Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I try POD for free now?

Yes, we offer free trials. Please register here.

Is there ever a wait to run my jobs?

Jobs are submitted to the scheduler on a first-come first-served basis. Queue times vary depending on the overall workload of the cluster. Our technical team keeps a close eye on overall utilization and plans the addition of compute resources as needed.

While it is difficult to predict wait times in advance, you as a cluster user, always have visibility into the number of currently available cores.

My workload is highly customized. How do I integrate POD into my workflow?

This is a common scenario. Many customers have put a great deal of effort into designing and building HPC processes that suit their needs. Part of what makes the POD service so valuable to customers is our HPC expertise; our technical team is available to work with you directly to help you integrate your existing workflow and make the most of your compute time and energy.

What are my payment options?

We accept Visa and MasterCard. Customers who wish to pay with Purchase Orders, Net 30 terms, or pre-pay can contact our sales team at podsales@penguincomputing.com to make arrangements.

When am I charged for my usage?

POD usage charges are on a monthly billing cycle, beginning on the 26th of each month and ending on the 25th of the following month. Generally users are invoiced within 5 business days after a billing cycle has ended.

How secure is my code and data?

Penguin has implemented strong security policies to protect your data, identity and to permit network access only to authorized users. Unlike other cloud systems, POD does not employ virtual compute nodes. Your dedicated login nodes provides you with your own workspace, completely masking customers from each other. When a job is submitted and the scheduler assigns compute nodes to your job, these compute nodes are dedicated to you and to you alone, it is not shared with all job submissions.

The security of our customers’ assets is our top priority. Please contact the POD team at pod@penguincomputing.com with any specific security-related questions.

How do I deactivate my account?

Contact support and they will handle it from there. Make sure to download all data from POD before asking to deactivate an account, since you will not be able to login once you send in the ticket to support.

What software applications and libraries are available?

We have hundreds of applications and libraries pre-installed on POD; see the list here. The list is growing all the time, so if you do not see what you are looking for, contact us to find out if we can install it for you.