Use Cases

Use Case 1 — Simple Cloud Storage

Onedata can be used as a straightforward alternative to traditional cloud storage services.

• No buckets or API keys needed. You work with files and folders just like on your local computer.
• Multiple access options. Use the web portal for quick uploads, or mount your Space as a local directory with Oneclient.
• Multiple backend support. Onedata can manage data stored on POSIX file systems, NFS, S3, Ceph RADOS, HTTP/HTTPS, and XRootD — all through a single unified interface.
• Easier for non-technical users. If you just need to store, share, and manage files without learning S3 concepts, Onedata provides a familiar experience.

When to choose this: Small teams, personal backups, or any workflow where a conventional file system feel is preferred over object storage semantics.

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Use Case 2 — HPC Data Locality Optimization

One of Onedata’s biggest strengths is the ability to move data close to where compute happens, reducing latency and avoiding bandwidth bottlenecks.

1. Store primary data in your home Onedata provider (e.g., at your home institution).
2. Replicate or transfer the dataset to a provider physically close to the HPC cluster you want to use — often on faster storage tiers.
3. Run your compute job with high-throughput, low-latency access to the data.
4. Move results back to your home provider for long-term storage or further analysis.

Benefit: You do not need to manually copy files with scp or rsync. Onedata handles the transfer between providers, and you access everything through the same unified path.

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Use Case 3 — Cross-Institution Collaboration

Large-scale research projects often span multiple universities or labs across regions. Onedata supports these consortia by providing a single, long-term shared Space as the project backbone.

• Single shared Space. Create one Space for the project and connect all partner institutions.
• Unified view. Every partner sees the same files and folder structure, regardless of which provider they connect through.
• Centralized permissions. Project admins manage access via groups and roles, avoiding scattered link sharing or manual data transfers.

Benefit: Eliminates version confusion and reduces storage waste. There is only one master copy of the data, while each site can hold replicas for faster local access if needed.

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Use Case 4 — Easy Data Sharing

Onedata makes it simple to share data with colleagues, collaborators, or external partners without creating duplicates or managing complex infrastructure.

Team and group sharing

• Share a Space or a specific folder with a research group or lab.
• Use built-in groups and roles so permissions stay organized as the team grows.
• Everyone works with the same files in real time.

Individual sharing

• Invite specific users by identity or email.
• Grant read-only or read-write access per file or folder.
• Revoke access instantly when it is no longer needed.

Cross-community and ad-hoc sharing

• Share datasets instantly with external partners via a web link.
• Recipients access files through the browser — no account or installation required.
• Ideal for peer review, conferences, or one-off data exchanges.

When to choose this: Whenever you need to grant someone access to your data quickly, whether they are a teammate, a reviewer, or an external collaborator.