Data Storage & Backup Services

Storage for personal use
Storage for lab/departmental use (dfa or MAD)
Adding space to an existing dedicated file storage area (dfa)
Request data back-up for a server(s)
Desktop back-up

For personal use:

Home Drive - This is for personal PC workstation/Mac storage needs only and can only be accessed by one user, the "owner". There is no fee, the service includes back-up, but size is limited to approximately 300 MB. If you have a Partners username and password, you already have a Home Drive. To find out the location of your Home Drive, follow these instructions. Here are instructions on how to "map" to your Home Drive in Mac OS X.

For lab/departmental use:

If your current and projected needs are between 10GB and ~1TB, consider purchasing a research dedicated file area or "DFA". Data is stored on Partners servers and is backed-up daily with the last two revisions kept in storage at any time. You must have a Partners username and password to access your space. If you do not have a Partners username and password, request them. This storage space should not be used for patient critical data. To be eligible for this offer the storage must be directly supporting a grant at either the MGH or BWH, any exceptions must be approved by the Senior Vice President of Research.

If your current or projected needs are greater than 1TB consider purchasing storage via the Massive Array of Disks storage initiative or "MAD". The MAD project provides the research community with a cost-effective, massively scalable, mid-level performance tier of storage that is centrally located within the highly secure PHS datacenter. This tier targets data that is written once and read many (WORM), where the files typically undergo little to no changes over time. The data's utility is high enough, however, that it needs to remains on-line and accessible for an extended period of time. Additional details found here including specs and cost . To purchase MAD storage space, or if you have questions, send us an email.

Purchasing a dedicated file area (DFA) if your needs are between 10GB and ~1TB:

1. Request only the storage space you need, the size can be increased as your needs grow. For up to 9 GB, contact the Help Desk at 617.726.5085 and request a sfa (shared file area) for no charge. Individual departments or labs needing multiple sfa's smaller than 10GB each, but totaling more than 10GB will be charged for the total of combined space as detailed in #2 below.

2. 10 GB of storage can be purchased for $25.00. Additional storage in increments of 10GB can be purchased for $25.00. Request only the storage space you need, the size can be increased as your needs grow.

3. This fee is charged annually to the Grant or Cost Center number you indicate on the form at the link below.

4. If your space needs grow beyond your original purchase, you may purchase additional increments of 10 GB by filling-out and completing the form indicating in the text field, "Additional details on your needs" that you are adding to existing storage space.

5. If you need FTP access note that you will be assigned an intermediate FTP share at no charge. To FTP to your storage space you will first have to FTP to the intermediate share and from there, move via drag and drop to your storage space. You can also request that I.S. schedule a regular move from the intermediate share to your storage space; if you want this scheduled, note so in the field "Additional details on your needs" on the form linked to in #7 below.

6. You will be contacted within 5 business days of the approval of your request.

7. To request storage space, fill-out the form. (internal only) NOTE: If you are both the requestor and the administrator who will approve the request, you will receive two email confirmations after form submission. You must respond to the email you receive asking you to "Accept" or "Reject" the request by clicking the "Accept" link or your request will not be processed.

Adding space to an existing dedicated file storage area:

If you need space added to an existing dedicated file storage area (dfa) send an email to rcc@partners.org with the following information, or call us at 617-726-9037:

1. Name of your existing storage area
2. Amount of space to be added
3. If the chargeback information is the same as your original request you do not have to include that, otherwise include the following in your email:
- Business Unit
- GL Account
- Grant or Cost Ctr.
- Project # if applicable

Data Backup:

Both personal Home Drives and storage purchased via the process above are backed-up by Partners IS. If you have other data residing on local drives/servers in your lab/department and would like it backed-up, complete this FORM (internal only) and submit to the email address noted at the top.