The maximum upload file size on the Bilkent Moodle is now 100 MB. This means you cannot retore a course backup file larger than 100 MB.
The reason for this strict policy is that the Bilkent Moodle server is facing a sharp and unsustainable increase in disk storage demand. Overflow of allotted disk space has begun to destabilize the system and cause it to crash, especially towards the end of the semester. With the goal of maximizing service uptime, Moodle admins have limited the file upload size to 100MB attempt to identify the sources of the storage problem.
Historically, the Bilkent Moodle was storing around one trillion – or tera – bytes (i.e., a thousand million – or giga – bytes) of data per semester. Last year, this figure doubled to over two terabytes per semester, resulting in the service stability problems you may have experienced last Fall and Spring.
A lot of the additional data is assessed work uploaded by students; document files, video files, code projects, etc. As faculty respond to the hyper-availability of generative AI information systems on students’ personal devices, we are also seeing an increase in large image files or image-based PDFs, as handwritten work is scanned and uploaded for assessment.
To be clear: this is exactly what Bilkent Moodle data storage capacity is for: storing students’ private assessment data on secure university servers.
But the increase in overall data storage needs means that we need to ask faculty to be more conscientious about the impact of large files uploaded to their Moodle courses. For instance, a 2GB video uploaded to my Moodle course doesn’t just take up 2 GB of data storage. It is duplicated on the server when when I backup and restore the file to a new semester Moodle site. If a course is taught (and copied) every semester, this quickly becomes unsustainable.
One way to decrease the storage footprint of your Moodle course is to remove uploaded files and share links to large course content files with students through cloud file-sharing services instead.
For other practical tips on how to reduce your course’s storage footprint on the Bilkent Moodle server, see this guide: How can I reduce the size of my course backup (.mbz) file?
One result of the increasing integration of technology into teaching and learning is that all practitioners need to be more aware of the physical limitations and impacts of digital systems. As the proliferation of new data centers for AI applications reminds us, digital data storage might be called “the cloud”, but it depends on physical infrastructure with a significant social and environmental footprint down here on Earth.
We therefore encourage you to consider smart management of your storage footprint as an aspect of being a good digital citizen 🌎♻️🌳💚🤖
If you have questions or concerns about reducing your course’s data footprint, please get in touch with Moodle support at moodle@bilkent.edu.tr.