Coming Soon: The All-New Project File System

The current /rcf-proj file system is still available as read-only due to the instability of the legacy storage system.

CARC is preparing a new storage system that will replace the current /rcf-proj file system. The all-new project file system will provide 8.4PB of data space, and PI’s can request disk spaces via User Portal based on their need.CARC plans to bring this new system in production in the middle of September.

On this system, a high-performing parallel file system (ZFS/BeeGFS) will be running, and once available, it is expected that many of the bottlenecks USC researchers are experiencing will be removed.

All users of active projects automatically receive a storage allocation on the CARC project file system. The default allocation size is 5 TB per project, which can be increased per PI’s request.

.Unlike compute allocations, the free of charge 10 TB storage limit is per PI, rather than per project. If a PI has multiple projects, each project receives 5TB of project storage space, and after the first 10TB, additional storage space (5TB incremental) will be charged.

If more than 5 TB is needed for the project, a PI can request additional storage space through the Research Computing User Portal. The additional storage space in excess of the first 10 TB is a paid service. The current price is $40/TB/year.

For example, when a PI has three projects and requires 35 TB of space, the annual charge for the data storage space can be:

Project A with 5TB = Free
Project B with 10TB = 5TB Free + (5TB x $40/TB/year) = $200/YR
Project C with 20TB = 20TB x $40/TB/Yr = $400/Yr

Total annual payment for 35TB will be $600/Yr.

For more information on allocations, see our Accounts and Allocations page .

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When you say “ZFS/BeeGFS”, will it be a ZFS file system or a BeeGFS file system, or none of the above? Thanks.

It is BeeGFS file system running on top of ZFS. While BeeGFS offers a high-performing parallel file system, ZFS provides other functionalities such as quota, snapshot,etc.