Request Storage¶
Overview¶
Use this guide when you need storage provisioned or access adjusted for a research project.
This may include: - requesting access to an existing Research Data Store (RDS) location - requesting a new shared storage area for a project - asking for quota changes or storage expansion - clarifying which storage service is appropriate before requesting access
If you are still deciding what kind of storage you need, start with: - Choose the right service - Storage service - Storage comparison
Before you request storage¶
Make sure you can answer the following:
1. What are you storing?¶
Be clear about the type of data: - active research data - code and scripts - working files for analysis - outputs and results - documents for collaboration
2. How much storage do you need?¶
Estimate: - current data volume - expected growth over the project - whether data will be transferred in batches or generated over time
Avoid vague requests such as “a large amount of storage”.
3. Who needs access?¶
List: - the project owner or principal investigator - named team members - whether access is individual or shared - whether anyone outside UCT needs access
4. How will the data be used?¶
Clarify whether the storage is for: - shared team access - access from HPC - collaboration across devices - ongoing project storage - temporary working data during computation
5. Are there any data handling constraints?¶
Note any requirements related to: - sensitive or restricted data - controlled access - institutional or funder requirements - backup or retention expectations
Typical request information¶
A storage request is easier to process when it includes:
- project name
- project owner or responsible person
- names of users who need access
- required storage size
- intended use
- whether HPC access is required
- whether the space should be shared
- any time constraints
Example request structure¶
You do not need to use this wording exactly, but the request should cover the same information.
Project: Coastal Climate Modelling 2026
Owner: Dr Jane Example
Users requiring access:
- Jane Example
- Ahmed Patel
- Lindiwe Ndlovu
Storage required:
- 2 TB initial allocation
- expected growth to 5 TB over 12 months
Purpose:
- active project dataset
- shared access for research team
- data needs to be accessible from HPC
Notes:
- no external collaborator access required
- data should remain available for the duration of the project
What happens after the request¶
After a storage request is submitted, the eResearch team may need to confirm:
- which storage service is most appropriate
- who should be granted access
- whether the requested size is reasonable
- whether the storage should be mounted in additional environments
You may be asked for more detail if the request is incomplete.