docs/how-to/storage/mount-rds.md¶
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Mount RDS¶
Overview¶
Use this guide when you need to access a Research Data Store (RDS) location from a client machine or supported environment.
RDS is used for managed research data storage and shared project access. This guide explains the information you need before mounting and the basic process for getting access working.
For an overview of where RDS fits, see: - Storage service - Storage comparison
Before you begin¶
Make sure that:
- the RDS location already exists
- you have been granted access
- you know the path, share name, or mount details you were given
- you know which machine or environment you are mounting from
If the storage has not yet been provisioned, start here: - Request storage
What you need¶
Before attempting to mount RDS, confirm the following:
1. The storage location¶
You need the exact storage location or share details provided for your project.
2. Your access rights¶
You must already have permission to access the location.
If access has not been granted yet, mounting will fail even if the path is correct.
3. The client environment¶
Mounting steps depend on where you are accessing the data from, for example:
- a Linux workstation
- a macOS machine
- a Windows machine
- an HPC environment
- a managed institutional machine
The exact method may vary by environment.
General mounting process¶
The process usually follows this order:
1. Confirm access has been provisioned¶
Do not start with local troubleshooting until you know: - the storage exists - your account has been added - the path or share details are correct
2. Use the connection details provided for your environment¶
Use the method appropriate to your operating system or environment.
This may involve: - mounting a network share - connecting through a file browser - using a command-line mount command - accessing the location through HPC if it is exposed there
3. Verify that the mount is usable¶
Once mounted, check that you can: - list files - create a test file if you have write access - read existing project data - access the share again after reconnecting, if persistent mounting is expected
Common issues¶
Access denied¶
Possible causes: - your account has not yet been added - the wrong account is being used - permissions are read-only where write access was expected
Path not found¶
Possible causes: - incorrect share or mount path - incorrect hostname or service name - the storage has not yet been provisioned
Mount succeeds but files are missing¶
Possible causes: - you are looking at the wrong location - you only have access to part of the project space - the project data has not yet been copied into the location
Connection works in one environment but not another¶
Possible causes: - the storage is only exposed in selected environments - a different mount method is required on the second system - network or authentication requirements differ
When to ask for help¶
Ask for support if: - you have confirmed the path but still cannot mount it - you can connect but access is incomplete or incorrect - the mount works intermittently - you need the storage exposed in an additional environment
When asking for help, include: - the name of the project or storage area - the machine or environment you are using - the exact error message - whether you are trying to read, write, or both