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Technical foundations and service integration in the bwSFS storage infrastructure : research data management practice

2025/09/24 by Suchodoletz, Dirk von, Glogowski, Kolja, Seifert, Thomas +2

paper · doi:10.6094/unifr/271663

Abstract

Modern RDM requires storage infrastructures that support a wide range of technical and disciplinary demands across the data lifecycle. The bwSFS storage infrastructure addresses these needs by providing a robust and extensible platform composed of traditional file-based storage (via NFS/SMB) and scalable object storage accessed through HTTPS REST APIs. Designed for integration into complex service ecosystems, bwSFS enables domain-specific RDM services, including those developed within the NFDI context, to build upon a stable technical foundation. To support sustainable RDM practices, bwSFS is complemented by a suite of interoperable services that facilitate data versioning, sharing, publication, and the assignment of persistent identifiers. Its proximity to high-performance computing (HPC), cloud platforms, and analysis frameworks such as Galaxy further enhances its utility for data-intensive research workflows. A key feature of the infrastructure is its geo-distributed erasure coding across four federated sites, ensuring high availability and geographic redundancy. This paper outlines the technical design of bwSFS, its integration with higher-level RDM services, and its role in enabling collaborative, FAIR-aligned data practices across scientific disciplines.

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