Category:
OIT is not responsible for lost data and cannot recover files from deleted VMs.
Saving Files
Whenever a VM is removed or restored the data on that reservation is deleted. This can happen to VMs that are not renewed at the end of each semester (see Manage Your Reservation) or that fail to fulfill security standards and are placed in quarantine (see Quarantine Policy).
It is your responsibility to store files is a safe and secure place or create regular backups of data off the VM. OIT provides a few resources to assist with this.
CIFS HomeDir
Every student, faculty or staff member is supplied a network home directory with an initial allotment of 25GB. Read more about it on the OIT CIFS site. Windows VMs will mount your CIFS directory by default on login. Navigate to "This PC" and look for your AFSDocs or your NetID folder under "Network Locations". Linux VMs may add CIFS mounting to their reservation by following a few easy steps in this help article.
Cloud Resources
A popular alternative to using a mounted network directory is to upload files to a cloud storage service. While these services are usually discouraged from being used for backup, they are a great way to transfer files around and make sure none of your data is left on the VM. Duke supplies users with an account at Box - read more about getting set up with it at the OIT Box site.
Git Repositories
Source code and some textual data are best stored in version-control repositories. OIT provides a central Git server available to all students and employees. See this help article for more information.