The OLRC automatically maintains three copies of every file in the cloud in three separate locations across the network. If one of these copies becomes unreadable, a new copy is created by the system from the two remaining good copies.
The OLRC keeps costs low by taking advantage of economical commodity storage and the ORION high-speed network that connects Ontario’s universities, thereby eliminating the data transfer charges typical of commercial cloud storage services.
Storage nodes in the OLRC are connected through the private ORION research network, and are housed in university owned and operated data centers across Ontario. None of the traffic travels over the public internet, and connections use SSL encryption.
The OLRC stores and reads files using simple HTTP protocols. This means that it can be integrated into a wide variety of workflows and applications, and accessed from any Internet-connected device for easy file management.
The OLRC is based on OpenStack, an open-source software platform for cloud computing. OpenStack is actively developed by hundreds of developers globally, and used by public cloud providers, corporations, and universities to deliver enterprise cloud services.
The OLRC can easily be accessed via a web application developed by Scholars Portal called SwiftBrowser. SwiftBrowser allows users to upload files to OLRC containers through a simple drag and drop web interface. SwiftBrowser is available as a hosted application through Scholars Portal, or can be downloaded from Github and installed locally.
Archivematica is an open-source digital preservation workflow management application. Through its Storage Service module, Swift containers can be designated as storage destinations for both AIPs and DIPs. This allows the OLRC to be integrated into Archivematica preservation workflows, and in turn, Archivematica integrates with repository tools.
Developed as an open-source alternative to tools like Dropbox, ownCloud is an application that allows users to access their files on the web. Local folders can be synchronized with folders stored in the cloud, and files can be uploaded to the cloud using standard file browser services. ownCloud can be configured to connect to the OLRC through the OpenStack Swift API. Scholars Portal will be offering ownCloud as a service in 2017, and it can also be installed by local system administrators.
Base Subscription * | $1600/year |
Additional Storage: | |
Per 1 TB | $320/year |
Per 10 TB | $3100/year |
Per 50 TB | $15500/year |
Data Transfer Services ** | $75/hour |
Network Data Transfer Fees | No Charge |
Tape Backup | Pricing Available on Request |
Base Subscription * | $3950/year |
Additional Storage: | |
Per 1 TB | $790/year |
Per 10 TB | $7700/year |
Per 50 TB | $39500/year |
Data Transfer Services ** | $100/hour |
Network Data Transfer Fees | No Charge |
Tape Backup | Pricing Available on Request |
What is the Ontario Library Research Cloud (OLRC)?
What can I store in the Cloud?
How much do I pay for storage?
How is the price set for storage?
Do I have to pay any network fees for transferring data to and from the cloud?
What other benefits do I get through subscription?
What if I’m not sure this is the right option for my institution?
What kinds of provisions does the OLRC make for the security of my files?
Are files in the cloud also backed up to tape?
What happens if OCUL decides to end this service?