FileStorage < IT

%TOC%

---+ File Storage

   * Storage areas for user files are provided via NFS for LINUX users and via SAMBA for Windows users.
   * Data files should be stored within these storage areas rather than on a local machine.
   * Users should be aware of which areas are [[Backups][backed up]].

---++ From LINUX

   * [[HomeAreas]] are available via <code>/home/<user></code>
   * [[DataAreas]] are available via <code>/data/<groupXX></code>
   * Scratch areas on the local disc are available via <code>/pcdisk/ppepcXX</code>

After logging into a LINUX system either from the console of a LINUX desktop or via ssh a user will start their session within their home area.  Other areas NFS areas are auto mounted and so may not be visible via a <code>df</code> command.  A list of the current data areas can be found using the ypcat command.

<table width="100%" cellspacing="0">
<tr><td bgcolor="lightgreen">Listing the available data areas</td></tr>
<tr><td bgcolor="lightblue">$ ypcat -k auto.data</td></tr>
</table>

---+++ Local Scratch Disk

After logging into a LINUX desktop the scratch space available can be found at <code>/pcdisk/ppepcXX</code> where XX is the number of the LINUX desktop. This directory is world writable such that any PPE user can create files within it. Since this scratch space is directly mounted to the machine i.e. not over NFS it can be used to speed up heavily I/O dependent programs. Please remember to copy any important data off this space once such a process has completed. (At present this scratch space is un-managed and therefore will not be cleaned up automatically.) 

---++ From Windows

Windows users should access their [[HomeAreas]] and [[DataAreas]] using Samba.  Users should connect to the Samba server via the alias <code>ppesmb</code>.  Users can connect to the Samba server either by navigating to it via the guphysics domain or via clicking on <code>Start->Run</code> and then typing <code>\\ppesmb</code>.  Laptop users should use their guphysics username and password to authenticate.

* Users logging into a desktop which is bound to the guphysics domain will find that their <code>ppesmb</code> home area is automatically mounted as the <code>U:</code> drive.

* When browsing the <code>\\ppesmb</code> folder [[DataAreas]] can be more clearly identified by switching the folder to the details view.  To do this open the <code>\\ppesmb</code> folder following the instructions given above.  Then right click within the folder and select <code>View->Details</code>.  The [[DataAreas]] can then be identified by the <code>Comments</code> field.

---++ From OS X

Start finder, then from the menu bar select <code>Go</code> then <code>Connect to Server</code>.

 <img src="%ATTACHURLPATH%/connect_to_server.png" alt="connect_to_server.png" width='639' height='390' />

Enter <code>smb://ppesmb</code> for the server address in the diolog box and click <code>Connect</code>.

<img src="%ATTACHURLPATH%/ppesmb.png" alt="ppesmb.png" width='510' height='245' />

Enter your GUPHYSICS username and password if requested. From the final dialog box select the samba share you wish to access.

<img src="%ATTACHURLPATH%/ppemgr02.png" alt="ppemgr02.png" width='760' height='339' />

---++ From Linux Laptop

To mount an external drive on Linux using CIFS use:

<code>  mount -t cifs SERVER_NAME LOCAL_MOUNT_DIRECTORY -o user=USER_NAME</code>

So, for example, if your name is Napoleon Solo and you have a guphysics account and you wished to mount the <code>detdev01</code> directory in the <code>//ppesmb</code> Samba file system to the local <code>/mnt</code> directory, you would use:

<code>  mount -t cifs //ppesmb/data/detdev01 /mnt -o user=guphysics/nsolo</code>

Napoleon would then be prompted for his password before mounting took place.
The password can also be passed as an additional comma-seperated argument ("pass") or inside a file, along with the user name ("credentials"). 

N.B. The user name must include the guphysics domain. Make sure the mount directory exists.

For some more details and some useful CIFS documentation, please see [[http://pserver.samba.org/samba/ftp/cifs-cvs/linux-cifs-client-guide.pdf ][here]].

-- Main.AndrewPickford - 25 Jan 2009
Attachments
Topic attachments
I	Attachment	History	Action	Size	Date	Who
png	connect_to_server.png	r1	manage	59.5 K	2010-08-04 - 09:30	AndrewPickford
png	ppemgr02.png	r1	manage	132.3 K	2010-08-04 - 09:31	AndrewPickford
png	ppesmb.png	r1	manage	37.1 K	2010-08-04 - 09:31	AndrewPickford
This topic: IT > WebHome > FileStorage
Topic revision: r5 - 2013-04-22 - KennyWraight