The Ohio Supercomputer Center (OSC) has released version 4.1 of Open OnDemand, an open source, web-based platform used by high performance computing (HPC) centers around the world to provide researchers, educators, and students with easier, more flexible access to advanced computing resources.
Developed at OSC with funding from the National Science Foundation, Open OnDemand provides browser-based access to HPC systems—enabling users to manage files, submit and monitor jobs, and run applications without requiring command-line expertise. Since its release in 2017, Open OnDemand has been deployed at more than 2,100 locations globally, supporting a wide range of academic and research workflows.
Version 4.1 introduces a series of enhancements shaped by feedback from the Open OnDemand community, with a focus on improving usability, customization, and administrative efficiency.
“Each Open OnDemand release reflects how closely we work with the community to understand real-world challenges and workflows,” said Alan Chalker, Open OnDemand project lead and OSC director of strategic programs. “Version 4.1 delivers meaningful improvements that help both users and administrators manage computing resources more effectively, while continuing to expand the platform’s flexibility and extensibility.”
New and updated features in Open OnDemand 4.1 include:
User experience and visibility
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Expanded dashboard widgets, allowing sites to display information such as file quotas, account balances, system status, and ACCESS Resource Provider details
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A new module browser, enabling users to view detailed module information directly within the interface
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Enhanced support for rendering and viewing HTML files
Workflow and project management
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Major updates to the Project Manager, including improved file management, reusable templates, composite job workflows, and enhanced support for collaborative projects
Administrative and support improvements
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Improved support ticket functionality, including the ability to submit requests directly from the Active Jobs widget and route tickets to ServiceNow
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Greater flexibility for global Batch Connect configurations, allowing administrators to reconfigure form elements more easily
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Simplified proxy support over HTTPS for interactive applications
File access and management
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Improvements to file editing, viewing, and downloading
Documentation, security, and accessibility
Open OnDemand 4.1 also expands documentation and compliance resources to support institutional deployment and review processes.
The release introduces new software bill of materials (SBOM) documentation, including operating system-level dependency information to help site administrators understand installation requirements and work with institutional security teams.
Open OnDemand 4.1 also makes a Higher Education Community Vendor Assessment Toolkit (HECVAT) available to support institutional security and risk assessment reviews.
The Open OnDemand development team has issued an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) — a completed version of the ITI Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (ITI VPAT) — and plans to do so for each minor and major release.
Findings from the 4.1 ACR will inform ongoing accessibility improvements planned for future releases.
Additional technical documentation and compliance resources are available on the Open OnDemand website.
Full details on all updates are available in the Open OnDemand 4.1 release notes.
Community contributions and partnerships
The Open OnDemand 4.1 release reflects contributions from partners across the HPC ecosystem.
Developers Alan Sussman and Harshit Soora of the University of Maryland played a key role in expanding the Project Manager toolset to support advanced workflow management. Their work enables researchers to visually construct and execute multitask computational workflows — reducing reliance on manual scripting and making it easier to orchestrate complex research pipelines directly within the Open OnDemand interface.
“Integrating intuitive workflow capabilities into Open OnDemand opens up new opportunities for researchers to manage complex pipelines efficiently,” Sussman said. “Our goal with these enhancements is to lower barriers to scientific discovery by giving users tools that mirror real research workflows.”
In addition, OSC partnered with Cendio AB to introduce a beta integration of ThinLinc with Open OnDemand. The integration focuses on providing administrators with additional options for offering Linux desktop access within HPC environments, including support for Slurm-based systems. The integration complements existing Open OnDemand functionality and does not replace current tools.
Open OnDemand already integrates noVNC, an open source project maintained by Cendio.
A beta version of the ThinLinc application for Open OnDemand is available for testing, with a fully supported release planned for later in 2026. Feedback from the HPC community will help guide future development of the integration.
A full list of contributors who helped make the Open OnDemand 4.1 release possible is available in the acknowledgements section of the 4.1 release notes.
Ongoing community engagement
The Open OnDemand community is supported through ongoing opportunities for collaboration, learning, and shared innovation.
The second Global Open OnDemand (GOOD) Conference will take place March 9–12, 2026, at the University of Utah. The event will bring together users, developers, and partners for technical talks, panel discussions, and networking opportunities focused on advancing web-based access to high performance computing. Registration is now open.
Beyond the annual conference, the Open OnDemand team supports the community through ongoing programming, including monthly “Tips and Tricks” webinars and open office hours that provide a forum for sharing best practices, asking questions, and shaping future development. A full schedule of upcoming events is available at openondemand.org/upcoming-events.
To learn more about Open OnDemand or get started with installation and support resources, visit openondemand.org.
Written by Lexi Biasi
The Ohio Supercomputer Center (OSC) addresses the rising computational demands of academic and industrial research communities by providing a robust shared infrastructure and proven expertise in advanced modeling, simulation and analysis. OSC empowers scientists with the services essential to making extraordinary discoveries and innovations, partners with businesses and industry to leverage computational science as a competitive force in the global knowledge economy and leads efforts to equip the workforce with the key technology skills required for 21st century jobs.
