HPC Cluster Upgrade: Data Backup Guide (March 2026)
| Maintenance Window | Starting 27th March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Backup Location | /backup/<username>
|
| Storage Limit | 10 GB per user |
| Recommended Data | Source code, scripts, configuration files, and small datasets. |
Overview
During the extensive upgrade planned from 27th March, we aim to keep all data intact. However, as a safety measure against any untoward incidents, all users are requested to back up their critical work from /data/home/<username> to the temporary backup partition.
Step 1: Verify Current Usage
Check the size of your home directory to ensure you stay within the 10 GB limit for the backup partition.
du -sh /data/home/$USER
Step 2: Compress Your Critical Files
To save space and speed up the transfer, we recommend creating a compressed archive (tarball) of your code and scripts.
# Create a compressed backup of a specific project
tar -czvf ~/my_code_backup_$(date +%F).tar.gz /data/home/$USER/my_project_folder
Step 3: Synchronize to Backup Directory
Use rsync to copy your files to the dedicated backup path. This tool ensures file integrity during the transfer.
Option A: Copying a Compressed Archive (Recommended)
rsync -ahP ~/my_code_backup_*.tar.gz /backup/$USER/
Option B: Copying a Directory Directly
rsync -ahP /data/home/$USER/important_folder /backup/$USER/
Step 4: Verification
Confirm your files are present and check the total space used in the backup directory:
ls -lh /backup/$USER/
du -sh /backup/$USER/
Handling Large Data (>10 GB)
If you have a genuine need to back up more than 10 GB:
- Local Download: Download the data to your local machine using SCP or SFTP.
- Contact IT/HPC Admic: If local download is not feasible, contact the IT team for alternative arrangements. Email: [email protected]
