U-M investigators involved in data-intensive research are getting a new tool to help them store, manage and analyze large data sets. Advanced Research Computing – Technology Services announced that a new service, Turbo Research Storage, is available to researchers on all U-M campuses. Turbo allows researchers to access their data in place, making real-time analysis of large data sets possible. Learn more or order the Turbo service. Researchers no longer will need to spend time and resources building their own storage or looking for solutions outside campus. Instead, they can access, process, and analyze data with Turbo, allowing them to focus on their science. Turbo Research Storage provides scalable storage and is capable of moving data at speeds of up to 40 gigabits per second. This matches the high performance capabilities of Flux, the shared U-M computing cluster. Turbo also gives researchers the option of two security levels, one for some types of sensitive data and one for non-sensitive data. For questions regarding use of Turbo for sensitive data, please visit the ITS Sensitive Data Guide. “Turbo provides a solution for researchers looking to take advantage of Big Data, high performance computing, and roaming,” said Brock Palen, associate director of Advanced Research Computing Technology Services (ARC-TS). “It also meets increasing security requirements without the worry about where and how data is stored, accessed, and shared.” Collaboration and sharing of information are key characteristics of today’s research activities. Turbo is designed for joint work on shared files across a research group, so there is no need for multiple copies of important datasets or complex permission configurations for individual users within a group. The service is designed to easily connect with Flux, as well as off-campus computing systems and collaborators. Access to Turbo is limited to researchers. The service is funded by an IT capital request specifically targeted for research use. Turbo Research Storage is provided by the newly formed ARC-TS, the research computing arm of Information and Technology Services, operating under the auspices of Advanced Research Computing in the Office of Research. ARC-TS is the one-stop destination for delivery of research computing services to researchers across campus. Turbo is available in increments of 1 terabyte, at a cost of $19.20 per replicated TB per month.
