Serving Static Data

Summary

RC Static Data Sharing service enables sharing of data from the /orange filesystem as static files through a webserver whether publicly or with password protection for individual directories.

Use cases

Some, but not all possible use cases include:

• Sharing data with external collaborators who do not have HiPerGator accounts.
• Looking for a more lightweight and faster to set up approach than Globus.
• Long-term stable URL for supporting data for a publication or project.
• Not wanting to copy/move data already in /orange elsewhere.

Description

Service that allows you to present data you have in your /orange/GROUP directory tree whether publicly or via password-protected directories. You can copy or symlink files and directories into /orange/GROUP/web/public or /orange/GROUP/web/secure directories and be able to secure directories under web/secure with a single command (generate_download_dir from the ufrc environment module) that generates a username and password combination. The data will appear under a https://data.rc.ufl.edu/pub/GROUP or https://data.rc.ufl.edu/secure/GROUP/secure_directory URL.

Alternatively, you can request UFRC Single-Signon protection and specify HiPerGator group(s), all HiPerGator users, or all UF GatorLink users as the allowed audience for a particular directory/URL.

Implementation

• Purchase an orange quota if you don't have one.
• Submit a support request for the initial setup.

As a part of the request, an /orange/GROUP/web directory tree and a 'rc-svc-GROUP-web' user with membership in your GROUP will be created.

• Use the 'generate_download_dir' command from the ufrc environment module to generate a username and password configuration in the target directory under /orange/GROUP/web/secure/. That directory will be immediately protected by the webserver. Create a protected directory before copying or symlinking any data into it.

Note: the rc-svc-GROUP-web user will be a member of your GROUP, so any data to be shared must be group-readable!