Network Data Storage

Network and Cloud Network Share Options

The Office of Information Technologies supports a variety of network and Cloud shares. These are intended for a different purposes, though there may be some overlap in functionality.

Most network drives can be accessed on Window and Apple desktop computers. Research shares are also available on central Linux computational systems. Research home directories are only available through through central research computational systems.

Individual shares/ Home directories

Home directories are for individual use and are typically where system specific configuration files will be kept, local software and scripts for your use will be stored.

Linux (Home Directories):

- /home/<your-username-here>
  - - Individual home directories for central Linux systems.
    - Accessed using SSH. (Secure Shell)
    - Software alias' and custom account configurations
    - /home common to most central research Linux systems
    - Some systems, such as Coeus and Gaia HPC cluster home directories use separate /home directories
    - 10 Gb storage default. Not intended for large data storage.

Windows Compute Intensive Systems (Home Directories):

- H drive ( H:\ )
  - - H:\ is the same as \\stuhome.psu.ds.pdx.edu\s (for students) and \\emphome.psu.ds.pdx.edu\s (for staff and faculty)
    - This is a personal network share for storing files that you require across systems for personal use.
    - Available on centrally managed Windows and Mac desktops and laptops.
      - Not available on research Linux systems.
    - 10 Gb storage default. Not intended for large data storage.

Shared Network Folders

Research network shares

OIT-hosted research network folders (shares) are an excellent way to store and share active data - data that is being used in active compute, needs to be accessed from OIT hosted compute servers and/or desktop systems, and needs to be shared with users with Odin IDs.

- - - Data back-up to Cloud available (default unless no backups requested.)
    - Shared by members of the same [POSIX] group.
    - Up to 2 TB storage with backups available (per researcher).
    - More storage available with or without backups for a fee. Rates can be found here.
    - A share can be requested by completing the Research share Request Form.

Locations: Each of these paths can point to the same storage area.

- - - OIT Linux Compute: /vol/share/sharename
    - Windows: I:\\Research\Shares\sharename
      - Can be mounted on other drive letters to \\share.research.pdx.edu\sharename. FAQ: Windows Map a Network Drive
    - OSX: smb://share.research.pdx.edu/sharename

Cloud-based Share for Archival and Off-campus document and data sharing:

PSU Google Shared Drive and Google Team Drive

Google Shared Drives are free, cloud-based storage for PSU accounts that allow teams to store, search, and access their files from any device. This is an excellent resource for storing copies of important documents, code, and data.

More information about Google Shared Drives and how to set them up can be found here:

- - - Google Shared Drives

Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud storage

AWS offers a number of cloud-based storage options. Options can be found here: Amazon S3 Storage Classes. In particular Glacier and Deep Glacier are excellent ways to store "ice cold" data that must be kept, but is unlikely to be or rarely accessed.

- - - Ongoing costs for the storage used can be billed to research grant/departmental index or personal credit card, on a monthly basis.
    - Data input is free. There are egress charges for pulling data from AWS.
    - S3 buckets are very useful if you are using AWS Cloud compute resources.
    - Glacier and Deep Glacier storage is charged as S3 bucket if pulled down before 90 days.
    - Unlimited storage based on what you can pay.
    - Extremely high degree of reliability and availability (%99.999999999, 11 9's reliability)

Other PSU-hosted I Drive Folders (I:\\)

All of the following folders are accessible via centrally managed Windows and Mac desktops and laptops. Not available on research Linux systems.

- - - Windows: I:\\folder-name
    - Mac: smb://...................

Projects Folder (I:\\Projects\)

Intended for shared general academic, administrative projects outside of departmental scope ( e.g. research group, multiple departments, etc.)

- - - Shared by members of the same Active Directory group.
    - 100Gb storage for free default.
    - NTFS and Active Directory permissions

Students Folder (I:\\Students\)

Intended for shared student academic projects and providing shared resources for students (e.g. GIS data sets)

- - - Shared by members of the same Active Directory group.
    - Available on centrally managed Windows and Mac desktops, laptops, and central Windows computational servers.
    - 20 Gb storage default. Additional by request only

Departments folder (I:\\Staff\)

Intended for shared academic and non-academic departments projects.

- - - Shared by members of the same Active Directory group.
    - Available on centrally managed Windows and Mac desktops and laptops and central Windows computational servers.
    - 100Gb storage default

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