A general solution which fulfills the requirements of flow cytometry data storage, backup, archiving and access, must take into account the nature of the producers and consumers of this data. The Walter & Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) is blessed with a motley crew of such producers, with data generated on six types of computer system: FACScans use either a Macintosh computer running MacOS or Hewlett Packard HP300 or HP340 computers running the Pascal operating system. A FACS II cell sorter uses an LSI 11/73 computer running RT-11, a FACStar+ sorter uses a DEC AXP computer running the VMS operating system and a MoFlo sorter uses a PC running WindowsNT. The consumers then require access to the data via various workstations. The WEHI solution utilizes a local area network with appropriate file transfer software on each producing node to move data to a computer system with large capacity disk storage and backup and archive facility. Appropriate server software allows convenient access to the data from all networked Macintoshes and Windows PCs. A freestanding Java-language data display and analysis program (WEASEL), designed to run on any of these systems, is distributed to institute and home computers. In parallel with a secure backup and archive facility, old data is additionally written in universal format to CD ROM disks as it is removed from the server. Thus, the data continues to be accessible on all computer systems virtually in perpetuity.
While the WEHI data management system in its entirety is probably unique, individual elements of the solution may be adapted for use at other flow cytometry laboratories.