Network Storage

What is Network Storage?

Network storage can be one of two things.  It can be an extension of your own computer and the primary location for your important files, accessible to you whenever you are on the Internet. Or it can be a location for periodic backups of your files. If you use network storage as the primary location for your important files, it becomes an automatic backup system. If you use your computer hard drive as the primary location for your important files (and network storage as a location for periodic backups), then you need to purposefully copy files from your computer hard drive to your network storage space on a regular (weekly or daily) basis.

All faculty and staff in Weinberg have network storage space, separated into individual work space and collaborative work space. Individual work space quotas are 20 GB per faculty member and 5 GB per staff member. Quotas for collaborative space are at least 20 GB, depending on the needs of the research group or department. Individual work space cannot be shared – use it for your e-mail backups and your personal work files. Collaborative space can be shared across any group of NUIT NetIDs – use it for research data and shared documents.

Graduate students have 1 GB of individual network storage space for their research. Undergraduate students who are paid for work in Weinberg may be given access to collaborative work space during the quarter(s) in which they are being paid.

All individual and collaborative space is backed up nightly.

How to Access Your Network Storage

For instructions on how to access your network storage see http://www.wcas.northwestern.edu/weinbergit/network_storage2.html.

Using Network Storage to Back Up Northwestern E-mail

If you use Northwestern e-mail (centrally hosted by NUIT), you probably have your Inbox and other e-mail stored on your computer hard drive, most likely without being backed up. We strongly urge you to copy your e-mail files from your computer hard drive to your WeinbergIT network storage space, and we will be happy to assist you. This process is not automated; you need to set up a reminder for yourself so that you copy your e-mail files on a regular (weekly or daily) basis.

Features of Weinberg IT Network Storage:

• Backups – If you use network storage as an extension of your own computer and the primary location of your important files, the files are automatically backed up. The network storage is located on a set of redundant file servers, backed up nightly to tapes, and the tapes are stored for three months off site. On the other hand, if you store your files on your computer hard drive and use the network storage space as a location for periodic backups, you must set up a regular schedule (daily or weekly) for yourself to copy the files from your computer hard drive to your network storage space.  Please see WeinbergIT recommendations for backups.

• Restore Data from Backups - If you need a file restored from backups, enter a WeinbergIT service request. Usually this process is very fast, but it can take a few days if you are looking for a version of a file that is fairly old.

• Security – Network storage is divided into individual work space, accessible only by the owner of the space, protected by the NUIT NetID and password, and collaborative or group work space, configured to allow access to any group of NU NetIDs specified by the owner of the group space.

• Cross-Platform Compatibility – This storage is accessible from Windows, MacOS, and Linux/Unix computers. It is accessible on campus or off campus, with mapped drives, through the NUIT VPN .

• Purchase of additional space – Additional storage space, above the standard allocation, may be purchased for $5 per GB per year.

For further information or assistance, please enter a WeinbergIT Service Request. A WeinbergIT technical support consultant will be happy to help you by phone or in person.