ResearchDrive - Connecting From a Linux Computer

ResearchDrive Account Overview

Account Naming Convention

• ResearchDrive storage accounts are named based on the PI's NetID such as //research.drive.wisc.edu/[PI NetID]
• Restricted ResearchDrive accounts use the naming convention //restricted.drive.wisc.edu/[PI NetID]
• Replace references to [PI NetID] with the PI's NetID username.
• Replace references to [NetID] or [NetID password] with your NetID username and password.

Restricted Data

ResearchDrive aligns with the Secure Storage Request process and compliance requirements on the Cybersecurity Risk Management and Compliance website.

• Any UW–⁠Madison endpoint used to access restricted data must be maintained and supported by trained IT staff to ensure they are secure and not vulnerable to malware.
• External collaborators will need to complete an endpoint security checklist to document the security controls in place at their institution.
• Access to restricted data from any other unauthorized endpoint is prohibited.
• Please refer to the ResearchDrive FAQ for additional details.

Connectivity Options

There are several ways to access ResearchDrive storage from a linux computer.

option	requires campus network or vpn	protocol	comment
Connect to ResearchDrive with smbclient	yes	smb	Built-in support from most versions of linux. Get and put files like an ftp client.
Mount ResearchDrive with Autofs	yes	smb	Recommended Option for UW-Madison linux computers
Access ResearchDrive with Globus	no	gridftp or https	Recommended Option for external collaborators
Mount ResearchDrive with cifs-utils	yes	smb	Works well for smb but more complicated on multi-user linux systems than Autofs

Connect to a ResearchDrive with smbclient

1. If you are off campus or using wifi then you will need to connect to WiscVPN. before using ResearchDrive.
2. Connect to the ResearchDrive share with the smbclient command.
   • If your linux account uses NetID authentication then use the "smbclient -k" for kerberos single sign-on.

     $ smbclient -k //research.drive.wisc.edu/[pi netid] 

   • If your linux account does not use NetID authentication then omit "-k" and you will be prompted for your login credentials.

     $ smbclient //research.drive.wisc.edu/[pi netid] 

3. Once connected to ResearchDrive, you will see a smb :\> prompt.

   Try "help" to get a list of possible commands.
   smb: \>

4. Use smbclient commands "ls" and "cd" to navigate the folder structure on ResearchDrive.
   • If you need to transfer a single file then use the smbclient "get" or "put" commands to transfer data.

     smb: \>cd [directory]
     smb: \>put [filename]
     smb: \>get [filename2]

   • If you have multiple files to transfer then use the smbclient command "prompt" along with "mget" or "mput" to transfer files that match a pattern such as "*.tar.gz".

     smb: \>prompt
     smb: \>mget *.tar.gz

5. Refer to the Common Problems / Troubleshooting section if you have problems connecting.

Mount a ResearchDrive with Autofs

These instructions require root or sudo access for initial setup. Mounting a ResearchDrive file share with Autofs requires configuring kerberos authentication with Campus Active Directory to enable NetID login. Refer to Campus Active Directory - Linux Integration for NetID Authentication for instructions. Once autofs is configured then a user can use the kinit command to authenticate with their NetID credentials and obtain a kerberos ticket that can be used to mount the file share.

1. If you are off campus or using wifi then you will need to connect to WiscVPN. before using ResearchDrive.
2. Install pre-requisite packages autofs and cifs-utils.

   #CentOS or Red Hat 7
   $ sudo yum install autofs cifs-utils
   
   #CentOS or Red Hat 8
   $ sudo dnf install autofs cifs-utils
   
   #Ubuntu
   $ sudo apt install autofs cifs-utils

3. Create a folder on the local file system for the mount point

   $ sudo mkdir -p /mnt/researchdrive

4. Create an automount configuration file in /etc/auto.master.d/

   $ sudo vi /etc/auto.master.d/researchdrive.autofs
   /mnt/researchdrive /etc/auto.researchdrive --timeout=120
   

5. Create an auto.researchdrive map in /etc.

   $ sudo vi /etc/auto.researchdrive
   * -fstype=cifs,mfsymlinks,multiuser,cruid=$USER,sec=krb5i,seal ://research.drive.wisc.edu/&

6. Start autofs with systemlctl

   $ sudo systemctl start autofs

7. Get a kerberos ticket then test storage connectivity

   $ kinit mplayde
   Password for mplayde@AD.WISC.EDU: 
   

8. Use the klist command to verify the kerberos ticket.

   $ klist
   Ticket cache: KCM:1000:3900
   Default principal: mplayde@AD.WISC.EDU
   
   Valid starting     Expires            Service principal
   06/17/21 14:23:23  06/18/21 00:23:17  krbtgt/AD.WISC.EDU@AD.WISC.EDU
   renew until 06/24/21 14:23:17

9. Use the ls command to test connectivity to ResearchDrive

   $ ls -al /mnt/researchdrive/mplayde
   total 587038720
   drwxr-xr-x 2 mplayde mplayde            0 Apr 14 15:28  .
   drwxr-xr-x 3 root    root               0 Jun 17 17:13  ..
   -rwxr-xr-x 1 mplayde mplayde 100000000000 Dec 10  2020  100G.dat
   -rwxr-xr-x 1 mplayde mplayde    100000000 Feb 10 14:41  100M.dat
   -rwxr-xr-x 1 mplayde mplayde     10000000 Dec  8  2020  10M.dat
   -rwxr-xr-x 1 mplayde mplayde   1000000000 Feb 10 14:41  1G.dat
   -rwxr-xr-x 1 mplayde mplayde 500000000000 Nov 19  2020  500G.dat
   drwxr-xr-x 2 mplayde mplayde            0 Nov 18  2020  500GB-in-large-files
   drwxr-xr-x 2 mplayde mplayde            0 Nov 27  2020  Climate-Huge
   -rwxr-xr-x 1 mplayde mplayde     10949064 Apr 14 15:17  GlobusIntro.pdf
   -rwxr-xr-x 1 mplayde mplayde            0 Jan 27 15:44  hello.txt
   drwxr-xr-x 2 mplayde mplayde            0 Apr 14 15:28  logs
   drwxr-xr-x 2 mplayde mplayde            0 Feb 26 14:26  project1
   -rwxr-xr-x 1 mplayde mplayde         1506 Oct 20  2020  readme.txt
   -rwxr-xr-x 1 mplayde mplayde        27765 Jan  6 10:25  smtp-8.x-1.0.tar.gz
   -rwxr-xr-x 1 mplayde mplayde         8273 Dec 10  2020  test.xlsx
   -rwxr-xr-x 1 mplayde mplayde            0 Nov 19  2020  timc-test-file
   drwxr-xr-x 2 mplayde mplayde            0 Feb 12 12:51 'transfer test'
   drwxr-xr-x 2 mplayde mplayde            0 Dec 10  2020  web
   

Connect to ResearchDrive with Globus

Please refer to Globus - Access ResearchDrive or SharedDrive Stoage with Globus.

Mount a ResearchDrive with cifs-utils

These instructions require root or sudo access.

1. If you are off campus or using wifi then you will need to connect to WiscVPN. before using ResearchDrive.
2. Install pre-requisite package cifs-utils.

   #CentOS or Red Hat 7
   $ sudo yum install cifs-utils
   
   #CentOS or Red Hat 8
   $ sudo dnf install cifs-utils
   
   #Ubuntu
   $ sudo apt install cifs-utils

3. Create a folder on the local file system for the mount point

   $ sudo mkdir -p /mnt/researchdrive/mplayde

4. Use the mount command to connect to ResearchDrive

   $ sudo mount -vvv -t cifs -o user=[netid],domain=ad.wisc.edu,sec=ntlmssp,seal //research.drive.wisc.edu/[pi netid] /mnt/researchdrive/

5. Use the ls command to test connectivity to ResearchDrive

   $ ls -al /mnt/researchdrive/mplayde
   total 587038720
   drwxr-xr-x 2 mplayde mplayde            0 Apr 14 15:28  .
   drwxr-xr-x 3 root    root               0 Jun 17 17:13  ..
   -rwxr-xr-x 1 mplayde mplayde 100000000000 Dec 10  2020  100G.dat
   -rwxr-xr-x 1 mplayde mplayde    100000000 Feb 10 14:41  100M.dat
   -rwxr-xr-x 1 mplayde mplayde     10000000 Dec  8  2020  10M.dat
   -rwxr-xr-x 1 mplayde mplayde   1000000000 Feb 10 14:41  1G.dat
   -rwxr-xr-x 1 mplayde mplayde 500000000000 Nov 19  2020  500G.dat
   drwxr-xr-x 2 mplayde mplayde            0 Nov 18  2020  500GB-in-large-files
   drwxr-xr-x 2 mplayde mplayde            0 Nov 27  2020  Climate-Huge
   -rwxr-xr-x 1 mplayde mplayde     10949064 Apr 14 15:17  GlobusIntro.pdf
   -rwxr-xr-x 1 mplayde mplayde            0 Jan 27 15:44  hello.txt
   drwxr-xr-x 2 mplayde mplayde            0 Apr 14 15:28  logs
   drwxr-xr-x 2 mplayde mplayde            0 Feb 26 14:26  project1
   -rwxr-xr-x 1 mplayde mplayde         1506 Oct 20  2020  readme.txt
   -rwxr-xr-x 1 mplayde mplayde        27765 Jan  6 10:25  smtp-8.x-1.0.tar.gz
   -rwxr-xr-x 1 mplayde mplayde         8273 Dec 10  2020  test.xlsx
   -rwxr-xr-x 1 mplayde mplayde            0 Nov 19  2020  timc-test-file
   drwxr-xr-x 2 mplayde mplayde            0 Feb 12 12:51 'transfer test'
   drwxr-xr-x 2 mplayde mplayde            0 Dec 10  2020  web
   

6. Refer to the Common Problems / Troubleshooting section if you have problems connecting.

Common Problems / Troubleshooting

Contact researchdrive@wisc.edu to open a support case.

For more information on common problems that can occur when mapping drives and how to troubleshoot them, please refer to the following resources:

1. Red Hat Mounting a SMB Share
2. Ubuntu Mount Windows Shares Permanently
3. SS64 mount Documentation