How to Manage Your Files from the CISER Research Nodes

STORING FILES IN YOUR HOME DIRECTORY

• DO store all of your files (data, programs, etc) on the U:\ drive in your home directory.
  • Example:  "U:\user5\cam6" 
• Files in your home directory are accessible from all CISER Research Nodes and are backed-up up daily*.
  • *as long as you do not alter the admistrator or system permissions to your folder!
• This DOES include your My Documents folder which is automatically directed to your home directory.
• Files stored in your home directory are secure and not accessible by other users, unless you give them specific permission to selected files or folders.
• Do NOT store your files on the C:\ drive of any node, or on any CISER Research Node "desktop". 
• The C:\ drive is reserved for the operating system.
• User files on the C:\ drive are NOT backed up and can cause system problems. 
  • This includes files stored on the "desktop" of each CISER Research Node
• Please ignore the Windows created directory with your netid on the C:\ drive.
  • Example:
    • DON'T USE THIS: "C:\Documents and Settings\cam6"
    • DO USE THIS: "U:\user5\cam6\My Documents" or "U:\user5\cam6"

TEMPORARY WORK (SCRATCH) SPACE

• There is a "T:\" drive on each CISER Research Node which is used by most applications (SAS, Stata, etc) for temporary work space. Users may create their own folders in this space, as well, but should keep in mind the following:
  • Files on the T:\ drive are NOT backed up and will be deleted after one week of non-use. 
  • Default permissions for user created folders on the T:\ drive allow access by others.
  • The T:\ drive is local to each node, and the files on the T:\ drive of any node are not accessible from any other node.

ABOUT FILE BACKUP

Files in your home directory (U:\UserX\netid), including the files in your My Documents folder, are backed-up daily. Files in the "T:\" drive (temporary scratch space) on the CISER Research Nodes are NOT backed-up.  Users should not store files on the C:\ drive or on the "desktop" of any CISER Research Node.

HOW TO TRANSFER FILES TO AND FROM THE CISER RESEARCH CLUSTER (for Windows users)*  (note: Mac users should refer to Alternate Method A2 (below).

• Most secure method for moving  files to and from the CISER file server:
• Run the CISER VPN and Map the CISER file server to your local PC
• This is the preferred method for moving files to and from your PC (running Windows 2000 or Windows XP) and the file server attached to the CISER Research Cluster.  Explicit directions are in the links above.  This method allows you to drag and drop files from your local drives to your home directory (U:\UserX\netid) without even logging on to the CISER Research Nodes.  
• Alternate methods for moving  files to and from the CISER file server:
• Alternate Method A1: (for Windows users)*
• Map your local drives to an CISER Research Node: 
• This method does not require use of the CISER VPN.
• Log on to any CISER Research Node using the Remote Desktop client, but select the OPTIONS button before connecting, as shown below:

   

• Enter the node address as usual

       

• Select the Options button:

  

• Choose the "Local Resources" tab

  

• Select the "More" button

  

• Select the local disk you wish to use in your Remote session, then select "OK". You will be returned to the Local Resources Tab.

  

• Choose "Connect" and you will see the Credentials window.  Enter your CISER Research credentials.

  

• Now you will see the trust verification window. Confirm that both boxes are checked to allow access to your local disk drives and your local clipboard and choose "Yes"

  

  • At this point you should be connected to the Terminal Services session on the node you have selected. Enter your CISER Research user credentials. 
  • To see you locally mapped drives go to Start --> My Computer --> and look under network drives!

• Alternate Method A2: (*for Mac Users)
  • This method assumes that you have downloaded and installed the free Microsoft Remote Desktop Client for Mac users.
  • The process is much the same as shown for Windows users.  For relevant images see Move files between Mac and Windows-based computers by using Remote Desktop Connection
• Alternate Method B: (all users)  
• Send files to and from the server via Cornell's web based e-mail.
  • This should work for any CISER Research user:
  • From any CISER Research Node you may use Internet Explorer to connect to Cornell University web mail (webmail.cornell.edu) and send or receive files as e-mail attachments to or from yourself. Not recommended for large files.
• Alternate Method C:
  • FTP to another server from the CISER Research nodes.
  • For users with access to other servers to which they have logon privileges.
  • Although you may not FTP from anywhere to the CISER Research nodes, you can open ftp on the CISER Research Node and ftp to a server which accepts your logon.