File Shares for Faculty and Staff

There are significant advantages in using file shares instead of only storing files on your computer's hard disk:

• Files and documents stored on servers can be easily accessed from any ASU computer and from off-campus computers via SecuRemote or ASU PPP.

• Files and documents stored on servers can be securely shared by members of groups.

• Files and documents stored on IT-supported servers are automatically backed up nightly.

• Files and documents stored on IT-supported servers are available for customer self-restore for 30 days, both for Windows and Apple users, via the network file restore capability.

Personal File Space

If you are employed at ASU's West campus, when you self-subscribe for your ASURITE UserID a process operated by IT automatically creates a directory for your personal ASU-related files and documents on a campus file server. See the "Personal space" entry on the list of available West campus file shares for server address information. Top level directories are by the first letter of ASURITE UserID. Sub-directories are by ASURITE UserID.

You can store up to 250MB in your directory. No one else can access it. It stays intact until 8 months after you leave the West campus or until you request that it be deleted.

If you keep the "originals" of your files and documents in your personal file space, you will not have to worry about backing them up. If you prefer to use your computer's hard drive for "originals", be sure to back them up to your personal file space.

Group or Team Space

If you are an ASU employee at the West campus, you may need space to share files, documents and applications with others in your work group, on your committee, or on your project team. IT will create a directory for your group upon request. See the "Group Space" entry on the list of available West campus file shares for server address information. Your group space will be retained until there is no longer a need for it, as determined through an annual review conducted by IT.

Read and write privileges for group directories are established by the official group representative. Typically, this is the person who requested the space.

Each department and academic unit has a space quota of 50GB for group shares that are managed/owned by the department. Individuals or groups within that department or academic unit do not have a limit to the amount of space they can use within that 50GB. Unit technical support staff can access department quota information to view usage statistics for their department.

Instructors may also share files using instructor and course directories, as appropriate for their classes.