When you hear 'BU Drive,' it might bring to mind a few different things, and that's perfectly understandable. In the vast digital landscape of Boston University, the term can refer to a couple of key services, primarily revolving around data storage and collaboration. Let's untangle what these might be.
For many within the BU community, the most immediate association with 'BU Drive' is likely BU Google Drive. This is a powerful tool that offers faculty, students, and staff a familiar cloud-based environment for storing documents, spreadsheets, and other files. Think of it as your personal digital locker, accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. It's particularly lauded for its collaborative features, making it a breeze to work on shared projects with colleagues or classmates. You can store your Google Docs and Sheets here, and it's even InfoSec approved for confidential information, which is a big plus.
However, there's a nuance to be aware of, especially concerning shared drives. As of August 31, 2023, the creation of free BU Google Shared Drives is no longer permitted. This change stems from the university's need to manage data quotas within its Google tenant, as Google now charges based on data volume. If you still need a shared drive, you'll need to look into purchasing one, with details available on the Storage Options page.
Beyond the familiar Google Drive, the term 'BU Drive' might also allude to other storage solutions managed by BU's IT departments. For instance, the reference material mentions a 'Y-Drive' which was subject to an outage during a network upgrade back in 2016. While this specific mention is historical, it highlights that BU has historically offered various network-attached storage options, often tied to specific departments or research needs. These might be part of the broader 'Administrative Systems & Reporting' or 'Research Computing' services.
For those involved in research, there's another layer to consider: the Boston University Google Drive Collection within Globus. This isn't about storing files directly in Globus, but rather using Globus as a conduit to move data from your BU Google Drive to other institutional storage resources. It's a sophisticated setup designed to facilitate large data transfers, and it's available to anyone using a BU Google Drive account. To use it, you'll need to authenticate your Globus account to access your Google Drive, a process that involves logging into Globus and selecting the specific BU collection.
So, whether you're thinking about day-to-day document collaboration, secure storage of sensitive information, or advanced data transfer for research, 'BU Drive' encompasses a range of services. The key is to identify which specific need you're trying to meet. For most users, the BU Google Drive is the go-to, offering a robust and accessible platform for their digital lives at BU. If you're unsure about what you need or how to access it, reaching out to the BUMC IT Service Desk or exploring the IT support pages is always a good starting point.
