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File Management

  • All users are responsible for their own data. The Digital Media Center does not perform backups of any user data, and we cannot guarantee the integrity of user files. Users should take their own steps to store and backup their data as they feel appropriate.
  • Users may not store any data on the drives of Digital Media Center workstations, except in home directories marked with their JHED ID and reserved partitions as described below. Users may not install application programs of any kind onto any Digital Media Center drive. Users who require a particular application for their work or believe that a particular application should be installed for general use should consult a member of the staff.
  • Each workstation in the Digital Media Center has a "Storage" drive containing home directories for all users who have used the machine. On the Macs, this home directory is synced to our file server at login and logout. This service is provided as a courtesy only and the safety, integrity, and confidentiality of any data copied is in no way guaranteed by the Digital Media Center. Space on our server is not available for long term storage except in the case of special projects (see below). The drive is wiped periodically of user data. Users should not leave important files on our workstations or server without a backup and users who do so are warned that in doing so they place their data at great risk.
  • All workstations in the Digital Media Center are equipped with CD/DVD burners to facilitate backup, transport and storage of user data. Blank media is available for purchase at cost in the Digital Media Center. In addition, all workstations have FireWire (IEEE 1394) ports enabling the connection of FireWire drives, which are widely commercially available. Users with massive diskspace needs are strongly encouraged to purchase such a device. The connection of other peripheral devices for data storage is subject to approval and supervision of the professional staff. In any event, any drivers or other software needed by a user to connect any external device must be installed by a staff member.
  • The Digital Media Center has a limited amount of diskspace available on our server for long term user storage. Users with a significant project which will span multiple work sessions and require large amounts of diskspace may submit an application for usage of a FireWire hard drive for a period of time appropriate to the requirements of their project. Users who avail themselves of this resource are still advised to backup their data regularly, as the Digital Media Center makes no backups of this storage and cannot guarantee the integrity of their files.
  • Users of Digital Media Center disk space are bound at all times by all center and University policies on computer & network usage. A statement of the University's policies may be found at http://www.it.jhu.edu/policies/itpolicies.html. User data discovered to be in violation of these policies will be deleted from the drive in question, and users may face disciplinary action.

Other file saving options include JShare.