For 90% of users, you should use the Google drive solution.
Some users will find there is an added value to keeping file based information locally.
These could be because of
- Automatic integration with web services (rstudio.colby.edu, sage.colby.edu, jupyter.colby.edu, nscc.colby.edu)
- Speed for calculation (compute and data should always be as close as possible)
- Strict handling of sensitive data,
- Grant stipulated constraints (eg: NSF Data Management requirements).
- Original data backup (eg from instrumentation or other sources)
For these reasons there is a local solution for you!
filer.colby.edu is a local NAS (network attached storage) built on a Dell/EMC Isilon cluster.
filer.colby.edu makes the data available over SMB (server message block) and NFS (network file system). So pretty much any computer can share files with them, if they are on campus or connected over the VPN (virtual private network). All data is continuously backed up to a second cluster in Orono Maine. All have snapshots being taken at regular schedules, in case you need to revert or recover.
/personal/<userid> (your Colby username) is your personal 10gig share and often where your home directory is based.
/courses/<courseid> (example <courseid>: EC239) course releated stuff (Material is semester based and should be cleared out at the end of each semester)
/research/<PI_ID> where faculty (PI = Principle Investigator) sponsored research is based and instrument data is uploaded (the <PI_ID> can be provided by the faculty member).
/research/<instrument> (example <instrument>: xray) where data from a shared instrument is maintained (the <instrument> can be provided by the faculty member or lab instructor).
If you need more infomation please click request service.