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| 1 | +--- |
| 2 | +title: "datasafe: Implementing a Dark Archive with InvenioRDM" |
| 3 | +author: Sarah Wiechers |
| 4 | +date: 2025-10-15 |
| 5 | +team: InvenioRDM |
| 6 | +permalink: "/blog/2025-10-15-datasafe-uni-muenster.md/" |
| 7 | +--- |
| 8 | + |
| 9 | +We've recently completed a major overhaul of our research data archive, datasafe, which is now built on InvenioRDM. |
| 10 | +Our team at the University of Münster's University and State Library (ULB) has been working to implement this |
| 11 | +open-source software, tailoring it to meet the specific needs of our researchers. |
| 12 | + |
| 13 | +datasafe is designed as a dark archive, where researchers can deposit their datasets for long-term preservation. |
| 14 | +Once archived, the data will be retained for a minimum of 10 years, and up to 15 years, after which it will be |
| 15 | +automatically deleted. To streamline the process, metadata can be easily imported from our local Current Research |
| 16 | +Information System (CRIS). |
| 17 | + |
| 18 | +One of the key benefits of using datasafe is the ability for researchers to demonstrate compliance with funder |
| 19 | +requirements for data storage. Upon archiving their data, users receive a certificate that confirms their datasets |
| 20 | +have been securely stored, making it easier to report to funding agencies. |
| 21 | + |
| 22 | +A notable feature of our implementation is the heavily customized frontend, which provides a minimalist and modern |
| 23 | +interface. By simplifying the user experience, we've created an intuitive platform that meets the unique needs of a |
| 24 | +dark archive, where data is primarily stored for preservation purposes rather than dissemination. This approach allows |
| 25 | +researchers to easily deposit and manage their data, while also ensuring the long-term integrity and authenticity of |
| 26 | +the archived materials. |
| 27 | + |
| 28 | +Another significant improvement is the increased upload limit, now up to 5 TB in size. This community-driven |
| 29 | +feature, which our team helped implement, enables researchers to upload large files directly through their web |
| 30 | +browser into the underlying S3 storage backend, eliminating the former need for an SFTP server. This will greatly |
| 31 | +benefit researchers working with large datasets, allowing them to archive and preserve their data in a single, |
| 32 | +convenient location. |
| 33 | + |
| 34 | +By building on InvenioRDM, we're able to leverage a community-driven solution that is actively maintained and |
| 35 | +developed by a global network of institutions and experts. We're pleased to be part of this community and look |
| 36 | +forward to sharing our experiences and feedback to help shape the future of the platform. |
| 37 | + |
| 38 | +For those interested in learning more about our implementation of InvenioRDM, you can contact our team |
| 39 | + |
| 40 | + |
| 41 | + |
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| 43 | + |
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