The Hyak Klone Supercomputing Research Cluster, operated by UWIT Research Computing, is a high-performance computing environment supporting a wide range of research disciplines at the University of Washington. Hyak offers both HPC and GPU resource types, fast data transfer via a dedicated Science DMZ network, and expert consultation and support for scientific computing workflows.
Hyak is an excellent option for research groups requiring a fast, convenient, flexible, and cost-effective alternative to operating their own computing platforms. Slice purchases are considered “equipment” under most grant budgets and the guaranteed multi-year lifetime of the slices provides resource access certainty for faculty in periods of possible funding volatility.
Hyak comes from Chinook Jargon and means “fast,” while Klone means “three,” reflecting its role as the third generation of the Hyak cluster at UW. The platform celebrates the collaborative spirit of research at UW and honors the Coast Salish peoples on whose land we learn and work.
Hyak Klone launched in 2021 as a shared computing resource designed to meet the growing computational needs of UW researchers. Since its launch, it has served thousands of users across disciplines, supporting research in science, engineering, the humanities, and more.
This short video walks you through how to purchase compute resources, how Hyak is structured under the condo model, what slice fees are, and how to get started.
There are two ways to access Hyak Klone for computing:
A Hyak no-cost demonstration account is intended for prospective slice-owners or users to test the computational platform and see if it is suitable for their research computing projects. The account has some limits and not all features of Hyak will be available for demonstration, but you will be able to test workflows and software on the cluster. Demonstration accounts are subject to the following restrictions:
To request a demonstration account, please complete the Hyak Demonstration Account Request Form.
For sustained or production research workloads, Hyak Klone uses a condo model in which faculty, labs, or academic units purchase dedicated compute resources called slices. A slice is a reserved block of compute power that your group purchases and owns within the shared cluster. In the condo model, you purchase dedicated hardware that is physically integrated into the shared Hyak Klone cluster and fully operated by UWIT Research Computing. You own priority access to your slice while also benefiting from shared infrastructure, software, storage, and support.
All slices include:
To request current pricing or begin the purchase process please complete the Hyak Slice Pricing and Purchase Information Request Form.
What You Get With a Klone Slice
Klone slices are scalable and can be used together, allowing groups to grow compute capacity by purchasing multiple slices that run across shared nodes (currently up to 6 HPC slices per server or 4 GPU slices per server). Each slice supports flexible scheduling—per-slice or per-core—so, for example, a 32-core slice can support up to 32 simultaneous single-core interactive sessions. Every slice includes 1 TB of shared /gscratch storage for the lifetime of the hardware, and users may install and run nearly any Linux-based software (subject to license terms). Slice owners can designate "Member Managers" to manage lab access to dedicated resources via UW Groups Service. Hyak support staff available to assist as needed.
Hyak Klone does not include persistent or archival storage. All data exists in a single copy. Users are responsible for transferring results to external systems (e.g., Kopah S3 or Lolo Archive) during the project if persistent storage is needed and at project end.
In addition to the one-time hardware cost for each slice, there is an annual maintenance cost known as the slot fee. When a PI purchases hardware, it is occupying a "slot" and slot fees pay for critical maintenance, support, and utilities. Hyak Sponsors are responsible for supporting slot occupancy.
If your lab or department is affiliated with a Hyak sponsor (see list below), your College or Department may fully or partially subsidize these fees. Please check with your IT director or Department Chair for exact annual costs. For individuals or labs not covered by a sponsor, full slot fees apply.
| Slice Type | Slot Count | Max Slot Fee (Tier 1 Sponsored) |
Max Slot Fee (Tier 2 Sponsored) |
Slot Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HPC Slice | 1 | $800 | $1,000 | $1,750 |
|
GPU Slice Generation 1 |
1 | $800 | $1,000 | $1,750 |
|
GPU Slice Type - L40, L40S |
1.5 | $1,200 | $1,500 | $2,625 |
|
GPU Slice Type - H200 |
2 | $1,600 | $2,000 | $3,500 |
Current Tier 1 Sponsors:
Current Tier 2 Sponsors:
New equipment could require up to eight weeks or longer for deployment from the date when the purchase order clears UW Purchasing. If inventory exists, the slice can be deployed within days of the purchase being completed.
Not supported:
By default, UWIT Research Computing services are not approved for use with HIPAA-regulated Protected Health Information (PHI), as data stored on our systems is not encrypted at rest. Use of PHI for research may be permitted only after a formal approval process reviewed and authorized by the UW Medicine Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), and any workflow—including data transfer or encryption applied by the user—must be approved in advance. Researchers should consult and use the UW Medicine–approved HIPAA Authorization template and review the COMP.103 Use and Disclosure of PHI policy for full requirements before requesting approval.
Complete UW Medicine Patient Information Privacy Policies