Data capsules
A system of secure computing environments for performing researcher-driven text analysis on the HathiTrust corpus. All users may access public domain items.
Computational access to items in copyright is available ONLY to member-affiliated researchers.
Creating a Capsule
Capsules can be created on HTRC Analytics when you are logged-in from the Create a data capsule page.
Demo Capsules
Demo capsules are small virtual machines that are designed to be used to test out data capsule features and get a feel for how they work. They are not intended for robust research.
Research Capsules
Research data capsules are larger virtual machines that allow for some specified parameters like processing speed and memory size. Research capsules are intended for robust research and come with the members-only benefit and exporting data options listed below.
User Templates
User templates are an alternative way to create an HTRC data capsule, and are designed to help educators and collaborators share snapshots of their own research data capsules. First, create a research data capsule. Second, download any preferred code libraries and software tools required for a course, workshop, demonstration, etc. into your data capsule. Third, create a user template from within your research data capsule. Make it public and others can now use your template to create their own research data capsule. Read more about user templates on our documentation page.
Using and Managing Capsules
Users have a quota of 100 GB of disk space, 20 GB of memory, and 10 CPUS which can be used across multiple data capsules. Users also have a quota of 2 templates. You can view your usage and a list of your data capsules and templates from the My data capsule allocations page.
To start or stop your capsule, navigate to the capsule's status page.
When your capsule is running, access it from the desktop of your computer using either a VNC client or through SSH. You will only be able to use SSH when the capsule is in maintenance mode.
Each capsule has two modes: maintenance and secure. In maintenance mode, you will be able to access the network and install software. In secure mode, you will not be able to access the network, but will be able to access the HTRC Data API.
Members-only Benefit: full corpus access for the data capsule service
Existing data capsule users or new data capsule requesters from member institutions have the exclusive option to select “Full Corpus Access,” which includes copyrighted items.
Exporting derived data from a capsule
Data and tools can easily enter a user's capsule, but anything leaving a capsule must undergo review prior to release to the user. Only derived, non-consumptive data exports are allowed from the HTRC data capsule.
To learn more, read the HTRC data capsule documentation.