Usage Fee (FY2023)

Starting from May 11, 2023, to use mdx, users are required to purchase mdx points (“points”).
The points will be consumed by using resources such as virtual machines and storage (similar to a prepaid card).
Please refer to this page for details on how to purchase points, as well as a list of point consumption for each resource.
Additionally, please refer to the mdx tutorial video for overview of billing system.
Please note that points have an expiration date and cannot be refunded.

Projects created during the mdx trial period (September 22, 2021-May 10, 2023) will not be available after May 11, as well as access to the User Portal and Virtual Machines, if points are not purchased during the pre-purchase period (April 5-May 7) .

For those who have used mdx during the trial period, please read the “Notification of the end of the mdx trial operation period (-2023/5/10)” for the tasks and migration schedule to be completed by May 11, 2023, the start of full-scale operation.

mdx points

  • 1 point costs 1 yen (excluding tax).
  • Purchased points are managed on a per-project basis, and cannot be used in other projects even if the same user creates multiple projects on mdx.
  • When multiple points are registered in a project, the points are consumed in the following priority order:
    1) Point with the earliest expiration date
    2) If the expiration date is the same (e.g. March 31), the point with the earlier registration date.

List of Point Consumption (FY2023)

  • Trial projects are free (no point purchase required).
  • Computing resources differ in consumption points depending on the project type. (See the table below)
    - For Normal Projects, points are consumed based on the reserved amount for Reserved Virtual Machine Instances (the amount of resources requested through the Project Application Portal or User Portal) and the usage amount for virtual machine.
    - For Node Occupancy Projects, points are consumed based on the reserved amount of resources requested through the Project Application Portal or User portal, regardless of whether virtual machines are power-on or not.
  • Storage resources do not differ in consumption points by project type.
    - Points are consumed based on the reserved amount of resources requested through the Project Application Portal or User portal, not the actual usage amount.
  • Global IP addresses are available for free, but must be requested through the Project Application Portal or User Portal.

*For detailed specifications of each resource, please refer to the System Overview.

ClassificationProject type
ResourcesConsumed pointStart of point consumption
Computing resourcesNormal ProjectsCPU pack per 1packReserved amount for Reserved Virtual Machine Instances0.2 points/hWhen the application is approved
Usage amount for virtual machine0.2 points/hWhen the virtual machine is power-on
GPU pack per 1packReserved amount for Reserved Virtual Machine Instances50 points/hWhen the application is approved
Usage amount for virtual machine50 points/hWhen the virtual machine is power-on
Node Occupancy ProjectsGeneric CPU Nodes per 1node60.8 points/hWhen the application is approved
GPU Acceleration Nodes per 1node800 points/h
Storage resourcesVirtual Disk Storage per 1GB0.03 points/d
When the application is approved
High-Speed Storage per 1GB0.03 points/d
Large-Capacity Storage per 1GB0.02 points/d
Object Storage per 1GB0.01 points/d
Global IP addresses Free
 

Computing Resource (CPU, GPU) Point Consumption Overview

There are two types of virtual machines: “Reserved Virtual Machine Instances” and “Spot virtual machine”, and the point consumption for each computing resource (CPU, GPU) is as shown in the table below.

To start as an “Reserved Virtual Machine Instances”, you need to first apply (reserve) the required amount of GPU and CPU on the Project Application Portal or User portal. If resources have been allocated for “Reserved Virtual Machine Instances”, check “Start as Reserved Virtual Machine Instances”. when you boot the virtual machine on the User Portal. If do not check this box, the virtual machine will boot as a “Spot virtual machine”.


Virtual Machine TypeComputing resource consumedRemarks
Reserved Virtual Machine Instances

Points will be consumed based on the reserved amount for Reserved Virtual Machine Instances and the usage amount for virtual machine.

Reserved amount for Reserved Virtual Machine Instances consume points even if the virtual machines are not power-on.
Spot virtual machine

Points will be consumed based on the usage amount for virtual machine.As the virtual machines is not guaranteed to boot, when the resources of the mdx become tight, there is a possibility that the virtual machines cannot be booted, or even if they are booted, they may be stopped. If you do not want to stop the VMs, please consider using “Reserved Virtual Machine Instances”.

How to Purchase Points

  • Please apply through the “Project Application Portal“.
  • Only those who are registered as “Point Purchasers” in the Project Application Portal can apply for point purchases.
  • Points can be purchased at any time during the following purchase acceptance period.
      Usage for the current fiscal year: From April 1st to January 31st. 
      Usage for the following fiscal year (Reserved): From February 1st to March 31st. (Except for usage in FY2023)
    * For FY2023, purchase application starts from April 5.
  • The price per point is 1 yen (excluding tax).
  • The purchase unit for points is 5,000 (5,000 yen / excluding tax).
  • Once points are purchased, they will not be refunded for any reason.

Timing of Point Award

Points are awarded at the following times, depending on the payment method.

  • Bank transfer (invoice payment): When the purchase application is approved by the mdx administrator.
  • Credit card payment: When the purchase application is approved by the mdx administrator, and the credit card payment is completed by the user.
  • On-campus transfer: When the purchase application is approved by the mdx administrator.

Validity Period of Points

The validity period of points is either 6 months from the date the points are awarded or until the end of the fiscal year (March 31), whichever comes first.
Points purchased between April 1 and September 30, they will expire after 6 months from the date of award.
Points purchased between October 1 and January 31, they will expire at the end of the fiscal year without waiting for 6 months to pass, and cannot be carried over to the following fiscal year.

How to pay

The following three payment methods are available.

  • Bank transfer (invoice payment): In principle, this method is not available for University of Tokyo members *Except for KAKENHI.
  • Credit card payment: This method is not available for University of Tokyo members. For credit card payments, users need to make the payment on the external payment page within 5 business days after the purchase request is approved. Please note that for credit card payments, the maximum amount of points that can be purchased per transaction is 5,000,000.
  • On-campus transfer: This method is available only for University of Tokyo members. However, for KAKENHI, only bank transfer is available.

List of Issued Documents

Issued DocumentInvoice
(mail)
Itemized invoiceReceipt
Payment method
Bank transfer (invoice payment)×
Credit card payment×××
On-campus transfer××

Billing Months and Payment Method Change Deadlines

For payment methods using bank transfer (invoice payment) or on-campus transfer, the monthly purchased points will be added up based on the point granting date, and the billig or on-campus transfer will be made in the following billing month.
Cancellation of point purchase application, changes to payment method, and editing of payment information can be made until the deadline below. However, cancellation of point purchase application is possible only if the points have not been used.

Point grant monthBilling monthDeadline for canceling point purchase application and changing payment methods
AprilJuneEnd of Apr.
MayJulyEnd of May
JuneAugustEnd of Jun.
JulySeptemberEnd of Jul.
AugustOctoberEnd of Aug.
SeptemberNovemberEnd of Sep.
OctoberDecemberEnd of Oct.
NovemberJanuaryEnd of Nov.
DecemberFebruaryEnd of Dec.
JanuaryMarchEnd of Jun.
February-March
*For next fiscal year use only
MayEnd of Mar.
  • For bank transfer (invoice payment), invoices will be sent out at the beginning of each billing month. Payment is due at the end of the next month of the billing month.
  • For on-campus transfer (University of Tokyo members only), interdepartmental transfer will be processed in the billing month.

Actions to be taken when the point balance reaches 0

Project Suspension

If the point balance held reaches 0, the virtual machine running in the project will be stopped and access to the user portal will be disabled.
If you do not plan to continue using the project, please backup the data stored in mdx storage while the project still has a point balance.

How to Resume a Project

If a point purchase is made within 90 days from the day the point balance reaches 0, the project can be resumed.
After the project is restarted, you will be able to use the environment you had before the project was suspended. However, even while the project is suspended, points will be consumed based on the reserved amount of computing resources for Reserved Virtual Machine Instances and storage capacity. When the project is restarted, points will be consumed for them first, so please add points to ensure that there are no shortages.

Automatic Deletion of Project

If no points are purchased within 90 days from the date the point balance reaches 0, the project, including the virtual machine and data stored in mdx storage, will be deleted.