December 23, 2018: The work for this migration has completed. If you have any questions please contact us at [email protected].
What is Windows File Services?
The IT Division provides storage space on the "network" (as opposed to individual computers) for lab employees. This space can be used to access to shared folders and files that facilitate work group collaboration ( e.g. G drive).
In order to access the Windows File Service, you will need a Windows Active Directory Account .
A user account can be granted permissions that allow the user to access a shared drive where other users with similar data access permissions can store and retrieve data. A shared drive is "mapped" from the user's computer so that it appears on your machine as a local drive, just like the C: drive. The user can drag and drop files to and from the shared "network" drive just as if it were installed on his/her computer.
User accounts are managed through Windows Active Directory (AD), which also manages accounts for computers and network printers. Active Directory provides a central authentication service for these accounts. Access to resources (e.g. print servers, network file storage, windows patch server) is provided through membership in AD.
Access to Home and Shared Directories
How do I request a home or shared directory?
Home and Shared Directories are no longer provisioned. If you need to store and share files, please use Google Drive.
If I have an Active Directory account, do I automatically receive access permissions?
No. When you request an AD account, you must specifically request access. Most lab employees need an AD account to log on to the domain to get security upgrades on their computers and gain access to network printers. With an AD account, a lab user can log on to any lab computer through the domain (provided the computer itself is registered in AD).
How are permissions assigned?
The easiest way to assign permissions is to find the name of another Active Directory user (i.e., a model employee) with the same data access permissions needed by the user. That way, the OU administrator can copy the permissions from the model employee account into the new account.
What can I store in directories?
Windows File Service is designed to store your working documents. These will primarily be Microsoft Office files and .PDF and other types of text files. You should not put large files here such as backups (or copies of backups), music or video files. These should be stored locally or on other media.
What are the limitations of Windows File Service?
While Lab employees can share files through Windows File Services, there are a number of substantial limitations to this approach. Users can only access Windows shared folders on-site or through a virtual private network (VPN), and they do not have the ability to create new top level folders, nor assign permissions to them. Windows shared folders are useful for local sharing on the Lab network, as well as for collaboration on Access databases, FileMakerPro and other applications that are not suitable for web access.
Access to prior versions of files (i.e. Snapshots)
90 days worth of snapshots will be kept and configured as followed:
- 14 intra day snapshots – will be configured to run @ 12 noon and 6 PM
- 90 daily snapshots - default, runs @ 12 AM daily
