File server and network shares

• Overview
• Tips for Usage
• How to Access
• Mac OSX
• Linux
• Windows Personal Computers
• Data Structure

Overview

The T:\ Drive is the default location for all UQDI data.  Data is stored on TRI infrastructure but all access and management of the UQDI share is handled by UQDI IT. 

The T:\ drive refers to the top-level share from which all TRI partner folders can be accessed. UQDI data is stored within a simplified hierarchical structure on the T:\ drive.

The UQDI section of the new TRI fileserver TRI-DMF.int.tri.edu.au  consists of:

•  An Initial storage allocation of 100TB for UQDI
• Storage is made up of disks and tapes. All data saved to the file share is copied to two tapes, with the second copy to be stored offsite in 2014
• Very old data may be migrated to tape only. If accessed it may take several minutes to be recalled from tape
• These migrated files are also called offline files and are denoted with a X over the file icon: . 
•  The system has a retention period of 18-months, this means if a file is deleted or modified it should be able to be retrieved (by an administrator) from a tape copy for up to 18-months. Be aware if a file is on the system for less than 24 hours and is deleted it may not have had a chance to be backed up and in most cases will not be recoverable if deleted.
• This is the primary location of all UQDI data. As there is significant capacity there should be no excuse for storing important data on USB drives, local computers/laptops or other places that are not backed up.

Tips for usage

• Moving files: To move files from one folder to another it is best to Copy (Control-C) and Paste (Control-V) the data to the new location and then delete the original copy.  This ensures that if the copy fails part way you can retry without having to work out which files were copied and which were not. It also makes sure that the copied files inherit the security permissions of the destination folder.
• Files no longer accessible? As some group structures and hierarchies have changed you may find that you no longer have access to another group’s folder or data as you once did.  This has been done make sure people only have access to files they actually need.  If you need data moved to your area the quickest way is to get someone to move the data to the top-level shared area for your program and then to copy this data into your own group folder. Use the same procedure as above for the copy process
• Sharing data between groups in a Program:  Each Program has a shared folder, data copied to this folder is accessible by all users in that Program.  If there are specific files for a project that need to be restricted between a subset of groups within a program, please log a ticket  with UQDI IT who can create a specific folder in this shared area with a related security group.
• Rarely accessed files: It there are files that you rarely use or could be classified as archival data it is best to ZIP these files or folders up when storing them on the T: drive.  This helps to maintain performance of the file server as well as keeping your group folder easier to manage.

How to access

• The TRI-DMF file server is a TRI system and you will need to use your TRI username and password to access it.
• Run the TRI Credential Manager application, available in the 'DI IT Support' folder on your Desktop, to save your TRI credentials on each workstation you use. These credentials will automatically be used to map the T drive to the TRI-DMF file server the next time you login.
• Instruments and computers on the TRI domain (those where you use a TRI username and password to login) will map the T drive automatically.
• To access the drive from a personal computer you must first connect to UQ's VPN then access the following location: \\tri-dmf.int.tri.edu.au\data. Your username must be in the format: <triusername>@int.tri.edu.au, for example tjblow@int.tri.edu.au. Further details are available here.

Mac OSX

• There is a script called TRI-DMF_Mapping_Mac_OSX.app and a shortcut available here: smb://tri-dmf.int.tri.edu.au/data/uqdi/All Staff/_IT Resources
• The script will prompt for your TRI username & password, enter these and remember to tick the save to keychain option.  This script will also add it to the login items for your account so it should be there every time you login
• To connect manually open Finder, Select Go -> Connect to Server, enter smb://tri-dmf.int.tri.edu.au/data , click Connect, when prompted enter your TRI credentials in the format <triusername>@int.tri.edu.au, for example tjblow@int.tri.edu.au, and tick Save to keychain 
• To make sure this connects every time you start-up go to System Preferences, select your account and in the right-side select Login Items, select (+) and then in the window select the tri-dmf.int.tri.edu.au server, then select the data sub-folder and click Add

Linux

• Connect to: smb://tri-dmf.int.tri.edu.au/data

• Use your TRI credentials when prompted in the format:

  Username: triusername Domain: TRIAD Password: tripassword

Windows personal computers (non-UQDI)

• Open My Computer, select Computer and then select Map Network Drive, specify T for the drive letter, for the folder enter \\tri-dmf.int.tri.edu.au\data
• Tick Reconnect at Logon and Connect Using Different Credentials
• When prompted enter the username in the format <triusername>@int.tri.edu.au, for example tjblow@int.tri.edu.au

Data structure

• The share location that the T drive maps to is \\tri-dmf.int.tri.edu.au\data and the top level has all the partner folders under it such as UQDI, QUT, Mater Research etc
      Note: you may or may not see a UQ folder. This folder is redundant as it leads back to the uqdi and uqhs folders
•  In addition the TRI_Services folder will contain shared areas for use by TRI core facilities such as Flow Cytometry, HPC, Microscopy etc.

UQDI Level

•  The  uqdi folder is organised around Research Programs, Support Services and Other Groups
• Other Groups, is the location of miscellaneous groups that do not belong to a program such as Coridon, ARVEC, UQCCG etc.
• _Collaborations is for collaborating with other TRI Partners. Each partner should have a _Collaborations folder in their folder where shared project folders can be created. For joint projects the shared folder should be located within the _Collaborations directory of the principal investigator’s organisation.

Program Level

• Permissions have been simplified and all Groups that are members of a program will have access to the Shared area under each program. If you need to share information between groups in a program this is where to keep it:

Group Level

Each group has a single group folder. Under this folder you may have also have some special folders:

• _RAW, this is where your raw data is stored.
• _Clinical Data, if your group has patient/clinical data this is the place to store it. Access to these folders will be restricted only to group members that require it .
• _Mediaflux – Your Mediaflux data will be migrated here when the MediaFlux system is decommissioned in 2014.