Materials Fileserver

The Department of Materials provides central file storage for all individual members of Department. The system is designed to be secure, backed-up and resilient against hardware failures.

The fileserver is typically used as:

• secure storage of important files (disk capacity is not sufficient to store all data files for everyone!)
• group shared storage areas (e.g. sharing between group members)
• transient storage for file transfers (e.g. data acquisition pc -> fileserver -> user desktop/laptop )
• support for department facilities (e.g. teaching laboratory, lecture rooms and meeting rooms, etc.)
• support for departmental administrative computers

When logging into a departmental machine you will likely get any folders you have access to mapped automatically, if you feel there are others that you should be seeing that are not appearing please get in touch with the IT Team (itsupport@materials.ox.ac.uk)

There are several methods for connecting to the fileserver using Windows File-sharing. Note that the department firewall blocks in-coming Windows File-sharing connections so the following methods will only work when connected to the Department's wired network. Also note, browsing via Network Neighbourhood will not work.

Typically if you log into a departmental machine using your Oxford SSO you automatically get the necessary drives mapped, however if you need to manually map any shares you can find guidance below to do this:

i) From a command window:

To open a command prompt on Windows goto: All programs - Accessories - Command Prompt or got to 'Run' and type 'cmd' in the box that pops up and then in the command prompt window enter the following:

net use * \\materials.ox.ac.uk\shares\<share name>

If you get prompted for a username you will need to use <SSO>@OX.AC.UK. If it doesn't acceot your password please be in touch with IT as there is a small configuration modification we would need to make.

ii) From the Run command (Ctrl R):

Enter:

\\materials.ox.ac.uk\shares\<share name> 

If you get prompted for a username you will need to use <SSO>@OX.AC.UK. If it doesn't acceot your password please be in touch with IT as there is a small configuration modification we would need to make.

iii) In windows Explorer under Tools, Map Network Drive:

Enter:

\\materials.ox.ac.uk\shares\<share name> 

If you get prompted for a username you will need to use <SSO>@OX.AC.UK. If it doesn't acceot your password please be in touch with IT as there is a small configuration modification we would need to make.

Mac computer can connect to the department fileserver using windows file-sharing when on the department network. Mac users should use “Connect to Server” under the Go menu.

In the prompt that appears enter: smb://materials.ox.ac.uk/shares/<share name> and your <SSO>@OX.AC.UK

Contact itsupport@materials.ox.ac.uk if you need to be given access to shared group storage.

There are currently two group containers (called GROUP1 and GROUP2) each of which contain lots of different group shared storage areas. You will only see listed the group shared storage areas that you can access.

A group shared storage area contains folders for each group member plus a folder called “Shared”. All group members have read/write access to “Shared” and read/write access to their own personal folders, however group members only have read access to the folders of the other group members.

Below shows examples of accessing files as account “username” which also has access to a group shared storage area called “teststandard” which is in the GROUP1 container. The account “username” can only read files stored in the “teststaff” and “testret” folders which are owned by those respective users.

Example of accessing shared group storage via Windows File-sharing line command:

Any requests for more disk space should be directed to itsupport@materials.ox.ac.uk. The default disk space allocated to new users is dependent on university status and is shown below. Users can requests more disk space (Level2) by contacting IT staff. If further space is required a levy may be charged, essentially to pay for the extra hard disks that would be required.

Also, if a shared group area is required this can also be supplied, again a cost may be incurred. Please contact IT Support if this required.

Contact the Materials IT Support Team (Paul Warren/Tasueef Ansari/Chris Akinola).

We can be reached by email (itsupport@materials.ox.ac.uk) or called on Microsoft Teams.