Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of storage should I use?
In order to accommodate different research projects and their requirements, a number of storage products are available through RDS. These include Market (storage for active data), Vault (storage for inactive data), Compute (storage for cloud computing) and Object (storage for unstructured collections)and Archive (storage for data that requires long-term retention). Each storage product supports different research scenarios and has its own advantages and disadvantages. The Storage Products page provides an overview and is a good place to start if you are not sure what kind of storage you need.
Is the data I store on RDS backed up?
Data stored on Market and Vault is backed up daily and 30 days of backups are retained. Data stored on Compute and Object storage is not backed up automatically, but does support data redundancy. If backups are required, a Market or Vault allocation mounted on a VM can be used to store data backups.
What happens if I accidentally delete a file?
The best way to recover a deleted file is to contact the RDS Team via email (merc-rdsm-support@monash.edu) or lodge a support ticket through the Data Dashboard. Be sure to include important details such as date the file was last used and as much of the full path and filename as you can remember.
Who can access my data?
Windows shares (SMB) are restricted to Monash IDs that are members of specific secure access groups. SFTP and rsync allocations are linked to specific accounts, while NFS shares are restricted to the IP addresses and/or hostnames of specific machines. Object and Compute allocations are linked to specific accounts and projects within the Nectar Dashboard.
My data is is Sensitive or Very Sensitive. How do I store it securely?
Sensitive and Very Sensitive data, such as datasets containing personally identifiable information, should be stored appropriately in line with the security requirements. Such requirements can be complex, especially if the data has been provided by external collaborators or industry partners because there may be technical requirements above and beyond those required by the project or Monash’s information security guidelines. If you have sensitive data contact the RDS Team to discuss your requirements.
How can I share large amounts of data with collaborators outside Monash?
Large amounts of data (hundreds of gigabytes or terabytes) can be shared with external collaborators in a number of ways. The most appropriate method of doing so depends upon the sensitivity of the data as well as the requirements. External collaborators can be provided with access to most RDS allocations, but each collaborator will usually require an External Monash ID and will need to be connected to the Monash VPN. External Monash IDs and assistance with the Monash VPN can be requested via eSolutions.
For infrequent and one-off data transfers of Restricted data, Filesender, which is managed and supported by AARNet, can be used. Filesender allows up to 1,000 files to be transferred at once up to a maximum of 10TB. Filesender can be used by anyone with AAF (Australian Access Federation) credentials, which includes most universities in Australia as well as a number of research organisations. Vouchers can also be issued to collaborators without AAF credentials which allow them to use the service to upload and transfer data. Additional information about Filesender can be found in the AARNET Filesender FAQ. Additional data sharing and transfer options can be discussed with the RDS Team.