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ARCC Research Storage Quickstart

This quickstart is an introduction to connecting to ARCC's Data Storage Services. It is useful for researchers who get access to new storage-only projects without necessarily needing HPC.

Disclaimer

ARCC currently has two different storage-only services. This guide only covers ARCC's Alcova service, the s3 service is a more advanced topic.

Step 1: Be Connected to a UWYO Network

Alcova is only accessible while connected to a UWyo network. This includes on campus wired ethernet connections, UWyo WiFi, or over the UWyo VPN.

Research Collaborators who do not have a UWyo account can also be granted access, but must first receive a UWyo External Collaborator account from IT. And then connect to the UWYO VPN.

Step 2: Access the Project

The most conventional method for accessing Alcova projects is using the default file browser such as Windows File Explorer or Mac Finder on your laptop or desktop computer. There are slight differences depending on which operating system (Windows/Mac) you have on your laptop/desktop, but the steps are similar. Both are listed below, but feel free to jump to the one that is relevant to your use case.

Assuming you’ve already connected to a UWyo Network or have configured Ivanti on your remote device and your ivanti app shows an active connection to UWYO: (Verified by opening Ivanti Secure client and checking that you’re connected to http://wyosecure.uwyo.edu ):

Ivanti VPN APP

If your laptop/desktop uses Windows, please follow the steps below to map a network drive:

  1. Search using the windows start search for file explorer, or click on the ‘File Explorer App’ from your start menu (it is the application that looks like a folder in the menu). File Explorer

  2. This will bring up a file explorer window. Select 'This PC' from the menu pane on the right. This PC

  3. To map the location as a drive that you may re-access, click on the 3 dots at the top of your file explorer window and choose “map network drive". Map Network Drive

  4. This brings up a new screen:

    Drive Mapping Choose a drive letter, then for the folder name, type in the following depending on the location of your data. Example: \\\\data.arcc.uwyo.edu\cluster\alcova\yourproject

  5. If you are connecting from a computer only used by you or that you log into using your individual UWYO username and password, you can check the box to reconnect at sign-in.

  6. If you are using personal windows laptop that is not on the UWYO domain check the box that says “Connect using different credentials” to be prompted for your login, enter uwyo\username in the username field, and your UWYO password in the password field, then connect.

    If this fails

    please ask for help from ARCC at arcc-help@uwyo.edu

  7. From there you will be able to only see the project folders that you have been given access to.

Success

From here just double click into your project folder and then you can start uploading data as you wish by simply dragging and dropping!

If your laptop/desktop uses MacOS, please follow the steps below:

  1. Go to Mac Finder, it is the icon that looks like a smiling face finder

  2. From here, Go to the top bar of your screen and click 'Go' and navigate to the bottom of the menu where it says "Connect to Server" Go Connect to Server

  3. When the Connect to Server window pops up, enter smb://data.arcc.uwyo.edu/cluster/alcova/yourproject Connecting

  4. You will then need to click the option for "Registered User" enter your UWYO username and password. However, you will need to enter 'UWYO\' before your username to force it to authenticate you under the UWYO domain. UWyoUsernamePass Hit "Connect" and you should be taken to the storage system and should only see folders that you have access to.

Success

From here just double click into your project folder and then you can start uploading data as you wish by simply dragging and dropping!