Does UITS offer workstation backup service?

UITS does not offer a workstation backup service, but does offer a massive data storage service (based on HPSS software) to faculty, staff, and graduate students with accounts on the central research systems at Indiana University. Since HPSS works best with large files, workstation backups are an ideal use of this Massive Data Storage Service (MDSS). UITS recommends using a backup program that aggregates files and generates a single, large file (such as the Unix dump, tar, or zip command or the ZIP facility in Windows). However, creating very large backup files and moving them over the network may not be efficient when you have to retrieve data. Instead, it may make sense to aggregate the backups in files no bigger than a few gigabytes each for easy retrieval and restoration. See At IU, how do I access the MDSS?

The massive data storage system uses large disk caches and robotic tape libraries at Indiana University Bloomington and IUPUI with a total theoretical peak storage capacity of 4.2 petabytes (4.2PB). The Storage Technology Corporation 9310 tape libraries currently in use store data on STK 9940 and IBM 3592 tapes and tape drives. The 9940 and 3592 tapes store 200GB and 500GB of uncompressed data each, respectively.

MDSS is not meant for standard, departmental backup service. Regular departmental backups to MDSS would cause serious adverse effects on the service. For this reason, you must contact UITS to discuss your departmental backup needs.

For more information, including how to request accounts, which workstations are supported, and where to acquire the client software, visit the MDSS web page. MDSS is managed by the UITS Research Storage group. If you have questions, email Research Storage.

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