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Static Data Serving

RC Static Data Sharing service enables sharing of data from the Orange storage 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.
  • Sharing data with people who do not or cannot use Globus.
  • Having a long-term stable URL for supporting data for a publication or project.
  • Not wanting to copy/move data already in /orange elsewhere.

Description

Once configured static data serving allows you to present data you have in your /orange/GROUP directory tree whether publicly or via password-protected directories by placing the data or symlinks to data directories and files into /orange/GROUP/web/.

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

Any files or directories or symlinks to them placed under /orange/GROUP/web/public become immediately browsable via https://data.rc.ufl.edu/pub/GROUP/

The content of the /orange/GROUP/web/secure directory is not browsable. Going to https://data.rc.ufl.edu/secure/GROUP/ will result in an immutable index.html file in /orange/GROUP/web/secure to be served. The following message will be displayed:

"Secure file delivery - no public data

If you were directed to this site use the full URL and the credentials you were provided. "

See Secure Directory Setup for details on how to set up password-protected directories under /secure/GROUP.

Service Setup

Once the request is closed you will be able to use the /orange/GROUP/web directory tree.

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

Secure Directory Setup

Use the secure_data_download_directory_setup command from the ufrc module to set up password-protected directories under /orange/GROUP/web/secure, which will create password-protected sites under https://data.rc.ufl.edu/secure/GROUP/ if needed. Every configured directory will appear under https://data.rc.ufl.edu/secure/GROUP. Run secure_data_download_directory_setup -h for help or see below. Once a directory (e.g. named 'DIRECTORY') is set up any client who goes to https://data.rc.ufl.edu/secure/GROUP/DIRECTORY will have to enter the configured credentials after which they'll be able to browse the contents of the directory.

  • Note: Set up the protected directory's configuration before copying or symlinking any data into it. While the secure directory tree is not browseable if someone can guess the exact path to a file they could potential download the file if the authentication is not set up, yet.

If there is a need, you can submit a support request to request that UFRC Single-Signon protection is set up for a particular directory/URL under https://data.rc.ufl.edu/secure/GROUP/ say for a long-term internal UF collaboration. Please specify one or more HiPerGator groups, all HiPerGator users, or all UF GatorLink users as the allowed audience.