Workspaces/Advanced Features/ws release

ws_release - Release (Delete) Workspace

Release a workspace when you no longer need it.

Syntax

ws_release [options] workspace_name

What Happens When You Release

• The workspace ID can be reused immediately
• The directory becomes inaccessible to the user
• The data is not deleted immediately - it is moved to a deleted area
• Released workspaces: Can be recovered using ws_restore until the next cleanup cycle (typically runs during nighttime)
• Expired workspaces: Can be recovered for a longer period (see grace periods and cluster-specific deletion times)
• Final deletion happens automatically during cleanup runs
• Important: Released workspace data may still count toward your quota until final deletion occurs

Options

Option	Description
-n <name>	Workspace name (alternative to positional argument)
-F <filesystem>	Specify filesystem where the workspace is located
--delete-data	Delete all data immediately. WARNING: Workspace can NOT BE RECOVERED

Immediate Deletion (Free Quota Instantly)

Works on cluster	bwUC 3.0	BinAC2	Helix	JUSTUS 2	NEMO2
ws_release --delete-data (immediate deletion)	✓				✓

If you need to free quota immediately instead of waiting for the grace period, you have two options:

Use --delete-data flag (recommended if available on your cluster):

  $ ws_release --delete-data myWs

Availability: Check if this flag is available on your cluster with ws_release -h.

When to use immediate deletion

• ✓ You're certain you don't need the data anymore
• ✓ You've already backed up important results to permanent storage
• ✓ You're hitting quota limits and need space immediately
• ✗ Don't use if there's any chance you might need the data
• ✗ Don't use if you haven't verified your backup worked

Best practice: Use regular ws_release myWs (without immediate deletion) as your default. Only use immediate deletion when you're absolutely certain and need immediate quota relief.

For more information: $ ws_release -h or man ws_release