Access scratch space in Unix

Many Unix systems set aside a directory that makes temporary storage space available for anyone who needs it. It is public, shared space that does not count against your quota; it may be frequently cleared, possibly daily, or whenever the machine boots; and it is usually not backed up. It may be called /scratch, or /scr, or /tmp, for example. In order to use it, create a subdirectory (normally named by your username), and set the Unix file permissions as desired. See Manage file permissions on Unix-like systems.

For information about scratch space on Indiana University's research systems, see Available access to allocated and short-term storage capacity on IU's research systems.