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How to use the Airlock application to import and export files

A request to move data into/out of the Research Environment (RE) can be made via the Airlock website.

Within the RE the Airlock website is accessible from the desktop.

Outside the RE, you will need to access it on the web. There is one Airlock website to request an import, and a separate website to download approved exports outside the RE. You will also be sent these links when your request is approved.

Airlock website to request an import

Airlock website to download an approved export

Required information

For any transfer of files in or out of the RE, you will need to provide:

  • Your User Group
    • Usually Research Network (Academic) or Research Network (Industry)
  • Your Research Registry ID (RR number, previously called the project code or project number. )
  • What your files contain:
    • For software and scripts, this includes the programming language and any relevant software licenses
    • For data exports, this should be a full description of everything in the files, any potentially ambiguous details should be clearly explained to ensure the Airlock team can fully understand the data requested for transfer. Please expand all acronyms and ensure the files can be read in isolation from other documents by non-subject matter exports.
    • For imports, please explain the source of this data and whether you have consent to move it into the RE.
  • Justification for why you want to transfer these files and your intentions with them, this should be as detailed as possible. Your application should be simple and clear and must cover all the uses of the data. Any Airlock approval granted will only apply to the use cases you have specified in the original application.
  • For exports, you will need to include a file listing the participant IDs of the participants whose information was used as input to generate the file(s) you are requesting for export where relevant.

The files you're transferring

Your Airlock requests should include everything you intend to work with or publish outside of the RE and only that which you intend to work with or publish outside of the RE.

Everything you want to use should be included in the Airlock request, including data files, graphs and notes. You must not take any screenshots of the RE. If you make any notes long-hand, you should include these as text files in your Airlock request.

Breach of the Airlock (for example by screenshots or copying data long hand), or contravention of the policies of the Airlock (for example, using exported materials for uses other than those within the original request) will be considered a serious breach of the Research Network Rules. Genomics England reserves the right to ban the researcher’s institution, and all their researchers, from access to the Research Environment and pursue legal action against both the individual and the institution.

File size limits

Only include the data you want to use. Do not copy your whole home directory as this can lead to significant delays as the Airlock Team will need to review every single file. Include only the files you have described and specifically justified the usage of.

We are not currently able to support the export/import of files over 5 GB in a single transfer using the Airlock website and recommend large numbers of files are compressed into zip folders to streamline the import/export process.

For imports of large files and/or datasets (over 5 GB) the Airlock team can arrange an alternative import pathway not using the standard Airlock website, provided of course that the file(s) are suitable for import into the RE. To request this, please raise a Service Desk ticket as detailed above, or contact the shared Airlock inbox at airlock-info@genomicsengland.co.uk

For exports of large files you will need to break the file up into "chunks" each 4 GB or smaller, upload each of these chunks as a separate file, and then recombine the chunks following approval to recreate the original file. We apologise for the awkwardness of this setup and are working hard to create a more streamlined system to allow the import/export of large files using the Airlock website.

If you have trouble doing this or have any questions about this process, please contact the Airlock Team by sending in a Service Desk ticket including "Airlock" in the subject line.

Exporting files from the RE

Making the request

  1. Login to the RE and go to Airlock website. A link can be found on the Desktop.
  2. Select  Forms > Available forms
  3. Choose the form that best matches the file type you want to export: Analysis scripts and software or Findings
  4. Fill in the form and attach your files.
  5. Submit the form.

You will receive a confirmation email from ge-servicedesk@genomicsengland.co.uk which will include the GEL reference number, the transfer request number, and a link to view the request.

Once the Airlock Team have reviewed your request, they will get in touch with you to either approve the request, reject the request with suggestions to modify the file(s) to enable approval of a future request or ask further questions.

Retrieving your files outside the RE if the request is approved¶

If your file has been approved you will receive a confirmation email from the Airlock Team with instructions to download your file.

Go to the Airlock retrieval site and use the approval email to find the correct folder download your file(s)

Airlock retrieval site

A different website is used to import data into the RE and to access data that has been exported. See below for instructions.

Video example

Importing files into the RE

Making the request

  1. Go to the Airlock import site Airlock import site
  2. Login to the site using your Genomics England RE login
  3. Select Forms > Available forms
  4. Choose the form that best matches the file type you want to import: Phenotypic and/or Genetic Data, Software and scripts, or Other files.
  5. Fill in the form and attach your files
  6. Submit the form

You will receive a confirmation email from ge-servicedesk@genomicsengland.co.uk which will include the GEL reference number, the transfer request number, and a link to view the request. The Airlock Team will then review the request.

If your files contain sensitive data about external cohorts or additional data on Genomics England Cohorts you may be asked to agree to certain conditions before the import can be approved.

Accessing your file in the RE

  1. You will receive an email from the Airlock Team confirming that your request has been approved
  2. Login to the RE and go to Airlock website. A link can be found on the Desktop.
  3. Go to Files > Home and there you will see folders named for the Transfer request number
  4. Use the approval email to find the correct folder, then download the file(s) to your desktop inside the RE

Only you can access files in your Downloads folder. If you do need to share the imported files with specific researchers inside the RE but don’t want everyone to be able to access them, please raise a service desk ticket and we can help set up designated folders for this purpose.