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Frequently Asked Questions

Are you removing the software I use?

No. During the policy transition period all currently installed software will be left as is while we do the work of populating lists, cleaning up build process, writing test cases, and evaluating software.

When the transition is complete, some software currently installed at NERSC will have been assigned a Minimal support level. Such software will remain in place but its entry will be moved from default modulefiles to extra_modulefiles.

I can't find my software in the support level list!

If your software is not disallowed, and is not explicitly listed, then its support level is "Minimal", but we will help guide you to use supported build tools and package managers to meet your needs.

During the software policy transition period, software present in modules at the beginning of AY 2020 will be supported as if it were "Provided".

What software is always disallowed?

NERSC does not allow the use of:

  • Classified or controlled military defense information
  • Export controlled or ITAR codes or data
  • Personally identifiable information
  • Protected health information

Software meeting this definition is disallowed even if it is not explicitly listed as "Resticted".

Additionally, as stated in the "Security" tab of the ERCAP Request Form, NERSC supports only open research intended to be published in open scientific journals. Proprietary research is not allowed.

Who is on this Software Policy Committee?

The NERSC Software Policy Committee is composed of NERSC staff members representing the following several NERSC groups:

  • User Engagement
  • Operations Technology
  • Infrastructure Services
  • Data Science Engagement
  • Data and Analytics Services
  • Computational Systems
  • Application Performance

Can I ask for my software to get a higher support level?

Yes. User feedback and requests are an important factor used when the Software Policy Committee evaluates software support levels.

However, keep in mind, that a large number of factors must also be considered including: software popularity, usage, resources needed to support, compatibility with our systems, suitability of alternatives, dependencies, maturity of code base, strategic priorities, and many more.