Introduction to DS-Filestore

Your Desktop Services filespace can be used to store files which you create on your own computer system or at a Managed Cluster machine, or which you transfer using any standard method of file transfer. You can see your filespace from any network-connected machine. Your filespace is allocated to you when you become a Desktop Services user, and cannot, by default, be read or written to by anybody else.

Among other things, your DS filespace can conveniently be used to store backup copies of your files, on a system which is itself centrally backed-up and therefore secure. You can also use it to store and publish personal web pages.

Filenames

Files to be used on DS-Filestore can have names up to 255 characters and should not include the following characters (some are permitted on a Macintosh but it us safer to avoid them):

colon, asterisk, double quote, forward or back slash, angle brackets, question mark, vertical bar.

For web pages, we recommend using only lower-case letters, digits, full stop, dash and underscore. Spaces should be avoided.

Filespace quotas and usage

Each user is given a filespace limit of at least 500Mb. This is an upper limit; there is not enough space for every user to keep their full entitlement on the fileserver permanently. If you run out of filespace, you will not be able to create any new files. You should delete all unwanted files; if you think you have a real need for more space, then you can apply to the Computing Service for an increase.

A utility called FileSpace is provided on Managed Cluster Windows PCs to allow you to keep track of your filespace usage; it runs all the time during your Windows session and you can check the details of your usage at any time by double-clicking the icon on the taskbar. The utility shows the space your files occupy and also the size of your roaming profile, which can cause problems when you log out if it becomes too large. See further details. On Linux you can check your filespace usage using the "quota" program, listed under Utilities in the Applications menu, and on a Macintosh by going to Applications > Utilities > PWF Account Management.

Platforms

All your files, whether they were created on a PC or on a Macintosh, will be shown in your filespace (whether you are looking at it from Windows, Linux or a Mac), though some files are only useful from one particular platform.

Group filespaces

The Computing Service also provides facilities for group filespaces, most commonly used by University Societies. Limits and access rules for such filespaces are obviously different.

Managing your filespace

Unwanted files should be deleted promptly, but do not remove files unless you are sure what they are. Some files are created in your filespace by particular application programs and should be left there. In particular, note that the folder called Windows NT Workstation 5.1 Profile should not be touched nor used to store your own files. Other files and folders which should not be touched include the appscfg.pwf folder, and any file whose name starts with a full stop (unless you understand exactly what the file is for). For Macintosh users the Library folder should also not be touched.

You are responsible for keeping backup copies of your files if the DS copy is the primary copy. The central backup service is designed to recover from major system failures, but it is not always possible to recover individual user files deleted in error.