CSL: AFS FAQ

Department machines now run OpenAFS software, which enables users to access AFS cells anywhere in the world. In particular, CS users can access their Duke ACPUB accounts and transfer files between the two without relying on FTP or similar protocols.

OpenAFS software has been installed on many of the desktop machines within the department, but since it requires a reboot of the machine to activate, not all machines currently have this enabled. If you are not sure your desktop machine supports the AFS protocol or would like to activate the AFS software on your machine, please contact the Lab Staff. The login servers all have the AFS software installed, and can be used instead of your desktop machine.

When the AFS software is installed, the AFS cells are automounted under the root-level /afs directory. Note: listing the contents of the /afs is a painfully slow process and is not recommended; it is much better to start your listing in the AFS cell you are looking for, /afs/[AFS Cell of Interest] for example. The Duke ACPUB cell is autmounted under /afs/acpub.duke.edu; a listing it's contents looks as follows: 

     user@login>% ls /afs/acpub.duke.edu
     adm/           pmax_ul43/     sun4u_55@      users12/       users20/
     backup/        pmax_ul43a/    sun4x_55@      users13/       users5/
     classes/       pmax_ul44/     sun4x_56/      users14/       users6/
     dist/          project/       sun4x_58/      users15/       users7/
     duac/          share/         system/        users16/       users8/
     graphics/      sun4m_412/     users/         users17/       users9/
     i386_linux24/  sun4m_53/      users10/       users18/
     pkg/           sun4m_55/      users11/       users19/

Individual ACPUB home directories can be accessed under a scheme based on the first two letters of your Duke NetID (your ACPUB user account login). All user files are located underneath the starting directory, /afs/acpub.duke.edu/users, and can be located as illustrated here: 

/afs/acpub.duke.edu/users/[1st letter of NetID]/[2nd letter of NetID]/[NetID]

If your ACPUB NetID is abc1 the directory would be located at 

/afs/acpub.duke.edu/users/a/b/abc1

The ACPUB home directories are backed up by OIT, and the previous-day backups are available online. Using the example above, the user abc1 would find her most recent backup under: 

	/afs/acpub.duke.edu/backup/users/a/b/abc1

In order to get full access to your ACPUB files, you will need to authenticate with the ACPUB Kerberos server; this is done using the klog command 

	user@login>% klog [NetID]
	Password:

Successfully entering your ACPUB password will give you the ability to read and write all files within your ACPUB account.