File Storage

AFS Space

AFS space is file storage space available on the campus network. When you create an ONYEN, you are allocated 100 megabytes (for students) or 256 megabytes (for faculty and staff) for combined file and Web page storage. Use your AFS space as the main location for storing your files and data. It is a safe, convenient place to store documents and data because it is backed up every night and accessible from any lab computer in the School of Pharmacy (or on campus if AFS is installed).

When you log on to a lab computer using your ONYEN and password, you will see a desktop icon that says "my AFS space." If you click on that icon, you will enter your AFS space. Within that space, you will see many folders. The "private" folder is where you should save important files and data as it is only accessible to you. If you would like more information on the "public" folder that allows you to share files with others, please see an IT staff member. Failure to log off a lab machine will leave your AFS open to the next user.

Floppies

Floppies are an easy and economical way to back up your data, but they are most susceptible to mechanical failure. We recommend floppies only as a backup to what you have saved somewhere else, not as the main copy. If you open a file from a floppy, save it back to that same floppy. Do not save it to an alternate source. About 25 percent of the time, opening a file from a floppy then saving it somewhere else (e.g., AFS space or Zip drive) will corrupt the file. Once you have saved it back to the floppy, then you can copy and paste it to another location.

Zip Drives

Zip drives are similar to floppies, but they are much more reliable and can store up to 250 MB of data (vs. 1.44 MB for a floppy). Most of the lab machines have a 250 MB Iomega Zip drive.

CD Read-Writers

CD-RWs can hold up to 650MB of data. For most students that would be enough for four years!!! We suggest that you use CDs to archive files and data. If you purchase a blank CD-RW disc, you can continuously add or delete files to and from it during the semester. You can also purchase a blank CD-R, which will allow you to save to but not erase from the CD. CDs are more reliable than floppies or zip disks but still can fail, so use your AFS for main storage and any of the other methods for back up.

The K Drive

The K drive is a TEMPORARY storage space for you that can be accessed by any computer in Beard or Kerr Halls. There is an icon on all the lab computers to the K drive. You may create your own temporary folder on the K drive if you wish. The most popular use of the K drive is to store presentations that are going to be given somewhere else in the School of Pharmacy. Groups may also share a folder on the K drive when working on projects where there is a need to share files. WE WILL PERIODICALLY DELETE ANY FILES FROM THE K DRIVE THAT ARE MORE THAN TWO WEEKS OLD.

University Mass Storage

The ITS mass storage system (also known as SAM-FS or /ms) is intended to be used for archiving files and storing very large files, files that are too large to fit in your ITS AFS quota. It is not intended to be used as a backup location for disk drives, operating systems, or software. This system is backed up every twenty-four hours.

To learn more visit: http://www.unc.edu/atn/mass_storage/