# HUMAnN 4 database downloads inaccessible due to Globus (data.globus.org) domain blocking **URL:** \ **Category:** HUMAnN\ **Created:** [November 30, 2025, 12:39pm UTC](https://forum.biobakery.org/t/humann-4-database-downloads-inaccessible-due-to-globus-data-globus-org-domain-blocking/8642 "2025-11-30T12:39:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![fmerinocasallo](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.biobakery.org/fmerinocasallo/32/3368_2.png) [@fmerinocasallo](https://forum.biobakery.org/u/fmerinocasallo)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2025, 12:39pm UTC](https://forum.biobakery.org/t/humann-4-database-downloads-inaccessible-due-to-globus-data-globus-org-domain-blocking/8642/1 "2025-11-30T12:39:36Z")
Hello, fellow bioBakers! 👋 I’m encountering an infrastructure issue that prevents me from downloading HUMAnN 4 databases from institutional networks with certain security policies. ### Problem Description When attempting to download HUMAnN 4 databases using: ```bash humann_databases --download utility_mapping full data/databases/humann/ humann_databases --download chocophlan full data/databases/humann/ humann_databases --download uniref uniref90_ec_filtered_diamond data/databases/humann/ ``` All three downloads fail with the same error pattern: ```auto CRITICAL ERROR: Unable to download and extract from URL: ``` ### Root Cause The download URL redirects to a subdomain of `data.globus.org`, and this domain is blocked by our institutional network security policies. Specifically, our cybersecurity team has classified Globus as a peer-to-peer application and has blocked access to `globus.org` domains as part of corporate network security measures established a few years ago. ### Impact I have confirmed that **all three HUMAnN 4 database downloads fail** due to this issue: - `utility_mapping` database - **FAILED** - `chocophlan` database - **FAILED** - `uniref` database - **FAILED** ### Workaround Attempted I was able to download the database manually from an external server, but this is not a sustainable solution for: - Other users in our institution - Automated workflows - Future database updates ### Feature Request / Question Could the bioBakery team consider providing: 1. **Alternative download mirrors** that don’t rely on Globus infrastructure (e.g., direct HTTP/HTTPS from huttenhower.sph.harvard.edu or other academic mirrors)? 2. **Documentation** on how to manually download and install databases when automated downloads are blocked? 3. **Support for `--database-location`** with local file paths in `humann_databases` (if not already fully supported)? This issue affects users in institutions with strict network security policies that block peer-to-peer or file-sharing platforms. Providing alternative download methods would greatly improve accessibility for these users. ### Environment Details - **HUMAnN version** : v4.0.0.alpha.1 - **Network environment** : Institutional HPC cluster with corporate network security policies - **Blocked domain** : `*.globus.org` (specifically `data.globus.org`) - **Affected download URLs** (all redirect to Globus): Any guidance or alternative solutions would be greatly appreciated! Best regards, Fran 👨‍💻 ---
**Author:** ![franzosa](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.biobakery.org/franzosa/32/3511_2.png) [@franzosa](https://forum.biobakery.org/u/franzosa)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2025, 9:38pm UTC](https://forum.biobakery.org/t/humann-4-database-downloads-inaccessible-due-to-globus-data-globus-org-domain-blocking/8642/2 "2025-12-05T21:38:18Z")
Thank you for the detailed report. We can look into download alternatives. We have gradually shifted to focusing on Globus because it proved to be more efficient and stable than our previous offerings, but if it’s regularly systematically blocked, that is something we need to consider. I didn’t follow your point re: `--database-location`? If you’ve manually downloaded a database, you can point a HUMAnN installation at it by running the `humann_config` utility to update the relevant config setting with the new/correct path. For example: ```auto humann_config --update database_folders nucleotide /path/to/chocophlan ``` You can also specify these paths at runtime if you can’t update the config for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![fmerinocasallo](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.biobakery.org/fmerinocasallo/32/3368_2.png) [@fmerinocasallo](https://forum.biobakery.org/u/fmerinocasallo)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2025, 7:26am UTC](https://forum.biobakery.org/t/humann-4-database-downloads-inaccessible-due-to-globus-data-globus-org-domain-blocking/8642/3 "2025-12-09T07:26:44Z")
Hi, @franzosa ! 👋 Thank your for your reply 🙂 I appreciate your willingness to consider download alternatives. I think it would really help us here. It is very unfortunate that our cybersecurity team blocked access to `globus.org` domains ☹ Regarding my original point about the `--database-location`: thank you for mentioning the `humann_config` utility, I didn’t know about it! Best, Fran 👨‍💻 ---
**Author:** ![fmerinocasallo](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.biobakery.org/fmerinocasallo/32/3368_2.png) [@fmerinocasallo](https://forum.biobakery.org/u/fmerinocasallo)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 6:50am UTC](https://forum.biobakery.org/t/humann-4-database-downloads-inaccessible-due-to-globus-data-globus-org-domain-blocking/8642/4 "2026-06-10T06:50:27Z")
Hi @franzosa, Following up on [my original report](https://forum.biobakery.org/t/humann-4-database-downloads-inaccessible-due-to-globus-data-globus-org-domain-blocking/8642) about Globus (`*.globus.org`) redirects blocking HUMAnN 4 database downloads on our corporate network. One option that might **complement** Globus rather than replace it could be **versioned mirrors on Zenodo** (or similar archives with direct HTTPS and a DOI). In environments where Globus TLS endpoints are blocked, a plain `wget`/`curl` to [Zenodo](https://about.zenodo.org/) often still works. The model would be: - **BioBakery remains the canonical source and version authority**. - A **pinned, versioned deposit** (e.g. ChocoPhlAn build matching HUMAnN 4.0.0.alpha.1 / vOct22 SGBs) lives **on Zenodo** with checksums and metadata. - Users on restricted networks fetch from Zenodo when Globus fails; everyone else can keep using the official pipeline. Before exploring any options, I wanted to ask: 1. Would BioBakery consider official versioned mirrors on Zenodo (or similar) as an HTTPS alternative to Globus, and/or documenting acceptable third-party mirrors for blocked networks? 2. If third-party mirrors are acceptable, are there licensing or redistribution constraints we should respect for the vOct22 ChocoPhlAn / HUMAnN database bundles? Happy to continue here or by email if that’s easier — whichever works best for you. Best, Fran 👨‍💻 ---
**Author:** ![fmerinocasallo](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.biobakery.org/fmerinocasallo/32/3368_2.png) [@fmerinocasallo](https://forum.biobakery.org/u/fmerinocasallo)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2026, 8:12am UTC](https://forum.biobakery.org/t/humann-4-database-downloads-inaccessible-due-to-globus-data-globus-org-domain-blocking/8642/5 "2026-06-23T08:12:35Z")
Hi @franzosa — gentle bump on the Zenodo mirror idea above when you have a moment. No rush on our side for the sketch bundle; mainly interested whether third-party mirrors are acceptable from a licensing perspective. Happy to continue here or by email.