Desktop Services
Access to your Desktop Services filespace
Filed under:
Remote access
When you login at a Managed Cluster machine, you have immediate access to your Desktop Services filespace (previously known as your PWF filespace). However, you can also access this filespace from elsewhere, for instance from a College room or from home, in a number of different ways. Which method is most convenient for you will depend on exactly what you need to do and on your own machine and its configuration.
- CIFS or AFP: The easiest process is to mount your personal filespace directly on your desktop, so that it just looks like another device like a CD drive or USB flash memory. This is straightforward if your machine is within the cam domain (and not using Eduroam); use AFP for a Macintosh (OS X), or CIFS for Windows or Linux. Note: Mac 10.7 users cannot connect using CIFS or AFP, but can connect using sftp.
- NetStorage:If you are outside the cam domain you can use a Web interface via NetStorage. This provides slightly more restricted facilities, depending on the capabilities and configuration of your web browser; see the NetStorage page for all details.
- File transfer:You can always operate by transferring files using normal file transfer utilities. To do this, connect (using any file transfer program that supports SFTP) to sftp.pwf.cam.ac.uk using your standard Desktop Services username and password.
- Remote login:From any system you can login remotely (using ssh or slogin) to MCS Linux (login to linux.pwf.cam.ac.uk) and manage your files directly using Unix commands. This is the only way to check your quota remotely, and only remote Linux and NetStorage allow you to change access rights remotely.
Last updated: February 2012