Services
S3 and File Storage for Large Bioimaging Data
Store your data right! Bioimaging experiments generate massive amounts of data that can quickly overwhelm local storage and traditional file systems. S3 (“Simple Storage Service”) is a scalable cloud storage service and allows researchers to store, access, and share large datasets reliably and securely. Its especially suited for managing high-volume bioimaging data efficiently.
Who is S3 Storage recommended for?
S3 storage is recommended for researchers managing large datasets, especially when collaborating or running AI/analysis pipelines. It provides secure, scalable, and accessible storage.
Which infrastructure do you need?
You need a computer with internet, an S3 client (like s3cmd), and credentials to access the Ceph-based S3 endpoints. NFDI4BIOIMAGE offers limited S3 storage access via the Uni Cloud Münster. Reach out to our Help Desk to begin!
Which expertise do you need?
Basic knowledge of cloud storage and object storage concepts, along with comfort using the command line to configure and run tools like s3cmd come in handy. Familiarity with endpoints, credentials, and optional access control or lifecycle policies helps for more advanced management of large datasets. Find a guide how to use our S3 storage here!
What is S3 and how can you benefit from it?
Bioimaging experiments such as light-sheet or electron microscopy generate massive amounts of image data, often reaching terabytes per project. Handling, sharing, and analyzing these datasets with traditional storage systems is challenging, much like trying to stream a high-definition movie from a single hard drive to millions of viewers at once. Cloud object storage, as implemented by S3 (“Simple Storage Service”), solves this problem by storing each file or data chunk as a separate object with its own metadata and unique identifier, allowing fast, parallel access.
This design, which makes streaming platforms possible, is equally useful for bioimaging: formats like OME-Zarr store multi-dimensional image data in chunks that can be accessed independently, enabling scalable storage and efficient processing. S3 allows researchers to manage raw images, processed datasets, and analysis outputs. Unlike traditional block storage, object storage like S3 is optimized for large, distributed, and collaborative bioimaging workflows. Welcome to the future of bioimage research data management!
How to get started:
Check out the introductory guide how to use our S3 Storage:
Contact our Help Desk to request access: