Data Storage Services

Data Storage Department offers services to store unstructured scientific data as files and/or objects. The services, together with the National Repository Platform, are part of the National Data Infrastructure.

In this overview, we describe basic use cases and what services to choose to cover them.

General Information

The services can be used for storing predominantly scientific data by users from eligible organisations, mostly academic institutions in the Czech Republic. Users as well as the infrastructure operator are required to follow Service Terms and Conditions.

You can seek help using contacts listed on the support page.

You may be also interested in the equipment and infrastructure we operate.

Typical Use Cases

This section describes typical use cases and systems that can be deployed to support them. In any case, when in doubt or if you need any assistance, feel free to contact support.

Temporary Data Transfers

To transfer files too large for mail attachments to a single recipient or a group of recipients, you can use temporary storage of FileSender. Keep in mind the files are stored only temporarily. You can also invite somebody to send a file to you.

Data Sharing and Synchronisation

To keep your most important but smaller work data at hand, synchronised automatically among your computers and mobile devices, and available through a web interface as well, you can try out our sync’n’share service.

Object Storage for Individual Users

A terabyte of your personal work data. Maybe half, maybe three. Or you just want to get familiar with concepts and tools of object storage. In that case, you can get basic access to object storage just by registering for the service. No question asked, but you are advised to check service documentation, as some configuration will be necessary.

Object Storage Access

You may

• have terabytes (or hundreds) of data to be processed in MetaCentrum or IT4I,
• or have mid-term archival needs,
• or need to share data in groups of users,
• or want to back up scientific data from your institution,
• or have any other storage needs.

In that case, we’ll be happy to discuss your expectations and needs through our support.

The options are

• direct access to S3, suitable for most of the common use cases,
• Rados Block Device, should block device approach be necessary,
• CephFS, if a file system is a must, please contact support.

In all cases, you will get detailed control over user access to the data.

Data Repositories

If you need to enrich your data with rich descriptive metadata and publish it in a controlled manner, then this documentation is not for you. In that case, you’ll be highly interested in the National Repository Platform that does exactly it: supporting data repositories.