Guidelines

Acıbadem University Çırakoğlu HPC (High-Performance Computing) Center Appropriate Use Policy (23/10/2025)

To use Acıbadem University's high-performance computing (HPC) systems, you must understand and abide by this Appropriate Use Policy.

The following is a list of general computer use policies, procedures, and security rules that apply to individual end users of Acıbadem University Çırakoğlu HPC resources. Principal Investigators and reserchers using this HPC are responsible for ensuring that these policies, procedures, and security rules are followed for their organizations and ensuring that HPC users working under their supervision fulfill these responsibilities.

HPC User Accountability

HPC users are accountable for their actions. Violations of policy, procedure, and security rules may result in applicable administrative sanctions or legal actions.

HPC Resource Use

1. Acıbadem University Çırakoğlu HPC resources are to be used only for activities authorized by the Acıbadem University.

2. The use of HPC resources for personal or private benefit is prohibited.

3. The use of HPC resources to support illegal, fraudulent, or malicious activities is prohibited.

4. The use of HPC resources to facilitate any transaction that would violate the laws of the Republic of Turkey or Acibadeem University regulations is prohibited.

5. Acıbadem University makes no express or implied warranty with respect to the use of HPC resources. Acıbadem University shall not be liable in the event of any HPC system failure or loss of data.

Intellectual Property and Data Rights

The use of HPC resources is subject to Acıbadem University's Intellectual Property policies and the specific contractual terms of the relevant project (e.g., TÜBİTAK, European Union project, etc.). Users are responsible for adhering to these regulations to determine the rights to research data and results.

Usernames and Passwords

1. A user identifier (username) and an associated password are required of all HPC users. Individuals who have a university-assigned user identifier are responsible for protecting the associated password.

2. Passwords must not be shared with any other person and must be changed as soon as possible after an unacceptable exposure, suspected compromise, or at the direction of HPC Center personnel.

Account Usage

Authorized Use: This HPC system is strictly for academic and research-related activities only. This includes, but is not limited to, computational work for scientific research (such as genomics, bioinformatics, engineering simulations, data analysis, etc.), and other approved, non-commercial research projects.

HPC users are not permitted to share their accounts with others.

Notification

1. HPC users must immediately notify kaya.bilguvar@acibadem.edu.tr upon awareness that any of the accounts used to access HPC resources have been compromised.

2. HPC users should promptly inform the HPC Center of any changes in their contact information.

Software and Data

1. The use of HPC resources to store, manipulate, or remotely access information, software, or data (materials) that require additional controls or that could negatively impact or compromise administrative and business operations of HPC resources requires prior written approval from the HPC Center.

2. Such materials include, but are not limited to, personal data covered by the Law on the Protection of Personal Data (KVKK), Health Data, or materials subject to "Official Use Only" ("Hizmete Özel") or similar official restrictions.

3. THE USE OF HPC RESOURCES TO STORE, MANIPULATE, OR REMOTELY ACCESS CLASSIFIED, CONTROLLED, OR PROHIBITED INFORMATION UNDER THE LAWS OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY (E.G., STATE SECRETS, CLASSIFIED PATIENT DATA) IS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED.

4. Acıbadem University Çırakoğlu HPC resources are operated as research systems and should only be used to access and store data related to research.

5. HPC users must ensure that when using HPC resources, all software is acquired and used according to appropriate licensing. Possession, use, or transmission of illegally obtained software on HPC resources is prohibited.

6. HPC users shall not copy, store, or transfer copyrighted software or data using HPC resources, except as expressly permitted by the copyright owner.

Data Retention

1. The HPC Center reserves the right to remove any data at any time and/or transfer data to other individuals (such as Principal Investigators working on the same or a similar project) after a user account is deleted or a user no longer has a business association with the university.

2. Although the HPC Center takes steps to ensure the integrity of stored data, it does not guarantee that data files are protected against destruction. HPC users are strongly encouraged to make backup copies of all important data and software (e.g., on external storage or cloud systems).

Deviations from Authorized Privileges Not Allowed

HPC users may not deviate from the terms of this Appropriate Use Policy in any way, including, but not limited to, the following prohibitions:

1. Unauthorized Access: HPC users are prohibited from attempting to send or receive messages or access information by unauthorized means, such as imitating another system, impersonating another user or other person, misusing legal user credentials (usernames, passwords, etc.), or causing a system component to function incorrectly.

2. Altering Authorized Access: HPC users are prohibited from changing or circumventing access controls to allow the user or others to perform actions outside authorized privileges.

3. Data Modification or Destruction: HPC users are prohibited from taking actions that intentionally modify or delete information or programs outside authorized privileges.

4. Malicious Software: HPC users are prohibited from intentionally introducing or using malicious software, including, but not limited to, computer viruses, Trojan horses, or worms.

5. Denial of Service Actions: HPC users are prohibited from using HPC resources to interfere with any service availability, either at Acıbadem University or at other sites.

6. Illegal or Unethical Content: HPC users are prohibited from using HPC resources to access, upload, download, store, transmit, create, or otherwise use pornographic material, hate speech, or any material that is illegal under the laws of the Republic of Turkey.

7. Harassment: HPC users are prohibited from engaging in offensive or harassing actions toward another individual or organization.

Monitoring and Privacy

All activities on the HPC cluster are subject to monitoring, logging, and auditing by system administrators. This is done to ensure security, diagnose problems, and enforce compliance with this policy. HPC users have no explicit or implicit expectation of privacy. Acıbadem University retains the right to actively monitor all HPC resources, activities on systems and networks, and to access any file without prior knowledge or consent of HPC users, senders, or recipients.

Acıbadem University may, at its discretion, share information gathered through monitoring with university administration, legal authorities, and (when required) local, national, and international law enforcement organizations.

HPC Center personnel and HPC users are required to address, safeguard against, and report misuse, abuse, and criminal activities. Misuse of HPC resources can lead to temporary or permanent disabling of accounts and administrative sanctions or legal actions.

You are responsible for ensuring that all data you store and process on the cluster complies with institutional data policies 

System Use

Head Nodes: The login nodes are for managing files, compiling code, and submitting jobs to the Slurm scheduler. DO NOT run computationally intensive or long-running processes on the login nodes. All computations must be submitted as jobs via Slurm. Processes found violating this rule will be terminated without notice.

Slurm: All jobs must be run through the Slurm job scheduler. Users must make reasonable requests for resources (CPU, memory, time) to ensure fair use for all users.

Renewals

To maintain access, Appropriate Use Policy agreements must be renewed annually. If requested, please follow the relevant form provided to you to complete your agreement.