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Getting Started with OpenAFS for Windows at RAL

Important note for CMS users:

The CMS data area is NOT BACKED UP by the eScience department

1. If it's not already installed, you need to install OpenAFS.

- go to http://www.openafs.org/ ,

- click "Download Latest Release" (top right)

- choose "Windows 2000/XP/2003"

- download the "OpenAFSforWindows-x-x-x.exe" file (where "x-x-x" is the current version)

2. Run the exe file to install the program

I've no idea what most of the options do, so I left them on their defaults; except for:

- 5th screen - change the AFS cell name to "rl.ac.uk"

3. Reboot

4. Initial setup:

- From the start menu, choose Programs>OpenAFS>Client>Authentication.

(Notice that a padlock icon appears in the taskbar when the AFS service starts)

- in the AFS Client window, choose "Advanced"

- ensure that the cell name is "rl.ac.uk"

- ensure that "Obtain AFS tokens when logging into Windows" is checked (assuming you don't want to have to enter the password every time)

- ensure that "Show the AFS client icon in the taskbar" is checked (if you want)

- click "OK"

5. To map an AFS network drive:

- In the AFS Client window, choose "Drive Letters"

- Click the "Add..." button

- in the dialog box:

- choose a drive letter:
(N.B. the list presented should only include available drive letters but it occasionally gets it wrong. Use "My Computer" to ensure that the letter chosen is actually available!)

-in the AFS path box: type the path you've been given (eg afs\rl.ac.uk\user\f\fred)

- in the Submount box: type the name for the network drive (eg. MyAFSDrive)

- click "OK" - the drive should mount

- click on the "Tokens" tab and then back on the "Drive Letters" tab. The drive should have appeared in the list

6. AFS drive Commands, Properties, and Administration

If you right-click on an AFS file, folder, or drive, you will notice an "AFS" submenu, containing a number of AFS commands. The most useful of these is probably the "Access Control Lists..." which works like the Windows "Permissions" dialog.

You can also issue AFS commands via the standard Windows Command Prompt. (Start>Programs>Accessories>Command Prompt)

- for example, if your drive is mapped to F:, you can query the permissions by typing fs listacl F:

A full list of commands is available in the OpenAFS documentation (Start>Programs>OpenAFS>Documentation)

7. Change Password

to change your password,

- open a Windows Command Prompt (Start>Programs>Accessories>Command Prompt)

- type kpasswd

- type your old password

- type your new password

8. Getting Help

There are two help sections:

i) for general help on AFS, choose Start>Programs>OpenAFS>Documentation

ii) for specific help on the AFS client, click the help button in the AFS client window

iii) help from the e-science team: see http://www.e-science.clrc.ac.uk/web/services/afs