Data and Code Management Tools

Service Description

Research Computing offers several specific services related to data and code management. Current offerings include:

• Subversion (SVN): managed Subversion (SVN) repository hosting for Research Computing customers. For security, repository access is limited to the HTTPS protocol. Both Kerberos (Onyen) and custom ID authentication is available; custom, directory level authorization is possible. Repositories are backed up daily.
• iRODS (Integrated Rule-Oriented Data System) data grid server hosting is available. Research Computing- hosted iRODS servers can use the ITS mass storage system (SAM-FS ) to provide archive class replicas for existing grids. GPFS storage is available for cache (disk) class resources. Research Computing can also provide ICAT-enabled iRODS server hosting, with internally supported Oracle as databases.
• Secure File Drop Box (Secure FTP). Described in more details elsewhere in the service catalog, this service allows secure research data transfer for both anonymous and Onyen based user authentication. Anonymous (typically external) users are allowed to upload data only. This is useful for University collaborators without UNC PIDs and Onyens but who require data sharing.

Hours of Availability

These data and code management tools are typically available 24x7 other than during planned maintenance periods or unanticipated emergencies (such as loss of commercial power to the data center). Planned maintenance windows are announced through the ITS Changes list. Individual customer problems are typically investigated on the same or next business day as reported, depending on staff availability.

Customer

Faculty, postdocs, staff and students engaged in research at UNC, and their external collaborators.

Customer Responsibilities

Customers are responsible for appropriate use of the resources for educational and research purposes. External collaborators are responsible for providing notification of file deposit and the accompanying required information as specified in the service description above.

How Do We Charge

There are no charges for base levels of these services. iRODS repositories requiring more than several hundred gigabytes of storage would leverage the University-approved Interdepartmental Fee structure to cover the costs of tape media for these large collections.

How To Request More Information On Or Request The Service

UNC researchers who are interested in using these services should contact Research Computing by submitting a Remedy ticket or by sending email to research@unc.edu .   For more detailed information or to discuss how your projects might use these services, you can also contact Bill Schulz (wschulz@email.unc.edu, iRODS and SVN), Charles Hammitt (chammitt@email.unc.edu, Secure FTP)  or Ruth Marinshaw (ruth@email.unc.edu, general questions or questions spanning services).