Geode home directory file system: Terms of service

On this page:

1. Overview
- 1.1 General
- 1.2 Terms and definitions
2. Service description
- 2.1 Geode Home Directory file system
3. Roles and responsibilities
- 3.1 Users
- 3.2 Service Provider
4. Data purge
5. Hours of support
6. Service retirement

Last updated: August 8, 2019

Related policies:

1. Overview

1.1 General

This document provides terms of service for the use of the Home Directory file system mounted on the Indiana University research supercomputers, a UITS Research Technologies service hosted on Geode, IU's disk-based online storage system. The terms of service in this document apply to all Users and the Service Provider.

This document is subject to change and may be modified at any time by UITS Research Technologies (UITS-RT). Communication will be sent to all Home Directory Users when modifications to this document are made. If Users fail to operate within the terms of service, access to their Home Directories may be revoked.

1.2 Terms and definitions

Geode: IU's disk-based, online storage service that hosts Home Directory file system space for IU research supercomputer users.
Users: All users of the Home Directory file system space on Geode; Users must agree to the terms outlined in this document
Service Provider: The Research Storage group of UITS-RT that manages and provides support for Geode.
Home Directory: A directory created by the Service Provider for use by the User; Home Directories are mounted on the IU research supercomputers at /N/u/username (where username is the User's IU username)
Initial Allocation: 100 GB (with a maximum file limit of 800,000 files)

2. Service description

2.1 Geode Home Directory file system

The Home Directory file system on Geode is operated and maintained by the Service Provider.
With the exception of scheduled maintenance, Geode is generally available 24x7.
Geode's regularly scheduled weekly maintenance window is Sunday 7am-10am (US/Eastern time zone). Geode also participates in UITS-RT's monthly maintenance window on the second Sunday of every month, 7am-7pm (US/Eastern time zone). Geode will typically be unavailable during the maintenance period.
If Geode requires extended maintenance or unplanned emergency maintenance, notifications are posted to Status.IU.
Home Directories are backed up once a month. Also, daily snapshots are taken and stored in a hidden .snap directory within each source Home Directory; see Recover deleted or corrupt files from your home directory or Geode-Project space on the IU research supercomputers.

3. Roles and responsibilities

3.1 Users

Users may store Critical data elements in Home Directories only if those Critical data elements satisfy the definition of protected health information (PHI). Users are not permitted to store any non-PHI Critical data elements in Home Directories.
Although PHI is classified as Critical data, other types of institutional data classified as Critical are not permitted on Research Technologies systems. For help determining which institutional data elements classified as Critical are considered PHI, see About protected health information (PHI) data elements in the classifications of institutional data.
Users are allowed to store sensitive data, such as electronic protected health information (ePHI or HIPAA-protected data), in Home Directories in accordance with the policies and standards outlined in the following documents:
- Your legal responsibilities for protecting data containing protected health information (PHI) when using UITS Research Technologies systems and services
- About dedicated file storage services and IT services with storage components appropriate for sensitive institutional data, including research data containing protected health information
Users will monitor and respond to email sent to their primary IU email address for official communications from UITS-RT about their Home Directories.
Users of the Home Directory file system on Geode are responsible for their use of all UITS resources under Appropriate Use of Information Technology Resources (IT-01). Specifically, as regards the use of Geode, Users must not store data that is illegal or protected under state and/or federal regulations, except that which is explicitly allowed above. If a User becomes aware of data having been stored on Geode that violates this provision, that User shall contact it-incident@iu.edu.

3.2 Service Provider

The Service Provider will administer the Geode system using best practices for security, performance, and availability. In particular, strict adherence to the privacy provisions outlined in Privacy of Electronic Information and Information Technology Resources (IT-07) will be maintained as it is on all UITS systems.
The Service Provider will monitor all email to the address store-admin@iu.edu for all operational communication from Users concerning the Home Directory file system on Geode and their use of the service.
The Service Provider will provide support to Users on UITS-RT's recommended tool set for the storage and access of Home Directory data.
The Service Provider reserves the right to suspend a User's access to the Home Directory file system on Geode in the following non-exhaustive circumstances:
- As required by law or regulation
- As the Service Provider determines in its sole discretion is necessary to protect Geode from unauthorized access or damage to its content
- As the Service Provider determines in its sole discretion that the User's use of Geode is illegal, infringes upon the intellectual property rights of a third party, or otherwise violates the restrictions, representations, or warranties herein
- As the Service Provider determines in its sole discretion that the User's use of Geode may subject Indiana University to civil or criminal liability
- For the purpose of "Emergency Problem Resolution" as defined in Procedure 4(a) of Privacy of Electronic Information and Information Technology Resources (IT-07).

4. Data purge

When the User's account is disabled by UITS, the user's data residing on Geode will be removed by the Service Provider after 180 consecutive days of account deactivation.

5. Hours of support

The Service Provider will monitor all email to the address store-admin@iu.edu for all operational communication Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm, with the exception of university holidays.
The Service Provider will respond to email inquiries within one business day.
During unexpected services outages, the Service Provider will work after business hours to the best of their ability to restore service.

6. Service retirement

UITS-RT reserves the right to retire the system at the end of the system's life cycle. The Service Provider will notify Users at least 180 days before decommissioning the system.

Note:

UITS-RT performs significant due diligence and stewardship with its systems and services. UITS-RT systems typically are in place for five years or longer.