Disk space policy

This is the lab disk space policy. We will implement and enforce this policy as soon as we are able to.

You have an account on the cluster. We ask you to observe the following disk usage policy. We think this policy will cover 90% of the users, 90% of the time. We do understand that research can have unanticipated needs, and we are willing to work with you to create something sensible.

When you log in, you are in your home directory. This would normally be /nfs/home/<userid>. Lab tradition is to have a ~/code/ directory for all software and a ~/work/ directory for all of your research. Your home directory is backed up weekly, up to 500GB.

If you require more than 500 GB for ~/work/, we will create a special directory for you, e.g. /nfs/work/<userid>, which we recommend you symlink to ~/work/. /nfs/work is NOT backed up. We recommend you repatriate key files from time to time from /nfs/work/<userid> to ~/worksave/. We can help you write scripts to automate this.

If you create database files that persist and are larger than 500 GB, ask us to create space for you, e.g. /nfs/db/<userid>. Database files are backed up on demand or quarterly.

If you have large files from the syntrotron, ask us to create space for you, e.g. /nfs/store/<userid>. Storage files are backed up on demand or quarterly.

If you have files of another type, ask us to create space for you. They will be backed up quarterly or on demand.

Summary

We back up home directories weekly, and selected database, crystallography and other archived files quarterly. We do not back up work files. You must repatriate the key files to your home directory whence they will be backed up as part of the normal procedures.