All researchers and users making use of the National Facility should be aware of the following policies relating to the management of data and the resultant risk of loss of data. It is a condition of use of the National Facility that users accept that their data will be protected only to the extent implied by the following policies and procedures and take their own measures locally to protect themselves against loss of valuable data.

• Only data in the /home and /projects are backed-up to tape. Users should be aware that in the event of a major disaster in the buildings at the ANU, their data may not be recoverable. Users should therefore take steps to ensure that copies of valuable data are stored on systems elsewhere. Files which have accidentally been deleted by users from the backed-up filesystems may in most circumstances be recoverable upon request to Facility staff.

• Data in other file systems on supercomputers (eg. /short, /jobfs) are not backed-up at all. A file which has been deleted either by the user or through expiry cannot be restored. See the National Facility user guide for details.

• Other data stored on the APAC NF Data system is stored as follows. In general two copies are kept on-site on magnetic tape in the APAC NF Data System. Specific projects may have the second copy of their data stored in a separate robotic silo at another site on the ANU campus following discussion with National Facility staff.

  However, note there are no immediate plans to make off-site copies of all data stored. Noting the implications of this in the event of disaster is particularly important for projects storing irreproducible experimental data on the Data system.

• If a Data Project is not continued to receive support from one of the Merit Scheme's on the system, then the Principal Investigator is responsible for making alternative arrangements for the data storage. This may include a direct purchasing arrangement with the National Facility to continue the project on the systems, or a transition to an alternative facility. For the latter case, the arrangements for the alternative facility should be implemented without undue delay. If an extended period is required for the transition then the PI is required to propose arrangements that would be agreed by the National Facility. The PI may need to cover the reasonable costs incurred in transition from the facility.

• Principal Investigators and associated users who change their contact details must notify the National Facility of their new contact details. Failure to do so will entitle the National Facility to delete their data at the end of the period for the which the allocation was made.

• Principal Investigators are responsible for adhering to policies required by their external funding. (eg ARC Discovery Projects Funding Rules for funding commencing 2008 Section 1.4.5: Dissemination of Research Outputs, and NHMRC Project Grants Funding Policy for grants commencing in 2008 Section 16.2: Dissemination of Scientific Results). This may include data management plans and retention policies. PIs should contact the manager of the National Facility and discuss any special needs to adhere to these policies when storing data at the National Facility.

Users who have special reasons for protecting data beyond the level provided by the above policy should contact the National Facility to discuss what can be done to accomodate their particular circumstances.