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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Computer and Network Resource Group

Resources

File Server Access

Connecting to the IGB or Core File Server

The IGB file server is a storage solution that allows users to store files for different IGB themes, groups, and users. The Core file server is a temporary storage solution for data generated by the Core facility instruments. By using the file server, you are agreeing to follow the IGB file server policy. Please email help@igb.illinois.edu if you have any questions or would like assistance connecting to the file server.

 You will need to enter the following to access the file servers:

  • Hostname: file-server.igb.illinois.edu | core-server.igb.illinois.edu
  • Username: NetID
  • Password: IGB password

Forgot your IGB password? | Need an IGB account? | Need Core access?

Traditional Connection (SMB)

  • This is an easy way to connect when you are connected to the IllinoisNet campus network.
  • If you are not on campus, you will need to connect to IllinoisNet through Cisco VPN.

Connect from Windows

  • Type "\\file-server.igb.illinois.edu" or "\\core-server.igb.illinois.edu" in the search bar and hit enter.
  • Enter your Username in the Windows Security popup window as "IGB\[Your NetID]" and your IGB password, then select "Remember my credentials" and click "OK".
    • You will then see three different network folders for the IGB file server: groups, themes, and users

Connect from macOS

  • From the Finder click "Go" on the menu bar > "Connect to Server" > enter "smb://file-server.igb.illinois.edu" or "smb://core-server.igb.illinois.edu" as the server address, then click "Connect".
  • Enter your NetID and IGB password.
  • Select the folder you would like to connect to from the drop down list and click "OK".

STFP Protocol

  • The SFTP protocol will allow users to connect to the IGB file server on/off campus without needing to connect through Cisco VPN.
  • Rsync will not work on the file server through SFTP as this requires SHELL access which is a security risk.

WinSCP

  • Download and install WinSCP.
  • Run WinSCP and enter "file-server.igb.illinois.edu" or "core-server.igb.illinois.edu" as the host name, then enter your NetID and IGB password and click "Login".
  • You will see your local drive on the left side of the window. On the right will be your personal home folder on the file server.
  • You can navigate to the themes and groups folders by selecting the dropdown list with your NetID, then select "/directory" and navigate to "/file-server".

Cyberduck

  • Download and install Cyberduck.
  • Run Cyberduck and click "Open Connection"
  • Select "SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol)" from the dropdown menu.
  • Enter "file-server.igb.illinois.edu" or "core-server.igb.illinois.edu" in the "Server:" field and enter your NetID and IGB password, then click "Connect".
  • You will now be able to access your files in the file server.

Public HTML on IGB File Server

  • Each user is allowed to create a public_html folder in their home folder to serve simple web pages.
  • Only HTML pages are allowed. PHP, Python, Perl CGI, or other more advanced web page formats are not allowed.
  • The web address will appear as: https://file-server.igb.illinois.edu/~NetID
  • Contact help@igb.illinois.edu if you would like to have this set up.

Scan Documents to IGB File Server

  • Scan documents from the various scanners in the building can be sent directly to your dropbox folder in your personal home folder in the file server.
  • Click here for more information on how to use the network scanners.

Transferring to Biocluster from Core Server

  • The Core server is mounted on the biologin nodes at /private-stores/core-server.
  • It is read only, meaning you can only transfer data from the core-server other to Biocluster. You cannot transfer any data from Biocluster to the Core server.

Backups

The IGB file server has 2 separate backup systems. The first system creates 10 days worth of daily snapshots of the filesystem each evening. A user is able to go back to a snapshot and copy the data back to its original location in case of accidental deletion. The second system backs up the file server every night and is stored for years on tapes at an offsite location. If you need data restored after 10 days, please contact CNRG at help@igb.illinois.edu to restore the data.

The Core file server only has one backup system which creates 10 days worth of daily snapshots. Like the IGB file server, a user is able to go back to a snapshot and copy the data back to its original location in case of accidental deletion. There is no longterm backup of data on the Core file server due to data size.

Restoring Data Using Snapshots on Windows

  • Right click the folder where the file is missing on the file server and select "Properties". Click the "Previous Versions" tab and you will see a list of snapshots of the selected folder.
  • Open the snapshot you want, then copy them back to their original location.

Restoring Data Using Snapshots on macOS or SFTP

  • Navigate to the SNAPSHOT folder in the Themes, Groups, or Users folders.
  • Select the date you would like to restore from.
  • Locate the files you want to restore, then copy them back to their original location.