What Makes Globus Different

Globus differs from other data services in a few key aspects:

  1. Globus transfer is easy, fast, secure, and reliable. Labs and universities around the world rely on Globus to get their big data where they need it (quickly!), and let their researchers focus on science, not IT issues.
  2. We make your storage work for you. Globus is software as a service (SaaS), enabled by the cloud. But we are not a cloud storage service, so you won’t have to pay for us to store your data. We enable you to move and share your data to and from the storage options you likely already have: a campus computing cluster, a lab server, a supercomputer, or your laptop.
  3. We are built by researchers, for researchers. Globus was developed by computer scientists at University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory. The Globus services are purpose-built to meet the needs and requirements of the research community. Thus we are committed to sustainably supporting science, not making a profit.

Manage Your Data with Globus

Connecting the Dots

We use the term “endpoint” to describe the different locations where data can be moved to or from using the Globus transfer, sync, and sharing service. Endpoints can either be personal (on a user’s personal computer) or multiuser (located on a server, for use by multiple people).

If you want to move data from your cluster to your computer, you would set up Globus Connect Server on your cluster and install Globus Connect Personal on your computer, thus creating an endpoint in each location.

Examples of Endpoints

 

Globus Glossary: three key terms

  • endpoint - a logical address for a GridFTP server, similar to a domain name for a web server. Data is transferred between Globus endpoints.
  • Globus Connect Personal – for individual users – a client for communicating with other GridFTP servers, via your local computer using Globus. Installing Globus Connect Personal on your computer creates your own endpoint that you can use to transfer data to and from your computer.
  • Globus Connect Server – for multiuser environments – a Linux package that sets up a GridFTP server for use with Globus. Once installed on a server, those with access to the server can move data to and from this location.

Have more questions? Check out our documentation site, or email us at support@globus.org.

Background

Globus is a connected set of services for research data management. Our services are designed with one goal in mind: to provide researchers with tools to make their work easier.

Our Globus transfer service helps you move data where you need it, and the added sharing capability (available through Provider plans) gives you the ability to share your data with others, without moving it off of your storage.

The technology underlying this service is GridFTP, developed by Ian Foster, Carl Kesselman, and Steve Tuecke. (Ian Foster and Steve Tuecke co-lead the Globus project, based at the Computation Institute at the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory.)

GridFTP is an extension of the standard File Transfer Protocol (FTP) for high-speed, reliable, and secure data transfer. Because GridFTP provides a more reliable and high performance file transfer (compared to protocols such as SCP or rsync), it enables the transmission of very large files. GridFTP also addresses the problem of incompatibility between storage and access systems. (You can read more about the advantages of GridFTP here.)

We continue to improve our services and features. Globus file sharing, for example, allows individual researchers to simply and securely share their data with others, freeing HPC system administrators from routine requests for access.

Globus Provider Plans are the flagship Globus offering. Provider Plans offer a range of services that are vital to running a successful data service in a university, laboratory, or computing facility. Provider Plans can include managed endpoints, file sharing, data publication and discovery, enhanced support, branded sites, a management console, and other advanced features.  Provider Plans also allow Globus Plus to be enabled for individual users, giving them additional transfer and sharing capabilities from their personal computers.

In 2013, we launched Globus Genomics. Globus Genomics is an end-to-end solution for genomics sequencing analysis, bringing together Globus transfer technology, Galaxy workflow tools, and cloud computing power from Amazon Web Services. This service helps genomics researchers manage big data as it is moved through analysis pipelines.

Globus for Researchers
Globus for Resource Providers