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 outage. Users should refer to this page throughout the transition for current schedules, guidance, and frequently asked questions.
What to Expect
The Bridges-2 migration will require a planned full system outage.
Current Schedule
- Planned migration start date: November 9, 2026
- Expected outage duration: Approximately 4–6 weeks
- Expected return to service: December 2026 (subject to migration and validation activities)
While we do not currently anticipate changes to the schedule, updates will be posted on this page if they become necessary.
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
- Complete data backups by: November 1, 2026
- Avoid waiting until the weeks immediately preceding the migration
Users with particularly large datasets should begin planning as soon as possible.
Why PSC is 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.
What Users Should Do Now
With the migration scheduled to begin on November 9, users should complete any remaining planning and preparation activities as soon 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
Effective 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.
| Milestone | Status |
| Migration Planning | Complete |
| Datacenter Readiness Activities | In Progress |
| User Communications | Ongoing |
| Final Schedule Confirmation | Complete |
| System Migration | Scheduled to Begin November 9, 2026 |
| Return to Service | Approximately 4–6 Weeks Following Shutdown |
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the migration occur?
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?
Users should begin immediately if they have not already started. Users with large datasets are strongly encouraged to complete data transfers and backups well before the November 9 migration date.
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.
Should I expect longer queue wait times before the migration?
Yes. As users prepare for the planned outage, job submission activity may increase and queue wait times may be longer than normal. Users are encouraged to plan ahead and avoid waiting until the final weeks before the migration to complete large computational campaigns.
What if the schedule changes?
The current migration start date is November 9, 2026. If circumstances require changes to the schedule, updated information will be posted on this page and communicated to users directly.
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.