Staff Filestore
Introduction - Vault
When a file is first created on the Staff Filestore, it is stored on the first tier of storage and is a normal file. After six months, if the file has not been modified, it will be migrated to the second tier of storage - placed in a 'vault' - and it will be removed from the first tier of storage and replaced by a 'stub' that points to the original file in the vault. On Macintosh and Linux PCs, migrated files will appear the same as normal files, but on Windows PCs, files that have been migrated in this way are shown as 'placeholder icons'.
If you look closely, you will see that a placeholder icon has a small black clock symbol in the bottom left corner. This indicates that the file has been migrated and might take slightly longer to open as it has to be retrieved from the vault. To open such a file, simply double-click it as normal. The file will be retrieved from the vault and will open. If you make and save any changes, it will then be promoted back to the first tier of storage. If you simply read from it and close it again, it will return to the vault the next time the migration process is run. Most files will open almost instantaneously, but very large files might take a few seconds and you will need to be patient.
Individual File Store / U: drive
What is it?
Individual File Store is an area of individual file store for staff or students to use for work related purposes. It can be read from and written to by a single person only. It is provided by IT Services on centrally managed servers, and is automatically set-up when a staff or student computer account is created.
The Individual File Store can be accessed from Staff desktop computers and P.C. computer laboratories, where it is automatically mapped as a U: drive; you need do no more than open "My Computer". You can also access your Individual File Store from a Windows XP computer using HallNet or a non-staff desktop Windows XP computer connected to the University network using Windows XP instructions www.lboro.ac.uk/it/systems/cfs.html, or from an Apple Mac using Apple Mac instructions www.lboro.ac.uk/it/systems/cfs-mac.html. Finally you can access via Web File Access (see below) from any computer which can browse the web.
www.lboro.ac.uk/it/systems/cfs.html
Individual Web Space
If you wish to create your own web pages. For staff and for students.
www.lboro.ac.uk/it/systems/personal-web.html
Group File Store
What is it?
This is an area of disk space that can be set up for groups of students, or staff and students, to use for sharing files and resources for work related purposes. For example, this could be used for students working on the same undergraduate project to share data and documents.
The file space can be accessed from computer laboratories, hall, and staff offices using the Staff Desktop Service. Access to the file space is controlled so that it is restricted to a nominated list of people. This list can either be managed by IT Services or at the request of a department by a member of staff in a department, normally a member of IT staff.
www.lboro.ac.uk/it/systems/group-filestore.html
Staff Shared File Store
What is it?
Staff Shared File Store is an area of file store for staff to use for work related purposes. It can be provided for a department or a group of staff (e.g. a research group). It is provided by IT Services on centrally managed servers.
In the past, this was often referred to as the department Y: drive.
Staff Shared File store is not available for groups including students - use Group File Store instead.
www.lboro.ac.uk/it/systems/staff-shared.html
Web File Access
A service providing for off-campus web-based access to files on network disk space is available to staff and students. To use this Web File Access service, direct your browser to wfa.lboro.ac.uk. Web File Access answers to commonly asked questions are available at www.lboro.ac.uk/it/off-campus/wfa-faq.html. A Web File Access movie is also available at www.lboro.ac.uk/it/off-campus/web-file-access.html.
Limitations with a Wireless Connection
While it is physically possible to edit documents on Network drives while connected via Wireless, we would not recommend it.
Problems can occur when the document is opened, and then the network connection is lost, however briefly. Parts of the document can be left unread. These will then be removed if the document is saved.
From an individual network drive (U: drive) it is safer to copy the document to a local drive (My Documents in Windows), and edit it there, copying back when finished.
Even then, this is not a suitable solution in the case of a shared drive, since if two people attempt to edit at once, someone's changes will be lost!
Wireless is not a replacement for conventional wired networking. More information on Wireless Networking, including maps of coverage over the campus is available at www.lboro.ac.uk/it/wireless/.
Inappropriate Individual Use
An Inappropriate Individual Use e-mail will be sent if users perform actions which appear to be an abuse of the service.
Staff Filestore Paths
For users of other computers such as Linux see www.lboro.ac.uk/it/systems/staff-paths.html.