Name |
Central File Service (Departmental Drive) |
Recommended For |
Document storage |
Audience |
Staff, Faculty, Grad Students |
Description |
The Central File Service Departmental Drive, is a network folder that can only be accessed on Princeton’s network, either on-campus of through VPN. It can be accessed on Windows, Linux, and OSX devices through the following protocols, CIFS/SMB/NFS. It used ti store and share data for departments. There are automatic snapshots taken of all data under the following schedule: Bi-hourly: 24 version are kept Nightly: 7 Versions are kept Weekly: 4 Versions are kept |
Benefits/Limitations |
The Departmental Drive can be leveraged as a data source or landing area for Windows, Linux, or OSX applications. The Central File Service is integrated into Princeton's Active Directory, where existing AD groups can be leveraged. A limitation of CFS is lack of access external from Princeton's network. Content cannot be shared directly through the Internet. External access is only permitted through the VPN. |
Data Classification Types |
Restricted, Confidential, and Unrestricted within Princeton University |
Available Space |
10TB per department |
How to Get Started |
Send email to ess-storage@princeton.edu |
Cost Associated with Service |
There is a one-time charge past 50TB. Please contact ess-storage@princeton.edu for the current rate. |
Not sure this is the right solution? Before you start, make sure this is the best solution for your needs. See Help Me Choose a File Storage Service
The Central File Server is a file sharing service provided by OIT to promote document sharing and collaboration across the network and within departments. Scores of departments and projects are putting it to work for temporary file storage and document management. If you often use computers from multiple locations, the Central File Server is a great way to share, move, and store files.
You can use your departmental space to store your important files so that they are accessible to you from any computer connected to the network. Once a folder is created and a specific access group defined, the folder can be used for the following document management operations:
Large text documents, heavily formatted documents and documents which contain non-text objects in significant numbers or of significant size may be difficult or impossible to convey via text-based e-mail messages or as e-mail attachments. The shared server provides an easy and effective way to transfer such documents to someone else on the network.
Informational documents that cannot be easily disseminated by e-mail or that lose their currency after a relatively short period of time can be posted in a designated folder on the shared server. Such files might include extensive and/or heavily formatted text documents, files containing images and other non-text objects, large spreadsheets, etc.
Applications supported through the DeSC program, including Microsoft Word and Excel, enable collaboration on the production and editing of files. Collaboration is sometimes easiest when all revisions and comments can be tracked on one document. The shared server makes this possible. The document - whether a grant proposal, meeting minutes, or legal document - can be stored in a designated folder on the shared server. Each collaborator who is given access can then mark changes, make comments, and see others' revisions.
Many departments on campus have departmental folders on \\files\dept that are shared by the administrative staff and faculty.
If you are off campus and connecting to the Internet, you will need to make a VPN connection to the University before accessing the Central File Server. See Solution 6023 for information about Virtual Private Networking (VPN). Once established, map your M: drive as follows:
If you use a Mac computer running OS X, you can use Samba technology to connect to your M: drive.
If you are off campus and connecting to the Internet, you will need to make a VPN connection to the University before accessing the Central File Server. See Solution 6023 for information about Virtual Private Networking (VPN).
Once established, map your M: drive as follows:
The Central File Server provides a backup service using snapshot technology. Every 2 hours your files are imaged and retained on the server in the event that you accidentally delete, overwrite, lose, or corrupt a file. If you are saving your intellectual property to the Central File Server, you can restore files yourself. See the instructions within Solution 9679.