Why PARASOL
Some students have paid for cloud GPUs to finish coursework. PARASOL is the campus response, with GPU reservations now and more GPUs in Winter 2027.
Read whyWhat it is
A Shared Cluster for Teaching and Learning with Data
PARASOL is the computing platform behind Datahub. Students open Jupyter or RStudio in a browser, and the session runs in a container on a cluster of CPUs and GPUs that UC San Diego operates on campus.
Courses use it from introductory data science to graduate machine learning, and in biology, music, the social sciences, and public health. Research outside a course runs on the same cluster, with the same tools and support. Coursework comes first in peak weeks.
PARASOL stands for Platform for Applied Research, Analytics, Science and Open Learning. It is the platform formerly called DSMLP, the Data Science and Machine Learning Platform. It also takes in the research work formerly called the Research Cluster.
In this section
More About PARASOL
From DSMLP to PARASOL
What the new name changes, what stays the same, and where the old documentation went.
See what changedHow PARASOL Works
Workspaces, GPUs, storage, software images, and the rules that apply to all work on the cluster.
Learn how it worksEligibility
Who Can Use PARASOL
Instruction comes first. Each group reaches the platform through its own workspace, with its own resources and access dates.
Courses and Their Students
Instructors request a course workspace before the term, and students get access from the course roster, with nothing to request. See Using Datahub in a Course and Teaching with Datahub and PARASOL.
Student Projects
Students request access separately for independent study, capstones, and club or team projects, each with a faculty sponsor. See Projects & Independent Study.
Researchers and Labs
Researchers use the shared research GPU pool or a lab workspace. Coursework comes first in peak weeks. See Research on PARASOL and Setting Up a Research Lab.
Open Learning
From Winter 2027, students in eligible majors and programs have a workspace for coursework and exploration outside a course or a sponsored project, from their major or program. See Open Learning.
Who runs it
Operations and Support
UC San Diego IT Services builds and runs PARASOL, including Datahub, the cluster, the reservation app, and support at parasol@ucsd.edu. IT Services also gives instructors guidance and training on setting up a course. Questions about research work go to parasol@ucsd.edu too. Research IT also answers them at rcd-support@ucsd.edu, and helps researchers decide whether PARASOL or another campus platform fits their work.
The Halıcıoğlu School of Data Science and Computing funded the GPU servers arriving in Winter 2027, and the campus is grateful for the School's contribution. The School has first claim on the new servers, for its courses in peak weeks and for courses, research and approved projects at other times. An hour the School has not booked opens to the rest of the campus gradually, over the 12 hours before it starts.