Getting Help, Support, and Training

How can I get help and support?

Before contacting us, check the MPCDF documentation and this FAQ to see if your question has already been answered.

If you cannot find an answer, send an email to support@mpcdf.mpg.de or open a ticket on our helpdesk portal.

To help us resolve your issue quickly, include the following information in your request:

Information

Description

Subject line

A descriptive subject line

Email address

Your work email address

Problem description

A detailed description, including steps to reproduce it

Technical details

Cluster/machine name, module list output, input files, job submission scripts

Job information

Job ID of any failing jobs, complete error messages

Web services

Browser name and version for web-based issues

Login issues

A copy of your terminal session, including commands and full output

Tip: Emails signed with a trusted S/MIME certificate help us verify your identity more efficiently. Modern operating systems typically include trusted Certificate Authority (CA) certificates in their truststore. As of 2026, European science and research organisations use the GÉANT TCS service, offered in partnership with HARICA.

Do you offer training on how to use MPCDF resources?

Yes, we offer various training opportunities:

Training Type

Description

More Information

Introductory Tutorials

Online tutorials on using our services (twice a year)

Introduction to MPCDF Services

Advanced Courses

Courses on HPC, Python, and other topics

Training web page

Custom courses can also be arranged upon request.

How should I acknowledge MPCDF in my publications?

We appreciate acknowledgements of our services and resources in your publications. While there is no mandatory template, here are some examples:

  • “Computations were performed on the HPC system Raven at the Max Planck Computing and Data Facility.”

  • “We acknowledge project support from the Max Planck Computing and Data Facility.”

If you have received substantial support from individuals at MPCDF, you may also wish to acknowledge them by name.