Overview

Iowa State University offers several file storage options, including modern cloud-based solutions and more traditional on-premises file servers.

Microsoft OneDrive

As part of the university contract with Microsoft, Microsoft OneDrive provides cloud-based storage accessible via web, mobile or a locally installed desktop application for Windows or Mac. Microsoft OneDrive is tightly integrated with other Microsoft software titles, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook) and Microsoft Teams.

Students, faculty and staff at Iowa State University get a default 1 TB (~1000 GB) quota but can request an increase up to 25 TB. OneDrive allows up to 250 GB per file.

Customers can share OneDrive files with anyone with an email address, within or outside of Iowa State University.

OneDrive is a no-additional-cost service for all Iowa State University students, faculty and staff.

To access Microsoft OneDrive, click the Office 365 OneDrive tile found on your Sign On Dashboard or visit https://iowastate-my.sharepoint.com and log on with your Iowa State University email address.

OneDrive can be used to store computer backups or archive data.

CyBox (Box)

As part of the university’s contract with Box, CyBox provides cloud-based storage accessible via web, mobile, or a locally installed desktop application for Windows or Mac. Customers can integrate CyBox with Microsoft Office software titles by installing Box Edit on their local computers.

CyBox does not have a quota. CyBox allows up to 50 GB per file.

Customers can share CyBox with anyone with an email address, within or outside of Iowa State University.

CyBox is a no-additional-cost service for all Iowa State University students, faculty and staff.

To access CyBox, click the CyBox tile found on your Sign On Dashboard or visit https://iastate.box.com and log on with your Iowa State University email address.

CyBox cannot be used to store computer backups or archive data.

Files

The Files service is a traditional on-premises file server providing storage accessible via SMB on Windows, Mac or Linux. Customers can access the Files service through a UNC path or mapped drive.

The Files service has a quota based on what you pay. The Files service allows up to 256 TB per file (NTFS limit).

The Files service can only be shared with Iowa State University Net-IDs and is only accessible on-campus or when connected to the Iowa State University VPN.

The Files service is an additional cost service for all faculty and staff at Iowa State University and costs $0.02/GB/month.

To access the Files service, please contact your local IT to establish access and billing.

Customers can use the Files service to store computer backups or archive data.

Large Scale Storage

LSS is a traditional on-premises file server providing storage specifically for research accessible via SMB on Windows, Mac, or Linux. Customers can access LSS through a UNC path or mapped drive. LSS replicates a copy of data to Iowa City for Disaster Recovery purposes.

LSS has a quota based on the fee paid. LSS allows up to 256 TB per file.

LSS files can only be shared with Iowa State University Net-IDs and are only accessible on-campus or when connected to the Iowa State University VPN.

LSS is an additional cost service for all researchers at Iowa State University.

For more information and to access LSS, visit https://researchit.las.iastate.edu/guides/lss for additional details, including requesting space.

LSS can be used to store computer backups or archive data.

Azure Archive

Azure Archive provides cloud-based storage specifically for archive purposes accessible via the Internet, API or a locally installed desktop application for Windows, Mac or Linux. Files retrieved from Azure Archive can take up to 12 hours to retrieve and carry an additional expense to retrieve.

Azure Archive does not have a quota. Azure Archive allows up to 200 TB per file.

Azure Archive can only be shared with Iowa State University Net-IDs and is accessible on or off campus without connecting to the Iowa State University VPN.

Azure Archive is an additional cost service for all faculty and staff at Iowa State University and costs ~$1/TB/month.

To access Azure Archive, submit the Request Azure Archive Space service request.

Customers can use Azure Archive to store computer backups or archive data.

  OneDrive CyBox Files LSS Azure
Location Cloud Cloud On-Campus On-Campus Cloud
Limit Up to 25 TB None None None None
Maximum File Size 250 GB 50 GB 256 TB 256 TB 200 TB
Audience All All Faculty/Staff Researchers Faculty/Staff/Researchers
Additional Cost No No Yes Yes Yes
Can Store Backups Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Can Archive Files Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Has Web Application Yes Yes No No No
Desktop Access Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Has API No No No No No
Pre-Pay Option No No No No No

 

As part of our contract, Box expressly forbids the university from storing backups or archiving data in CyBox. Customers should limit their usage of CyBox to that which is frequently accessed (days/weeks/months).

LSS was designed to specifically address a need for researchers with large data sets and an inexpensive location to store that data. It is not intended to be a live repository, yet to provide researchers with a place to store files that can be downloaded and edited locally. It is not designed for typical file server use.

All storage vendors are moving away from using the term unlimited as they have realized it incurs significant expense. While having no quota, Box does not allow storage of computer backups or archive data. As a result, Box limits the types of data (and how much) is stored there.

Unfortunately, no. Access when using Linux is limited to either the webpage or the community software rclone. Iowa State University does not provide support for the use of rclone, but it does function well for this activity.

Yes. OneDrive has a published limit of 5,000 items per folder. However, your overall account can have millions of files. The 5,000-item limit impacts folder renames or permission changes and may require making changes deeper inside the folder rather than at the very top.

For example, if you have a top-level folder that contains multiple sub-folders, each with 5,000 items, you will not be able to rename the top-level folder because there are more than 5,000 items inside it. You would only be able to rename the sub-folders with 5,000 or fewer items.