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ResearchDrive - Transferring Data from Box to ResearchDrive

This document explains several ways to transfer data from Box to ResearchDrive. If you only have a small amount of data to transfer (less than 5-10 GBs) consider using the Box Drive client. If you have larger amounts of data to transfer then consider an FTP client or rclone.

Note, if you are working off-campus with a slow internet connection then consider signing up for a free account on the new UW Remote Desktop Service which will provide remote access to a computer on the UW Campus Network with a fast connection that can be used to transfer the data with an FTP client or rclone.

Transferring Data with the Box Drive client

The Box Drive client is an easy to use tool for transferring small amounts of data from Box to ResearchDrive. This method requires the installation of the Box Drive client so you may need assistance from your IT support team.

  1. Install the Box Drive client on the computer you want to use to transfer data.
  2. Find the data that you want to transfer using the Box Drive client. Refer to Using Box Drive Basics for assistance.
  3. Connect to ResearchDrive and transfer the data from Box using the Box Drive client.

Transferring Data from Box with an FTP client

UW-Madison Box accounts support encrypted FTPS access for bulk data transfers. Box does not support NetID authentication for FTPS access so you will need to set an external password on your Box account. This method requires an FTP client so you may need assistance from your IT support team.

  1. Follow the instructions in UW-Madison Box - Logging In Without Single Sign On (SSO) to create an External Password for your Box account for use with FTPS.
  2. Connect to your Box account with an FTP client such as Cyberduck or Vandyke SecureFX in the Campus Software Library. Refer to UW-Madison Box - Using Box with FTP for assistance. Note: If you use the Remote Desktop Service, follow the "Full Desktop Session" instructions in the Remote Desktop Service Connection then once you are connected to the Remote Desktop Service, use the SecureFX ftp client that is already installed.
    • Server: ftp.box.com
    • Username: Your Box account email address
    • Password: Your Box account External Password (created in step #1)
    • Port: 990
    • Encryption:TLSv1.2 is required. SecureFX refers to this as "Require implicit FTP over TLS" while Cyberduck refers to this as "FTP-SSL (Explicit AUTH TLS)
  3. Connect to ResearchDrive and transfer the data from Box to ResearchDrive using the ftp client.

Transferring Data from Box with rclone

rclone is a command line tool that can sync data between multiple storage providers. Box does not support NetID authentication for rclone so you will need to set an external password on your Box account. This method requires the installation of the rclone client so you may need assistance from your IT support team.

  1. Follow the instructions in UW-Madison Box - Logging In Without Single Sign On (SSO) to create an External Password for your Box account for use with rclone.
  2. Install rclone. Note: If you use the Remote Desktop Service, follow the "Full Desktop Session" instructions in the Remote Desktop Service Connection then once you are connected to the Remote Desktop Service, download rclone to your home directory (it does not need to be installed on the server).
  3. Configure your Box account for rclone by running the command "rclone config" and selecting Box.
    • n/s/q> n (New remote)
    • name> Box
    • Storage> 6 (Box)
    • client_id> (leave blank)
    • client_secret> (leave blank)
    • box_config_file> (leave blank)
    • box_sub_type> (select 1 for "user" for your Box account or 2 for "enterprise" for Box project directory)
    • advanced_config> n
    • auto config> y
    • Login to your Box account in the web browser that pops up with your email address and the External Password set in step#1. Do not select SSO login and use your NetID credentials.
    • Grant rclone access to Box at the prompt then return to the rclone window
    • token accept> y
    • quit config> q
  4. Connect to ResearchDrive.
  5. Use rclone to transfer data from Box to ResearchDrive "rclone move Box:/path /researchdrive/path" see rclone docs for more details.

Keywords:
research drive shared shareddrive box transfer data ftp ftps rclone client map network backup download cloud data storage files folders sync rsync 
Doc ID:
102788
Owned by:
Casey S. in UW-Madison Research Data
Created:
2020-06-04
Updated:
2023-10-16
Sites:
UW-Madison Research Data
ResearchDrive is a new file storage solution for Faculty PIs, permanent PIs, and their research group members, provided through a campus investment in research cyberinfrastructure, and available in Fall 2019. It is suited for a variety of research purposes, including backup, archive, storage for data inputs/outputs of research computing, and others. It is a secure and permanent place for keeping data.