Globus for iRODS Connector Released

Newswise — SC20, Atlanta, GA and Chicago, IL — November 16, 2020 — Globus, the leading research data management platform, today announced the general availability of Globus for iRODS, offering researchers an enhanced solution for policy managed data preservation. Using the Globus for iRODS connector researchers can access systems managed by iRODS via the same familiar interface they are accustomed to on other Globus-enabled storage. The connector enables secure, reliable file transfer to and from iRODS systems, and can be triggered to move data as part of iRODS workflows.

"We are delighted to offer the research community the combination of iRODS and Globus,” said Jason Coposky, executive director of the iRODS Consortium. “Our users now have access to fast, reliable data transfer in their iRODS namespace, and can efficiently share data with research collaborators and external partners. Together, the two products provide complementary solutions for the broadest impact to the scientific community."

Globus for iRODS is the first connector to be developed under the Globus Community Connector Program. Today’s collaborative research efforts face an explosion of data residing in distributed systems, with a growing need to make those data accessible within and beyond the organization. As storage ecosystems expand to encompass high performance filesystems, cloud object stores, tape archives, and other proprietary storage, it becomes challenging for organizations to build out the necessary rich and connected infrastructure.

Over the past several years there has been a growing demand for new connectors, as well as a willingness among the community to develop them. In order to support these needs, Globus is introducing the Globus Community Connector Program. Now developers everywhere can contribute to the growing list of systems accessible via the Globus platform. Community developed connectors are built in collaboration with the Globus team and are jointly supported by their developers, ensuring a robust, cost-effective solution for researchers and research computing administrators alike.

"Globus for iRODS answers the long-running calls for iRODS support from the user community," said Rachana Ananthakrishnan, Globus executive director. "Our subscribers can further expand their range of connected systems, and offer their researchers powerful data management tools on iRODS-managed storage. As the storage landscape grows in complexity, the Globus Community Connector Program ensures the availability of tested, supported solutions for simplifying research data management on a wide variety of storage systems."

Globus will be hosting a talk on the new iRODS connector at SC20 on Nov. 17th at 2pm ET. Details can be found here:globus.org/events/sc20.

To request information on Globus for iRODS please visit: globus.org/connectors/irods

To learn more about the Globus Connections Program please visit: globus.org/connectors/community-connector-program

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About Globus

Globus is a platform for research data management, used by leading non-profit and commercial research organizations, national laboratories, and government facilities worldwide. Operated by the University of Chicago, the Globus service enables secure, reliable file transfer, sharing, and data management automation throughout the research lifecycle. The service is integrated into data portals, science gateways, and other web applications that manage data distribution from instruments and provide access to reference datasets. Globus is supported by subscribers and funding from the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Sloan Foundation. Visit globus.org.