Overview

The Research Archive Storage Service provides a centrally managed, low-cost, archive storage solution for inactive University research data (a.k.a. tier 3 or cold storage). The service is administered by BU Research Computing Services, leverages the Globus Platform for data transfer and access management, and uses the MGHPCC Northeast Storage Exchange (NESE) Tape System as its underlying storage system.

Benefits

Easily and inexpensively store your inactive research data. Data is stored on a combination disk-tape system, providing high speed transfers into the system and high-density archival tape media for stable long-term storage. Storage is made available as Globus Collections where it is managed directly by a researcher as the Share Collection Manager. The Globus platform ensures reliable data transfer through a convenient web interface.

Available To

This service is available to Faculty, Staff, and Departments. A Globus Collection may be shared with others through the Globus Platform, including with external collaborators.

Key Features

  • Tape-based storage platform provides low-cost long-term storage.
  • Data protection is achieved through tape redundancy; tapes must be purchased in pairs.
  • A tape cartridge provides 18.2 TB of usable storage space; client can purchase multiple tape-pairs per Collection.
  • Tape cartridges are not shared; they are dedicated to your Collection and accessed solely by your collection members.
  • Use the Globus Platform for secure and reliable data transfer.
  • Housed at the MGHPCC, a secure and professionally managed data center.
  • BU Data Classification approval pending. Expected to store Internal data as defined by the BU Data Classification Policy.

What to Expect

Tape-based storage systems are designed to write large volumes of data onto tape cartridges for long-term cold storage and have practical considerations for data transfer and access. Additional information about the storage system can be found in the NESE Tape Documentation.

Allocations

  • Storage allocations are made in 20 TB increments – the nominal capacity of current tape-cartridges. Note that usable space is approximately 18 TB per 20 TB tape cartridge.
  • The cost of a 20 TB allocation includes two tape cartridges. The second tape is used by the tape system for data redundancy and to ensure data integrity; it does not provide additional storage.

Writing to Tape

  • Files written to the tape-system should be between 1 GB and 1 TB. Consider creating tar/zip files of your data before transferring to tape.
  • Data stored on the tape-sytem is not encrypted at rest. If encryption at rest is a requirement for your data, it should be encrypted before transfer to the tape-system.

Data Retrieval

  • Data retrieval from tape should be infrequent and at low volume.
  • Bulk retrieval (>40 TB) of data from tape should be coordinated with the BU Research Computing team.

Data Deletion

  • Deletion of data from tape does not immediately release storage space for re-use. Contact the BU Research Computing team to request reclamation of space when needed.

Availability
The Research Archive Storage Service will normally be available 24 by 7 except during an annual MGHPCC datacenter downtime (typically 3 days in early summer), occasional datacenter outages, and scheduled maintenance as required by NorthEast Storage Exchange platform administrators. Notice for planned maintenance and unplanned outage activity will be communicated to Share Collection Managers via email.

Requirements

Cost

To expedite availability and adoption of the service, the pilot phase of this service is available at no charge. Research Computing will implement a cost recovery model for FY26 (beginning July 2025).

Research Archive Storage Service is provided in increments of a “pair of tapes” which provide 18.2 TB of usable space at a cost to be determined. Payments are processed through BU’s Internal Service Request (ISR) made payable to Provider “IS&T-RCS Research Archive Storage Service”.

Getting Started

  • Tape archive storage systems differ from disk-based storage systems. Carefully review the Research Archive Storage Service usage documentation for limitations of and best practices for using tape-archive storage systems, including data size, file number quotas, encryption policy, and data retrieval procedure. If needed, consult with Research Computing (help@scc.bu.edu) to assess your storage requirements.
  • Activate your Globus account using your BU email address.
  • Submit a Research Archive Storage Service Request.
  • Review the Globus usage documentation to begin.