Storage Allocations

A paid storage allocation provides access to a shareable group location for active file storage. Active group storage is included with a paid compute allocation, but additional storage space can be purchased separately as well. Active storage is mounted on all compute resources and enables users to read, write, and modify files stored there. For long-term storage of infrequently- used files that is separate from compute resources, archive storage is available for purchase and is accessible via the Globus interface.

Typically, access to group storage locations can be managed using the <user>_collab group where the <user> is the user ID of the owner of the group space. For users to be added or removed from <user>_collab groups, the owner of that group must submit a request to icds@psu.edu.

If the owner of a group space would like more control over the access groups or would like to designate a group coordinator, then it is recommended that the owner create a User Managed Group (UMG). The UMG allows a user to manage the group access list and group roles directly through the User Managed Group functionality through Penn State Accounts Management. Select the following options and adhere to the following recommendations when creating the UMG:

Group Function:     Functional
Campus:             University Park
Display Name:       icds.rc.<umg_name>
                    e.g. icds.rc.abc1234_collab
Email:              Not necessary for RC use
Security:           Sync with Enterprise Active Directory is required

ICDS filters UMGs for display names that begin with icds.rc., so any UMGs created with this prefix will automatically appear within RC. It may take up to 15 minutes for a newly-created UMG to appear on RC. To verify that a UMG is available on RC, run the following command on RC:

$ getent group icds.rc.<umg_name>

After a UMG is created, the owner can submit a request to icds@psu.edu to associate this UMG with the <owner>_collab group. Once this association is made, then the group owner has full dynamic control over the access and roles of the <owner>_collab group by modifying the UMG membership. After this single request to ICDS, the owner no longer has to submit requests to modify group membership and instead can manage the group directly. Note that any user added as a UMG member that does not have an active RC account will not have access to RC or any data on RC until that user has an active RC account.