Linux Local Storage Policy (/var/tmp)

Using /var/tmp, Linux local storage

CSS manages temporary local disk storage, /var/tmp, on Linux workstations. CSS requires that some packages be run from the local disk storage area because these packages create very large scratch files, which do not fit within quotas and slow network performance when run from your H: drive. The local storage area must be cleaned out when system upgrades occur or when the disk fills up. In the past, cleanup occurred about once a year during the summer system-upgrade cycle. Increased use of this space, ever-increasing file sizes, and user support issues prompted CSS to institute a regular clean-up schedule along with a recovery grace period.

At the end of each semester (including the summer term), CSS will clean files from /var/tmp and move them to temporary, secondary storage. Barring hardware failure, these files will be recoverable for one month. If we have to clean out /var/tmp in the middle of a semester because of unavoidable circumstances, e.g., the disk fills up, we will move files to temporary secondary storage first. These files will be recoverable for one month following the cleanup. This is not a backup service and will not protect against disaster recovery (e.g., hardware failures) or user error. It will safeguard your files when we must clean out /var/tmp for system upgrades, performance issues, or a full disk.

Schedule

/var/tmp will be cleaned out the first working day after grades are submitted to the Registrar for the fall, spring, and 8-week summer sessions, assuming that CSS has not needed to clean up /var/tmp for reasons noted in the paragraph above. The grade due date is published in the University calendar.

Additional Local Storage

For $10 per semester, CSS will create a directory on alternate local disk storage on every Linux machine. This file storage is ONLY for class or research use. The space will remain available on local storage for the duration of the fee period. Think of it like a locker rental. At the beginning of each semester, you can arrange to rent local disk storage (or continue your rental from the previous semester). Rental requests can be processed anytime during the semester. Renewal notices will be sent 2 weeks before the end of fall and spring semesters; the deadline for renewal is Friday of the first week of classes the following semester. Rental space not renewed will be copied to temporary secondary storage and be recoverable for one month. Fall semester rentals will expire the first week of spring semester; spring semester rentals will expire the first week of fall classes. Summer semester rentals will expire the first week of spring semester.

CSS can also arrange to backup up your rental space at the rate of $10 per gigabyte written to tape. For more information, contact the CSS main office, 1256 SC, 335-5751, to use this service.

updated: 27 May 2006