What are my data storage options?

MSI's storage infrastructure page provides an overview of your data storage options at MSI.

MSI provides each group a shared home directory space on the high performance primary storage that is accessible from all MSI systems. Your use of this space is limited by a storage quota that applies to your group's usage as a whole. See also: How can I check my disk quota?

The storage infrastructure page describes other options besides primary storage. All users with supercomputing allocations have access to high performance scratch storage, which is useful for short term storage of temporary files or intermediate results. Second tier storage is designed to support a wider variety of research data lifecycles and workflows, including more options for seamlessly sharing data with external collaborators.

Users needing to store and manipulate extremely large files have the option of a contract based dedicated storage. PIs should email help@msi.umn.edu to explicitly request group storage quota increases or to contract for dedicated storage.

MSI does not offer general purpose file sharing on the public internet. Google Drive is free for UMN employees, students, and departments.