Better Research Data Management

1
Better Research Data Management

• Anthony Beitz
• Technical Manager
• Monash e-Research Centre
• Sam Searle
• Data Management Coordinator
• Library

2
Overview

• Conventional research data management
• Benefits of good data management
• Research data management solutions
• How to access these solutions

3
Conventional Research Data Management
4
Research Data Management Technical Challenges

• Storing research data in an easily accessible
  location securely and reliably
• Storing and managing datasets, with exponential
  growth
• Sharing research resources and work spaces
  between institutions
• Discovering and relocating research data
• Publishing datasets and related research
  artifacts

5
Service Delivery Model
6
Data Management Roles
Service Management
Faculty IT Group
ITS
Library
MeRC
Operations of Infrastructure
Faculty IT Group
ITS
7
Over to the Librarys Slides
8
LaRDS Use by Faculty
9
Monashs Research Data Store LaRDS (Large
Research Data Store)

• 576 TBytes of unique data sets (some1.2 million
  CDs)
• 412 terabytes of on-line disk plus approximately
  2,400 terabytes of near-line tape
• Secure, reliable, and backed up
• No cost, for most research uses
• Not just a singleservice, file system,
  interface or software application
• LaRDS is a common infrastructure supporting a
  multiplicity of applications and access modes
• LaRDS can be used many different ways, and
  looks very different in each

10
User view of LaRDS
11
LaRDS Network Drive (LaND) Services Summary
12
How to get storage on LaRDS

• Request an allocation from either
• MeRC
• email merc_at_adm.monash.edu.au
• Sciences IT Support
• JobDesk http//jobdesk.monash.edu.au/login/index.
  cfm?jobdesk_id9
• Provide information including
• The required size of the allocation
• The operating system/s of the computer/s
  accessing it
• If it is to be accessible from the web
• If it is to be shared by a group
• If anyone sharing it is external to Monash

13
Backup Solutions
14
iFolder

• Lets your files follow you, everywhere by giving
  users 'Anywhere Access' to files, across
  platforms and devices
• Powerful, encrypted online file synchronization
  transfer.
• Updates in background
• Not quite a backup
• Shadow copy will sychronise deletes
• Monash backup server copy daily
• Quick data recovery after loss of laptop

15
How to get started with iFolder

• To get started
• Self Service Request (one at a time)
• http//www.its.monash.edu.au/staff/systems/novell/
  technical/diskrequest/index.php?treeifolder
• Request an iFolder (merc_at_adm.monash.edu.au)?
• Provide information including
• A short description
• A project sponsor and Department
• Authcate ID's for users
• Any special instructions, layout, permissions etc
• Documentation
• http//www.its.monash.edu.au/staff/mobile/ifolder/
  
• http//ifolder.monash.edu.au/

16
Collaboration Solutions
17
The Sakai VRE
18
Sakai

• Sakai is an all-in-one Virtual Research
  Environment
• A web-based tool that can be accessed anywhere in
  the world
• An entire suite of tools is available
• Sakai allows users to, among other things
• Share data
• Collaboratively create content
• Collaborate with people inside and outside Monash
• Sharing data is accomplished using the
  Resources tool
• Each worksite in Sakai can store 1GB by default,
  but the quota can be increased upon request
• Two methods of uploading files
• The web-based portal interface or
• A network folder based on WebDAV

19
Web-based Portal Interface

• Used primarily for small numbers of files, or
  when off-site.

20
Accessing Sakai Using WebDAV

• Used for transferring multiple files and/or
  entire folder structures

21
Collaborating in Sakai

• Two layered access model
• Authcate plus Local
• What this means
• Anyone at Monash can access Sakai.
• External parties can create their own accounts,
  or Sakai can create them automatically.

22
How to get started with Sakai

• To get started
• Review the online documentation and videos
• Goto https//sakai-vre.its.monash.edu.au
• Log in using your Authcate credentials
• Group demonstrations available on request
• Training
• Documentation
• https//confluence-vre.its.monash.edu.au/x/IwAb
• Screencasts/videos
• http//www.monash.edu.au/eresearch/activities/saka
  i/
• Help available from merc_at_adm.monash.edu.au

23
The Confluence Enterprise Wiki
24
Confluence

• Confluence is a highly flexible enterprise wiki
• Primarily designed to allow multiple users to
  collaboratively create documents
• Confluence allows users to, among other things
• Create and maintain multiple wikis
• Create blogs
• Store files
• Version control documents and pages
• Showcase projects
• Like Sakai, it is a web-based tool that can be
  accessed anywhere in the world

25
Collaborating in Confluence

• Collaboration in Confluence is mainly through the
  creation and editing of wiki pages, and also
  through the posting of comments.
• Comments are threaded in a hierarchy, and can
  also be used as a forum.
• Access is via Authcate for security.
• External access can also be arranged if needed.

26
How to get started with Confluence

• To get started
• Review the online documentation and videos
• Goto https//confluence-vre.its.monash.edu.au
• Log in using your Authcate credentials
• Group demonstrations available on request
• Training
• Basic and Expert
• Documentation
• https//confluence-vre.its.monash.edu.au/x/IwAb
• Screencasts/videos
• https//confluence-vre.its.monash.edu.au/x/Hgtn
• Help available from merc_at_adm.monash.edu.au

27
Versioning Solutions
28
The Subversion (SVN) Repository
29
Subversion

• Subversion (SVN) is a versioned code repository
  for use by Monash researchers
• Can also be used by collaborators from external
  institutions
• Primarily used to store and maintain various
  versions of data objects (primarily Word files,
  text files, source code, and images)

30
How to get started with Subversion

• Getting started
• Request a Repository (merc_at_adm.monash.edu.au)?
• Provide information including
• The name of the repository
• A short description
• A project sponsor and Department
• Authcate ID's for all users
• Any special instructions, layout, permissions etc
• MeRC Subversion Portal
• http//www.monash.edu.au/eresearch/activities/svn/
  svn.html
• Documentation
• https//confluence-vre.its.monash.edu.au/x/IwAb

31
Metadata Management Solutions
32
The Mediaflux Data Management System
33
Mediaflux

• Mediaflux is a highly flexible DMS (Data
  Management System).
• A web-based tool designed to store and maintain
  data, including (but not limited to) video,
  audio, documents and research datasets.
• Provides fine-tuned access control and a
  user-defined metadata engine, which enables users
  to create their own metadata schemata and search
  efficiently across large numbers of files.
• Developed specifically to support the ingestion
  and storage of research data.
• Continually being developed, enhanced and
  expanded with new features.
• Current being piloted with a number of groups
  within Monash.

34
Acknowledgements

• Neil Clarke - LaRDS slides
• Stephen Dart iFolder slides
• Nick McPhee - Sakai and Confluence slides
• Peter Dixon - Subversion slides

35
For more information

• Contact
• Anthony Beitz
• Technical Manager, Monash e-Research Centre
• Ph 613 9905-8681
• Anthony.Beitz_at_adm.monash.edu.au
• General MeRC Enquiries
• merc_at_adm.monash.edu.au