Self-managed backups for Linux & MacOS
Linux (and MacOS) installation
Please note, with the introduction of TiBS 3, we can now back up all versions of macOS once again.
Note that these Linux instructions also apply to MacOS.
Informatics blog service
Informatics runs the deprecated blogging service at blog.inf.ed.ac.uk.
No new blogs
With the arrival of the University's centrally provided blogging service, blogs.ed.ac.uk, no new blogs are being created on the Informatics service. Users should use central service for new blogs.
Existing blogs on blog.inf will continue for now, but we envisage people being encouraged to migrate to the central service.
Backups and mirrors
We backup and mirror all DICE user home directories and most DICE group space. We can also do the same for self-managed machines.
Mirrors
"Mirrors" are copies of data taken and stored on disk in an off-site location (not in the same part of town). Mirrors are normally made each night. They're quick to access but they only hold your data as it was yesterday (rather than, say, last week).
AFS for Debian / Ubuntu
This page describes steps to get connectivity with DICE AFS on a non-DICE Debian (or derivative, e.g. Ubuntu) system.
Super-quick Summary
This should work for most Debian >=10 and Ubuntu >=18.04 machines. It was last tested with Ubuntu 22.04.
Run the following commands in a terminal. You might be prompted for some of the following:
AFS for macOS
Important! If you are running a version of the AFS client older than 0.195, we strongly recommend that you update to the latest version of the client from auristor.com as this fixes several critical long-term bugs.
Group Space
Group space
There are three main reasons to use group space:
- To store large amounts of data that's not appropriate store in your home directory.
- A shared area where several people can collaborate on the files contained within the area.
- If you are working on something that may be worked on by someone else after you leave/move on to another project.
Kerberos for Windows
| Please note that, instead of following the instructions below, we now STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you use the version of Kerberos which comes as part of the Auristor OpenAFS client and follow the procedure detailed in AFS for Windows to obtain Kerberos credentials and (optionally) AFS tokens. |
Web presence options
If you are a member of staff or a researcher, and you need a new web presence
for a project or collaboration, you have several options. Each has its pros and cons.
In rough order of simplicity, but with less control, to the most control but also most effort for you, we have:
Passwords
Now on the Informatics Computing Hub (University users only).
Printing Questions
This page answers some questions about printing. If your question has not been answered here, please check the Support FAQ.