Click on the FAQs below for answers. If you have a question not answered here, please submit it to the technology helpdesk (helpdesk@middlebury.edu or 802-443-2200).
What is happening?
We are moving the contents of 16 individual servers that are part of a DFS cluster into a new single Windows server named "middfiles".
Will this effect me?
The data transfer from our current MiddFiles to the new one will require two days to complete. During this time period, files will be available in a read-only state. After the transfer is complete, you may need to make adjustments to how you access your files
Why is LIS doing this?
The new server will be accessed in the same general way by Windows computers, and will be much simpler and faster to access from Macs. (Current access to MiddFiles from Macintosh operating systems requires aliases created especially for different versions of the Mac OS – these aliases are workarounds that have failed at times. Further, performance improvements for Mac OS file copies of up to 6 times current speeds have been recorded in our testing (while not typical of all systems, all tests yielded equal or better results than with our current system)). There will also be better redundancy of this data in case of server failure.
When will all this happen?
Beginning at 8:00 PM EST on Friday, January 28th and through Sunday, January 30th this transition will take place.
What file storage servers are effected?
The current DFS cluster that we refer to as "middfiles". This includes 14 different servers that host all ‘classes’, ‘Committees’, ‘CurricularResources’, ‘home’ (formerly ‘Tigercat’), ‘orgs’, ‘Software’, ‘SpecialProjects’, & ‘StudentOrgs’ folders and their contents.
What will happen Friday, January 28th? Monday, January 31st?
MiddFiles will be read-only Friday evening through Sunday. College-owned Windows computers (bound to "middlebury.edu" domain) will be updated when they are turned on Monday morning, and so mapped drives to MiddFiles should be available as usual. Reboot your computer if you do not see those network drives on your computer and have had them in the past. Macintosh computers and personally-owned Windows computers will need to change their drive mappings to get to MiddFiles. NetStorage (web access to MiddFiles) will remain unchanged.
How will this effect Mac users?
Much simpler (and in some cases much faster) access from Macs. When the transition is complete, the address to access MiddFiles will be “afp://middfiles.middlebury.edu/middfiles”. Complete instructions for accessing MiddFiles from a Macintosh can be found at https://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/wiki/LIS/Using_File_Servers_-_Macintosh#Connecting_to_a_File_Server_Using_a_Macintosh_Computer
How will this effect Windows users?
The vast majority of Windows computers distributed by LIS will not be affected in any way (the transition will be seamless). If you have a personally owned computer that you use to access middfiles you will need to disconnect the drives that you have mapped to the current servers and connect to the new middfiles cluster. Personally owned computers may connect to the new Middfiles at \\middfiles.middlebury.edu\middfiles\
Will Web access to MiddFiles be effected? (NetStorage)
No.
Will e-mail or other services be effected at the same time?
No.
Does it matter if I am off campus when this happens?
Yes, but only if you have a college-owned Windows computer. In that case, the new drive mappings will not update until you start the computer while here on campus with a wired connection. If you have existing shortcuts to MiddFiles that you use while off campus, right-click them and get properties; they may point to \\middlebury.edu\middfiles -- if so, please update them to middfiles.middlebury.edu\middfiles.
Will folder security and file permissions also be transferred?
Yes.
What will happen to my desktop shortcuts and other drive mappings? Will I have to re-map all of my drives?
Please see "How will this affect Windows users?"
What about the computer labs and classrooms?
Windows labs will automatically connect to the new middfiles. LIS will need to do a few very minor changes to Mac labs.
KNOWN ISSUES
Files saved to the new middfiles must conform to stricter naming conventions than previously required. This is to assure better compatibility now and into the future. Here is a simple and safe rule of thumb for naming files and folders: Use letters, numbers, hyphens, underscores and spaces in names. (The "dot" between a filename and its extension is an exception.) Do NOT add a space at the beginning or end of a filename. Note that this stricter naming convention does not prevent access to existing files and folders that do not conform to these rules, if they are accessible in the existing DFS system.
Old shortcuts and aliases pointing to your preferred folders on middfiles will no longer work. Please recreate these as desired.