Service Overview
Virtual Machines (VMs) give researchers an easy way to run their own computers in the cloud. Delivered through OpenStack, the open source and industry standard cloud computing platform, Virtual Machines allow you to set up a virtual computer with the software, tools, and settings you need, without needing your own physical device. It’s great for testing ideas, running experiments, or analysing data in a trusted and isolated environment, all while being flexible and growing with your needs. You can also save your entire setup, including data and software, so others can repeat your work, helping make your research more transparent and reliable. It’s a powerful tool for collaboration and reproducible science.
Consult the service fact sheet.
Benefits
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Resource optimisation |
Reproducibility |
Data security |
Flexible testing environment |
Service Capabilities
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Run powerful computing environments |
Create virtual machines with the right amount of CPU, memory, and storage to match your project’s needs. |
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Start quickly with ready-made setups |
Choose from pre-configured templates tailored for different research domains or deploy your own customised environment in minutes. |
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Save and restore your work easily |
Take snapshots of your environment to duplicate or return to a previous state at any time. |
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Collaborate securely |
Work with colleagues on the same virtual machine while keeping your data protected through encryption and network isolation. |
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Scale as you grow |
Increase or reduce computing resources as your project evolves, ensuring efficiency and flexibility. |
How it works
To use the Virtual Machines service, start by selecting a VM template or creating a custom configuration that meets your research needs. Configure the necessary resources such as CPU (Central Processing Unit), memory, and storage. Deploy the VM and access it via remote desktop or SSH. Install any additional software required for your research, conduct your experiments, and use snapshot features to capture the environment for reproducibility. Collaborate with colleagues by sharing access to your VM and ensuring they can replicate the environment using your VM image.
Tutorials & Courses
Log in to the EOSC EU Node Learning Center via the EOSC EU Node to access following Virtual Machines tutorial and course. In the Learning Center, you can also access similar support for other EOSC EU Node services and features.
Documentation
The service is delivered by two organisations, PSNC and Safespring. Below are the documentation links for both of them: