of the NeCTAR Research Cloud, which is an Australian first.

The research cloud is a place where researchers can gain rapid access to scalable computational power, research applications and storage, empowering them to share knowledge and collaborate across research infrastructure and institutions.

The research cloud provides cost-effective capabilities to access research infrastructure and offers:

  • Self-service and the researcher has complete control over who may share a software application or data.
  • Easy access and rapid deployment of software applications.
  • New and innovative ways of working that can be tested at minimal cost. Free to test out and trial software applications and the service can scale to meet demand for successful applications.

The research cloud is an Australian first built especially for you. It provides easy access to computers, from a single server to thousands. Researchers can readily put their new ideas (tools, research applications, data, etc.) online, instantly, without the burden of having to procure, maintain and run their own computers.

University researchers can instantly utilise the research cloud service with their University of Melbourne username and password. This service is freely accessible for the first three months to try it out. Thereafter, a researcher can apply for access to more resource via the Allocation Request tab on the NeCTAR User Dashboard. Depending on your needs, you can apply to use the Melbourne University share of the Research Cloud, or the National Research Cloud, which has much more resource available.

Benefits of cloud computing for researchers

Access to all researchers
Instant self-service access for researchers to computing power and remote storage technologies. A place where researchers can instantly build servers as they need it (on-demand) and gain computer power without having to plan, purchase, maintain or dispose of their own hardware.
Accessible 24/7 within and outside the University of Melbourne
Dynamic and scalable
Flexibility to create and manage your own environment which is dynamic and scalable. The cloud service will give researchers access to a service much like the Amazon EC2 compute cloud and S3 storage cloud, to process and store their data in a robust, durable environment.
Sharing and Collaboration
This is where research communities can publish their research applications, to be accessed and used by other researchers on the research cloud.
Researchers have the ability to create and share custom applications as well as access to new and existing cloud based application. The innovative new ways to access research applications and infrastructure reduces barriers to cross institutional boundaries.
Control
Empowering, complete control over who and where others can collaborate, share and access information.
Reduced administrative burden
Computer power without the overheads cost and procurement of applications and infrastructure.
Reduced costs
Free and cost effective access to trial software and successful applications can scale to meet demand; how you use the servers is up to you; you could host an eResearch tool, share data, or simply run simulations.

Selecting a computer in the cloud

The following steps will guide you to selecting the right VM service for your research application.

Do you need to develop, experiment with or host an application, database or even run simulations for your research?
You should use the NeCTAR Research Cloud to start up a computer in the cloud (available now). As a University or Affiliate researcher or research student you can instantly utilise the research cloud service via your University of Melbourne username and password.
Users of this service instantly get two cores for the first three months. Thereafter, you can apply to extend your access beyond the initial three months—or even more cores—via the Allocation Request tab on the NeCTAR User Dashboard.
Do you need to host a mature application online on a 24/7 supported platform for a National group of users?
You should apply through NeCTAR for a free server on the National Servers Program.

Note: It's possible to transfer the hosting of your computer in the cloud between different services. If you need to get started quickly, we suggest you take the three month instant access, while applying through other channels.

Want to know more?

  • See NeCTAR's Research Cloud resources for more information and to apply for your own piece of the Research Cloud.
  • Or get in touch with Research Services using the form below