Computing & Information Services

AFS at Reed

AFS (Andrew File System, named after Andrew Carnegie and Andrew Mellon) is a network file system developed at Carnegie Mellon University. Beginning fall 2008, AFS will be offered as a replacement to Reed's current academic file servers (Home, Courses, Faculty, Staff, and Griffin Exchange). By the end of the 2008-2009 academic year, all of Reed's academic files servers will be moved to AFS.

Note: Administrative offices that need to store and share sensitive or confidential college data, should NOT use AFS. ACS has other secure methods for sharing this type of data. Contact ACS (x7600) for more information.

What is AFS replacing?

AFS is replacing the current academic file servers at Reed, including the Home server, Courses server, Faculty server, Staff server, and Griffin Exchange.

Beginning Fall Break 2008, users will be able to move their Home server to AFS. Over Winter Break, all other academic servers will be moved to AFS (Courses, Faculty, Staff, and Griffin Exchange). During the spring semester, all remaining users will need to move their Home server to AFS. See the complete timeline below.

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When should you use AFS?

Personal storage
All current community members have their own Home folder in AFS. This is a place to store your personal files on the network, including files for your personal web page (ie, http://people.reed.edu/~<username>). The default quota for your Home folder is 1GB. Files in your Home folder are backed up nightly.

Sharing files with ad hoc users and groups
If you need to share files with individuals or a group of users, you can easily create shared folders within your Home folder and give them access.

Course materials
Faculty who need to share course-specific materials and handouts with their students can use the Courses folder in AFS (starting in the spring semster). Membership to course folders will be setup and maintained by CIS.

Departments, and other organizations and committees
File sharing for departments and other organizations and committees can use AFS (starting in the spring semester). Membership to such folders will be setup and maintained by CIS.

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When NOT to use AFS?

More than file sharing
AFS is used to store and share files. If you need more than simple file sharing, such as an online learning community for a particular course, organization or committee, Moodle may be a better solution. Moodle is Reed's Learning Management System and can provide interactive resources such as wikis, forums, and much more.

Sensitive and confidential data
In particular, administrative offices that need to store and share sensitive or confidential college data, should NOT use AFS. ACS has other secure methods for sharing this type of data. Contact ACS (x7600) for more information.

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Advantages of AFS

Benefits of AFS include: 

  • Access and upload files from any computer with a supported web browser
  • Increased quotas (1GB for Home)
  • Easy, self-service tools for sharing files with individual users and groups
  • Ability to work directly off the network (recommended for Ethernet connections only)
  • Access from on and off campus
  • Expanded language support

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Migration Timeline

Migrating the academic files servers (Home, Courses, Faculty, Staff, and Griffin Exchange) will occur in several phases:

  • Fall 2008: Community members have the option to migrate their existing Home server to AFS and start using AFS for personal storage.
  • Winter break: Community servers (Courses, Faculty, Staff and Griffin Exchange) will move to AFS. Access to these servers will be via AFS.
  • Spring 2009: Home servers for all community members (except seniors*) will be moved to AFS. To access your personal Home folder, you must use AFS.

*Note: Thesising seniors will have the option to keep their exisiting Home server instead of moving to AFS for one semester.

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Migration Process

We highly recommend you migrate your old Home server before starting to use AFS, even if you are not currently storing any files on your Home server. The migration process is quick and easy, and copies files from your old Home server to your new AFS Home folder while also ensuring that you will be able to quickly and easily connect to your AFS space from computer labs around campus.

For more information and to start the process, please refer to our migration instructions. Note: You can start the migration process from on or off campus.

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Accessing AFS

There are two ways to access AFS:

  • Accessing AFS with a web browser
    • Provides quick access from any computer with a supported web browser.
    • Convenient to use during travel or when away from your computer.
    • Allows easy setup of shared folders in your Home folder.
  • Accessing AFS with the native client (for Mac and Windows)
    • Provides seamless access to your files, just as you work with local files stored on your own computer.
    • Provides access both on and off campus.
    • Provides the ability to edit files directly on the server (recommended for Ethernet connections only).

To see AFS in action, view our video tutorials.

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FAQs

If you have questions about AFS, please check our list of FAQs.

If you have other questions or concerns about AFS, please contact CUS at x7525 or cus@reed.edu.