April 2025 updates: Cleaning up digital files, colocation services
April 2025 updates:
Spring into action: Clean up your digital files!
Free colocation services for Dornsife rack servers
Spring into action: Clean up your digital files!
Are outdated documents taking over your digital workspace? You can free up storage space, make it easier to find important files, and improve system speed and performance through a digital spring cleaning:
- Delete outdated drafts, duplicate files, and old downloads
- Once files are deleted, review and empty your trash
- Remove no longer useful files and make sure you are below the storage limit in Google Drive (100 GB) and OneDrive (250 GB)
- Dust off and check up on any external storage devices
- Connect the device to your computer to make sure it still works
- Worried about forgetting your password? You can save it in 1Password!
We recommend Microsoft OneDrive for file storage when possible. Avoid duplicating files across your Microsoft and Google accounts, as it can be confusing to remember which account has the latest file version.
| Microsoft OneDrive | Google Drive | |
| Storage limit | 250 GB | 100 GB |
| Approved storage types | Public, internal, and confidential data, including FERPA- and HIPAA- protected data | Public and internal data only |
| How to check your storage | Log in at https://usc.edu/onedrive. Then, click your Storage usage in the lower left menu to view files order by size. | Log in at https://usc.edu/googledrive. Then, click Storage in the lower left menu to view files sorted by size. |
Free colocation services for Dornsife rack servers
Does your department manage its own servers or are you about to purchase one? If you would like to house your servers in the USC data center, DTS offers this service to ALL Dornsife researchers free of charge.
Please contact Jeremy Holt (jeremyrh@usc.edu) to use this service, and for assistance with selecting and quoting out compatible server hardware for purchase.
Benefits of housing your host in the USC data center
- Physical security: Onsite security ensures that only authorized personnel have access
- Redundant power: Dual power sources are available as well as a generator in the event of a power outage
- Cooling: Dual cooling sources ensure that servers run at the proper temperature
- Fire suppression: Gas-based suppression system will not harm your server in the event of a fire
- 1 GB and 10 GB network options are available (there is a one-time cost to set up 10 GB connections)
- Public and private IP space are available
Requirements
- Server must be in rack form factor and include rails
- No towers are allowed as they consume too much space
- Servers with large power requirements will require a consultation
- Servers and network-attached storage (NAS) devices must have a remote management option available, such as iDrac or a web application