Bridges-2 Migration Information

Coming Fall 2026

Overview

The Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center (PSC) is preparing to relocate Bridges-2 to a new datacenter facility in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University.

This move will place Bridges-2 in a more resilient infrastructure environment, improving power stability and reducing the risk of facility-related outages. While the relocation is intended to strengthen the long-term reliability of the system, it will require a planned service interruption while the system is moved and reinstalled.

This page serves as the primary source of information related to the Bridges-2 migration and will be updated as additional details become available.

 

What to Expect

The Bridges-2 migration will require a planned full system outage.

These dates are planning estimates and may change as preparations progress.

  • Migration window: Late 2026
  • Current target move date: Early November 2026
  • Expected outage duration: Approximately 4–6 weeks

Important: Data Backup Planning

PSC cannot guarantee complete data integrity through the relocation process. Users are responsible for ensuring that critical data is backed up before the migration. Because Bridges-2 supports a large shared storage environment and thousands of users, data transfer demand is expected to increase as the migration approaches.

To reduce risk:

  • Begin transfers early whenever possible
  • Prioritize critical datasets
  • Avoid waiting until the weeks immediately preceding the migration

Users with particularly large datasets should begin planning as soon as possible.

What Users Should Do Now

Users should begin preparing as early as possible. We recommend that all users:

  • Review planned workloads that may be affected by a multi-week outage
  • Identify critical data that must be retained
  • Begin planning data backups or transfers
  • Monitor this page for updates and future deadlines

Alternative Computing Resources

Users who require computing resources during the Bridges-2 outage may wish to explore alternative systems available through the NSF ACCESS program.

Depending on individual needs, accessing alternative resources may require advance planning, allocation adjustments, or new requests. Additional guidance will be provided as the migration approaches.

ACCESS Allocations and Resource Exchanges

On or about October 15, PSC will temporarily pause acceptance of ACCESS credit exchanges to Bridges-2. Acceptance of new exchanges to Bridges-2 is expected to resume closer to the completion of the datacenter migration and return to service.

As always, users will continue to be able to exchange credits from Bridges-2 to other ACCESS resources before, during, and after the migration.

Users who anticipate needing continued computational resources during the Bridges-2 outage are encouraged to plan accordingly and explore alternative ACCESS resources well in advance of the migration.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is PSC making this move?

PSC is relocating its infrastructure to a new datacenter facility as part of a long-term investment in the reliability and resiliency of its computing services.

The new facility will provide:

  • Improved power stability
  • Enhanced infrastructure resiliency
  • Greater protection against weather-related disruptions
  • A stronger long-term operating environment for PSC systems and services

As part of this transition, Bridges-2 and other PSC systems will be relocated to the new facility.

While users may not notice immediate changes to system performance, PSC expects the new environment to improve overall service reliability and reduce the risk of infrastructure-related outages.

When will the migration occur?

The migration is currently expected to occur in late 2026, with a current target start date in early November. The schedule remains subject to change.

How long will Bridges-2 be unavailable?

PSC currently estimates a full outage lasting approximately 4–6 weeks.

Will my data be safe?

PSC will take appropriate precautions to protect user data throughout the relocation process. However, because Bridges-2 is a large, complex system that is being physically moved, PSC cannot guarantee complete data integrity during the migration.

As always, users are responsible for ensuring that critical data is backed up, and that is especially important prior to the migration. PSC does not maintain comprehensive backups of all user data.

We strongly encourage users to identify critical datasets and begin planning backups as early as possible.

When should I start backing up data?

As soon as practical. Users with large datasets should begin planning immediately and avoid waiting until the migration window approaches.

What happens if I wait too long to migrate or backup my data?

Data transfer capacity is shared across all users. As the migration approaches, transfer demand is expected to increase, which may result in slower transfers and reduced ability to complete large-scale data movement before the shutdown.

Will there be any system access during the move?

At this time, users should plan for a complete outage of Bridges-2 services during the migration. This includes all storage, data movement, compute, and VM systems that are part of Bridges-2.

Can I continue my work during the outage?

Users should plan workloads accordingly or explore alternative computing resources through the NSF ACCESS program.

What if the schedule changes?

Updated dates and guidance will be posted on this page as information becomes available.

Contact

For questions or assistance, please contact the PSC Help Desk.

Users with large storage requirements or complex workflows are encouraged to contact PSC early to discuss migration planning and data management needs.