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What is cFile?

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New things are coming to the Division of Social Sciences this spring and summer!

Get ready to “Go, Connect” to a new “Network Place”

A new computer file server is coming to Social Sciences. Called "cFile" this new server will replace the division’s existing servers (Barter, Debate, Mind, Plebe, and ZZYX).

cFile Server

BACKGROUND

The division has five, seven-year old, servers that support its instruction, research, and administrative needs. While these servers provide essential file storage and support some backup/restore services, they are not capable of satisfying the current and anticipated future needs of the division. Given their age and condition, they are at risk of failure, with the resulting loss of data and productivity. This places the work of the division at risk due to human error, hardware failure, or other disaster.

To remedy this situation, the division, working with ITS Core Technologies for more than 18 months, has developed a replacement system, cFile, that will satisfy the division’s current data storage and backup/restore needs, and that can grow to meet its anticipated future needs.

BENEFITS

cFile will provide the following benefits:
  • Implementation of a consistent, simple, and reliable backup system
  • Increased data storage capacity
  • Improved ability of the system to grow to meet future needs
  • Improved redundancy and system reliability
  • Secure location in the campus data center
Like the old servers, cFile will allow you to save your files so that they are backed up, and can be accessed from anywhere, including off-campus. cFile supports Macs and PCs equally well, and is optimized for the storing, sharing, backing up and restoring of your files. cFile has its own rigorous and proven backup plan that will keep your vital data safe.

Currently, the division has access to 750 gigabytes of usable storage, distributed across the five servers (which are distributed around campus), with each server having its own backup system. cFile provides the division access to 10 terabytes of usable storage (equivalent to 100 hard drives of 100 gigabytes each), is designed to be expandable to 20 terabytes of usable storage, consists of five computers working together as one with its own dedicated backup system.

ROLLOUT

If you have an account on any of the division’s existing file servers, we will work with you to ensure the smooth migration of your account and data to cFile. We will move your data for you, as well as issue you a User ID (in most cases it will be the same as the one you use now) and a new password. At the time you begin to use cFile, your existing Barter, Debate, Mind, Plebe, or ZZYX account will be disabled so that there is no confusion over where your data resides. To minimize impacts of the migration, and to ensure things go smoothly, we will move one or two servers at a time, beginning this spring and extending into the summer.

Prior to the migration of your account, you will be sent an envelope with your new User ID and password. At the end of the migration of the server, we will do a final synchronization of your files and disable your old account. From that point forward, you will use cfile.ucsc.edu instead of Barter, Debate, Mind, Plebe, or ZZYX.

No interruption to your service is expected. Your data on the division’s old servers will be synchronized at the time of the migration, so your files will be right where you expect them to be. cFile will have all of your old Projects and home directories.

What cFile will not have is web pages. Web pages hosted on Barter, Debate, Mind, Plebe, or ZZYX are being moved to the main campus web server by Angela Steele of ITS Applications Solutions. If you have any questions about a web page, please contact Angela Steele (459-1652 or arossi@ucsc.edu).

cFile also does not provide Unix terminal access. If you have questions about your options for Unix terminal access, please call one of the contacts listed.

FURTHER DOCUMENTATION

Macintosh Directions (PDF)

PC Directions (PDF)

For off campus access with a windows PCs (PDF)

Storage and backup of your work files for off aampus access using SSH Secure Shell SFTP (PDF)

Change your cFile Password

CONTACTS

For more information, please contact:

Dave Carlson (459-3183 or davec@ucsc.edu)
Mike Edmonds (459-3165 or medmonds@ucsc.edu)
Paul Sosbee (459-4652 or paul@ucsc.edu)