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DataWaha: Research Storage at KAUST

DataWaha is KAUST’s scalable research storage solution designed to meet the high-capacity needs of Principal Investigators (PIs), research centers, and core labs. It offers both active and archive storage, with secure access and flexible data management options.

Getting Access

To request access to DataWaha, contact KAUST IT through one of the following support channels:

  • Chat with VITA — available 24/7
  • Call the IT Service Desk at 910 (on-campus) or 012-808-0910 (off-campus), available 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday–Thursday
  • Visit the IT Walk-In Support Desk in the IT Building (Building 14), open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday–Thursday (closed for lunch from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.)
  • Submit a request via the IT Service Desk

Storage Quota

Each Principal Investigator (PI) is provisioned with:

  • 20 TB of Tier-1 (Active) Storage
  • 80 TB of Tier-2 (Archive) Storage

This total allocation of 100 TB covers both DataWaha and SDataWaha. Additional storage can be requested by submitting a business case. Expansion is available through PI-funded resources.

Data Archiving

All DataWaha users must implement a data management policy for their folders. Inactive or "cold" data should be moved to object storage for long-term, cost-effective archiving. KAUST IT can support you in setting this up.

Folder Structure

Each DataWaha directory is unique and typically follows this naming convention:

  • /datawaha/<PI_Name>
  • /datawaha/<Research_Center>
  • /datawaha/Corelab

Access and Authentication

DataWaha uses KAUST Active Directory credentials (your KAUST Portal ID) for authentication. You can access it using the following protocols:

  • CIFS/SMB — Available on any device within the KAUST network
  • NFS — Limited to data center environments such as dm, OpenStack VMs, and remote Linux workstations
  • HTTPS (OwnCloud) — For browser-based access

To access from outside the KAUST network, a VPN connection is required.

Limitations

  • DataWaha is intended for data storage only.
  • It cannot be used to run compute jobs.
  • It is not accessible from HPC compute nodes, including Shaheen and IBEX.

Connecting to DataWaha

You can access DataWaha from most platforms using the methods below.

Linux

DataWaha can be accessed on Linux using either a graphical interface or the command line.

Option 1: GUI (Recommended for most users)

  1. Open your file browser and navigate to File > Connect to Server.
  2. Enter the server address: smb://datawaha/<your_folder>
  3. Provide your KAUST Portal ID, KAUST domain, and password.
  4. Click Connect and choose “Remember password” if preferred.
  5. The folder will mount and appear in your file manager. Click the eject icon to disconnect when done.

Option 2: Command Line (For advanced users)

  1. Install required utilities (only once): 
    sudo apt-get install cifs-utils
  2. Create a mount point: 
    sudo mkdir /datawaha_<your_folder>
  3. Create a mount script: 
    vi ~/mount_datawaha

    Insert the following line (replace with your folder and Portal ID):

    mount //datawaha/<your_folder> /datawaha_<your_folder> -o vers=2.0,file_mode=0777,dir_mode=0777,username=<your_portal_id>,domain=KAUST
  4. Save and make the script executable: 
    chmod +x ~/mount_datawaha
  5. Run the script and enter your KAUST password: 
    ~/mount_datawaha
  6. Verify the mount: 
    df -h /datawaha_<your_folder>

📄 Need more help? View the full step-by-step guide with screenshots: How to Mount DataWaha on Linux (PDF)

Windows

  1. Open File Explorer.
  2. In the address bar, enter: 
    \\datawaha\<your_folder>
  3. When prompted, enter your KAUST Portal ID and password.
  4. You may choose to save your credentials and map the drive for easier future access.

macOS

  1. Open Finder and go to Go > Connect to Server (or press Command + K).
  2. Enter the following address: 
    smb://datawaha/<your_folder>
  3. Click Connect.
  4. Enter your KAUST Portal ID and password when prompted.
  5. The folder will mount and appear under Locations in Finder.

Transferring Data

You can transfer data to and from DataWaha using your preferred method:

  • Windows/macOS — Mount DataWaha and use standard file copy tools
  • Linux/Ubuntu — Use rsync for reliable, fast transfers: 
    rsync -av <local_folder> dm.kaust.edu.sa:/datawaha/<your_folder>
  • HPC (Shaheen) 
    ssh dm.hpc.kaust.edu.sa
rsync -av <folder> dm.kaust.edu.sa:/datawaha/<your_folder>
  • HPC (IBEX) 
    ssh mover.ibex.kaust.edu.sa
rsync -av <folder> dm.kaust.edu.sa:/datawaha/<your_folder>

Access Management

Access to DataWaha is managed through Active Directory (AD) groups. Each top-level folder is owned by a group. Access can be granted or revoked by modifying group membership.

If you need help managing permissions or configuring access, contact IT through VITA or the IT Support Portal.