Network Disk: Introduction

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Service description

With a previous request, research users can have two network disks types, exported over CIFS (SAMBA) protocol. This protocol allows Linux, Unix, Windows and MacOS clients. 

Shared drives are collaborative work areas where the group of users share rights to read, write, modify and even delete the documents inside. These drives are deployed in the storage:

  • NETAPP: Only users who belong to the group will have modification rights and access to the resource, it is identified by disk.dtic.upf.edu.
  • LENOVO: Research group datasets and cluster's homes. Only users who belong to the group will have modification rights and access to the resource, it is identified by samba.ccp.upf.edu.

We explain in detail the differences:

Shared drive Content Backup Access control
NETAPP storage Collaborative project data Diary incremental, weekly total, 2-weeks retention on the disk Group membership
LENOVO storage Collaborative project data (datasets) There is not a backup Write and read rights for group membership, the other users can read the data
LENOVO storage Individual data (HPC home)  There is not a backup Individual

Advantages

The network disk presents some advantages over the local disks, such as:

  • Anytime, anywhere data disposal: any computer with internet connection can securely access the data.
  • File system permission: The access to the files is protected with a password.
  • Quota: there’s no quota in this service.  
  • Backup: the contents of the network disks are backed up every night.

Inconveniences

But also it presents some inconveniences:

  • Speed: Local disk will always be faster than a network disk.
  • Needs VPN or corporate network: SAMBA doesn’t work without this kind of connection.