What is Open OnDemand?
Open OnDemand (OOD) is a browser-based portal that gives you access to SCU's high-performance computing (HPC) cluster, no command line or special software required. SCU's instance — SCU OnDemand — provides a unified gateway to scientific computing resources and research applications.
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Who can use SCU OnDemand: At this time, the portal is available only for the BRB cluster, and only to users with an active HPC account on that cluster. If you don’t have an account, or your lab is on a different cluster, you won’t be able to access the portal.
👉 Access SCU OnDemand Portal (requires WCM credentials).
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Note: You must be connected to the Weill Cornell Medicine VPN in order to access Open OnDemand from off-campus.
What you can do
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Manage your files
Upload, download, browse, and edit files directly from your browser without a file transfer client.
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Submit and monitor jobs
Queue compute jobs, use the Job Composer, and check active statuses in real time.
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Run interactive apps
Launch full GUI applications like Jupyter, MATLAB, RStudio, VS Code, and Desktop Environments that stream directly to your browser.
What's on the dashboard
| Section | What it does | Tools included |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Relaunch | One-click shortcuts to recent apps. | Recent apps (RStudio, etc.) |
| Cluster Tools | Utilities for managing sessions and files. | Compute Shell, Home Directory, System Status |
| Jobs | Create, submit, and monitor batch jobs. | Active Jobs, Job Composer |
| Interactive Apps | Launch GUI-based research applications. | Jupyter, MATLAB, RStudio, VS Code, Desktop Environment |
How to launch an interactive app
- Select the application you want to use
- Fill in the resource request form (account, hours, CPU, and memory).
- Click Launch. Your job will be submitted to the queue.
- When the job starts, click Connect to open your app.
Good to know
- Sessions keep running Closing your browser tab doesn't stop the job; you can reconnect later.
- Data stored on cluster Files are saved to your home/project directories, not your local machine.
- Terminal access Use "Compute Shell" from the dashboard for command-line access.
Available apps at SCU Open OnDemand
Additional apps may be added over time. Contact the SCU High-Performance Computing Core if you need an application that is not currently listed.