Research Data Management
RDM is the organization, storage, preservation, and sharing of data collected and used in a research project. CATS is working with the Grants office and the Libraries to develop a collaborative RDM policy and support infrastructure. Stay tuned… In the meantime checkout Smith Scholar Works
General Data Storage
There are three main data storage systems available at Smith.
Nasuni – Your Home and Shared drives. 25GB limit, files are backed up nightly and easily restored if issues arise. Provided by ITS.
Google Drive – Unlimited storage, off-campus so can be slow depending on file size. Files are also restorable. Provided by ITS.
Big Data Storage – Generally used for active research data. Anything over 100GB that you need access to fast would best be served here. Files are backed up and easily restorable. Provided by CATS
Data Sharing Connection Syntax
Logging into a SMB file server on a Windows computer:
\\ad.smith.edu\files\path-to-files
Logging into a SMB file server on a Mac computer:
smb://ad.smith.edu/files/path-to-files
(To access shared files on a Mac from a Windows computer, the Mac needs to be set up to share files with Windows users.)
Logging into a SMB file server on a Mac computer using different usernames:
smb://other_username:*@ad.smith.edu/files/path-to-files
Logging into a SMB file server on a Windows computer using a different username:
See this doc explaining how to “Connect using different credentials”
See also: ITS Network Storage at Smith for reference
Connecting to your Research Storage from an Apple Computer
Example Connection Paths (Apple flavor)
smb://ad.smith.edu/files/Academic/Research/
smb://ad.smith.edu/files/Home/username
smb://ad.smith.edu/files/Shared/foldername
Connecting to your Research Storage from an Windows Computer
[add Windows instructions/paths]
CATS Guide to Appropriate Data Storage Locations
| Recommended Usage: | Internal Drive | External Drive | Google Drive | Nasuni, Smith H: or S: Drives | NetApp Big Data Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharing with Colleagues |  |  | | | |
| Sharing with Students | | | | | |
| Sharing controlled by YOU | | | |  | |
| Sharing controlled by CATS/ITS | | | | | |
| Live Collaborative Work | | | | | |
| Active Research Data Sets < 25GB | | | | | |
| Active Research Data Sets > 1TB | | | | | |
| PII/Sensitive Data |  | | | | |
| Client Backup* | | | | | |
Chart Key
 | = Yes |  | = No |
 | = Maybe |  | = Caution |
Data Encryption
Mac Encryption – https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/protect-data-on-your-mac-with-filevault-mh11785/mac
Windows Encryption –
Data Visualization
Live Data Streams:
Pond http://pond.smith.edu/index.html
MacLeish http://macleish.smith.edu/index.html
Physics Weather https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/pws/KMANORTH55
Building OS (available through API)
Restoring versions of your data
You are able to restore your own data via all supported storage solutions.
- Nasuni/NAS – On a Windows computer you can right click on the folder or the file and restore a previous version of that file. If the file was completely deleted you will need to contact ITS to have the file/folder restored. Mac users, you need to use a Windows computer to do this.
- Google – you can open the file and go to File > revision history. More in-depth instructions are available here: https://support.google.com/drive/answer/2409045?hl=en
- If your backing up your computer(s) using CrashPlan your data can be recovered through the CrashPlan.app