Data Transfer with Globus

What is Globus?

Globus provides a secure, unified interface to your research data that allows high-performance data transfers between systems within and across organizations.  At SDSU, our Globus Data Transfer Node (DTN) is connected at 100GbE to the external network and 100GbE InfiniBand to SDSU's current cluster which allows for fast data movement.

 

Getting Access to Globus

Globus is managed by SDSU's Research Cyberinfrastructure team and access can be given by request.

• To obtain access to Globus, Email SDSU.HPC@sdstate.edu requesting access to Globus.
  • This includes collaborators outside of SDSU.
• When approved, you will receive an email granting you access to the Globus service.

 

Using Globus

1. Navigate to (https://www.globus.org/) and click on the Log In button in the upper right-hand corner or by clicking the button below.
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2. You will be redirected to an organization log in page where you need to select your organization (South Dakota State University)
3. You will then redirected to SDSU's single sign on service to complete the log in process.  Enter your SDSU log in details and click LOGIN.
4. On successful log in, the File Manager window should appear.  If this is your first time, you will be able to take a short tour of the Globus interface.
5. This interface is where you can start managing your data files and data movement.

 

Globus Endpoints

An "endpoint" is one of the two file transfer locations – either the source or the destination – between which files can move. Once a resource (server, cluster, storage system, laptop, or other system) is defined as an endpoint, it will be available to authorized users who can transfer files to or from this endpoint.

At SDSU, we have research systems, like the cluster and other server, with Endpoints installed.  We will cover that below.

To setup your own personal endpoint to transfer to and from:

1. Follow the steps above to sign into the File Manager page and click on the EndPoints menu item. (https://app.globus.org/endpoints)
2. Then select Create new endpoint at the top right of your screen.
3. Choose your operating system and click on that OS to begin downloading the Globus software.
4. Once downloaded, install the application and click the Finish button.
5. You will then be prompted to name your collection. Put in a name and also a description of the endpoint that you are setting up Globus on. 

      6. After this step, a Globus icon will appear in your taskbar. You can then use Globus to complete file transfer tasks. 

Transferring Files

To transfer files with Globus, you can right-click the Globus icon in your taskbar and go to Web: Transfer Files. Navigate to the File Manager icon on the left, then choose Transfer To. You will be given a side-by-side window of the collection that you just set up, and a way to transfer files to another collection or endpoint. 

To transfer files from your computer to the SDSU Fiona DTN for instance, you can search "SDSU Fiona DTN" in the search field on the right, and click and drag files to copy them back and forth. Clicking the Start button under the collection will initiate a transfer to or from your collection to another collection or DTN, or vice versa. 

If the file or folder you are transferring is large, you may monitor its activity under the Activity tab on the left. Globus may send you an email to notify you that the transfer is complete. 

 

Linking an Existing Account to Active Directory (Institutional) Account 

If you have an existing Globus account that you would like to link to your institutional account, click the Account tab on the left, then click Link Another identity. 

Next, select the organization the account belongs to, or click link an email address to link an account that doesn’t belong to one of the identity providers.

Accept the user agreement and continue. The next screen will ask you to set permissions. 

 

Access to Globus Plus

To request access to Globus Plus, go to the Groups tab on the left and use the search bar on the top right of that page to search for groups. 

Search for South Dakota State University Research Computing and click Join Group. 

Fill out the necessary information, then click submit application. Your application will be reviewed then given approval.