Resource pools and budgets
Resource pools are the cost-centre units of Nuvolos. Every resource pool holds a budget, and the resources mapped to it account their usage against that budget. This subsection covers how pools attach to the organisational hierarchy, which roles can do what within a pool, the standard budgeting patterns, and how to transfer Credits between pools.
Resource pools cannot be created in self-service. Contact Nuvolos support to create a new resource pool - they will discuss your use case and suggest an efficient layout.
Resource pool mappings
The associations between resource pools and Nuvolos objects are called mappings. Three kinds of object can be mapped:
Organisations - all resource usage in the organisation is billed against the mapped pool.
Spaces - all usage in the Space is billed against the mapped pool.
Specific resources within a Space - a particular resource type (for example, HPC computation) can be mapped to a different pool than the rest of the Space's resources.
Mapping a specific resource type across all spaces in an organisation is not supported — this must be done space by space.
Resource types
The following resource types can be mapped (the list may evolve as the offering grows):
File system storage - storage on the Nuvolos file system. Monitor usage via file system limits and capacities.
Database storage - storage in the Scientific Data Warehouse.
Database computation - compute used by querying the Scientific Data Warehouse.
HPC interactive computation - usage generated by credit-based application sizes.
Professional services - services delivered by the Nuvolos team on agreed terms.
Nuvolos Compute Units - general application runs counted against the NCU quota in your service agreement.
Resource mappings are atomic: you can't split the usage of a single resource type in a space across multiple pools. For example, you can't bill part of a space's file system storage to one pool and the rest to another, or split HPC costs by node pool. If you need that granularity, create separate spaces.
Invite a resource pool manager
Resource pool managers can invite colleagues to become managers of resource pools they themselves manage.
Open the resource monitoring dashboard - Account & Settings → Resources.
Select the relevant resource pool from the dropdown menu at the top.
Click the Info icon next to the dropdown to open the Resource Pool Managers menu.
At the bottom of the menu, click Invite.
In the Invite New Resource Pool Manager dialog, enter the email addresses of the colleagues to invite.
Click Invite to send the invitations.
Resource pool roles
The resource pool role structure builds on the broader Nuvolos role hierarchy and adds one additional administrative role: resource pool manager. The matrix below summarises what each role can do in relation to a pool:
Instance viewer
No
Overview only
No
No
Instance editor
Yes
Overview only
No
No
Space administrator
Yes
Yes
Own spaces + redacted info on others
No
Organisation faculty
Yes (can create spaces)
Yes
Own spaces
No
Organisation manager
Yes (can create spaces)
Yes
Own spaces
No
Resource pool manager
Yes
Yes
All spaces
Yes
For a full description of the base roles, see Roles and permissions.
To find your resource pool manager, click the i info icon next to the resource pool name on the monitoring dashboard.
Mapping a space to a resource pool
A user who is both a space administrator of a Space and a resource pool manager of a pool can map extra services in that Space to their pool. This pattern is particularly useful for researchers who have a personal budget but normally work in a shared organisation pool - they can route HPC computation, database computation, and database storage to their personal pool while continuing to use the shared pool for routine work.
What space-level mapping covers:
HPC interactive computation - scaled application runs (see application resources).
Database computation - query compute time in the Scientific Data Warehouse.
Database storage - database storage held by the space.
The mapping does not affect regular provisions such as NCU capacity for Included-size Application runs and file system storage. Those continue to be billed against the pool associated at the organisation or Space level.
Change the pool mapping of an existing Space
Navigate to the Space overview.
Open Project Configuration from the sidebar cogwheel menu.
Select the target resource pool in the Resource Pool selection menu.
You must hold both space administrator and resource pool manager rights in the target pool to perform this change.
Previous resource usage is not re-mapped when you change a space's pool. To reconcile historical usage, contact support.
Enabling services (resource pool level)
Nuvolos supports additional services - video library, high-performance computing, and database tables - that can be toggled at three levels: resource pool, organisation, and space. Resource pool managers control the pool-level settings.
Pool-level services can only be enabled if your contract allows additional services. Contact support if you need a service that is not currently available on your contract.
To review or change service settings:
In the top right corner of your screen is the Account & Settings menu.
Navigate to Account & Settings > Resources.
Scoll down to the Additional services section on the OVERVIEW tab.
Enable/disable the services you want.
Pool-level services cannot be disabled in self-service. Contact support to disable a service.
Budget patterns
You can structure budgets for colleagues who share funding by creating a resource pool per budget and mapping the relevant content into it. The following are common patterns.
Multiple organisations in one resource pool
A single pool shared by several organisations. Useful when:
The subscriber is large and splits its layout into several organisations.
The subscriber is a conglomerate of loosely related sub-units.
Research team with personal budgets
The research team has its own organisation.
Each member has a personal resource pool mapped to their Spaces only.
Research team with shared resources and a personal budget on one resource type
The team shares a main resource pool for general usage.
Each member's Space maps a specific resource type - typically HPC computation or database storage - to a personal pool.
Transferring credits between resource pools
Credits can be transferred between pools through the Nuvolos UI. Self-service transfers are allowed between pools where you are a resource pool manager in both.
Open the monitoring dashboard.
On the Current balance tile, click Transfer credits.
Select the target pool and enter the amount.
To transfer credits to a pool you do not manage, contact Nuvolos support.
Designate one or more team members as resource pool managers across all related pools so they can redistribute Credits in self-service. This avoids having to file a support request every time a budget rebalance is needed.
Where to go next
For monitoring how each pool is consumed, see Administration › Resource monitoring.
For the conceptual model of resource pools, NCUs, and Credits, see Concepts › The hierarchy and resource model.
For practical strategies to reduce pool consumption, see Pricing and cost control.
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