The Data Cloud is a system capable of storing both massive quantities of data and supporting complex data management projects, data intensive analysis and Nationally significant data collections. The data cloud has several primary functions:

• provides a resource for storing and retrieving data of capacities and capability well beyond that of other local resources, and using elastic services model (a so-called data cloud).
• support data analysis.
• provides a data management environment for complex data needs, including fast (and/or large) relational database management.
• integrated system for supporting data from instruments (such as optical telescopes) including management of the data transfer from the instrument to the data cloud, and supporting the subsequent data workflows of data cleaning/processing.
• provides capability, services and software that allow research groups to access signficant data collections, either federated or replicated from National or International sources.

The dc has high speed bandwidth and services to manage transfers between both National and international networks using multiple gigabit networks.

Applications can be made through one of several schemes:

• Data Projects - for specialised Data projects requiring data management or specialised services of the data system
• Dataset hosting - especially for datasets that are to be placed on the facility for ease of access for National Facility users,
• Merit Allocated computational projects on the National Facility - such projects receive an automatic default (minimal) amount of 20 Gbytes of storage for computational data. Computational projects are invited to request more storage space to manage their data requirements. Depending on the data requirements, projects may be asked to use the following form to describe the management of this data and provide more details about the justification of their requirement.
• or through direct arrangements with the Head of the Facility.

For details on how to use this service and related policy matters, please follow the links below.

Userguide	The MDSS userguide on how to use SAM-FS has a number of components applicable to dc. (being updated)
Software available	Software that has been ported to the data cloud.
MDSS/HSM Components and Configuration	The components of the NCI HSM System wich provides the MDSS service and other file systems.
Data Protection
Downtime Information