Logging In

How do I get an SBC login? Usually an investigator or staff member requests a login for new students, staff or associate investigators. Those requesting a login should contact SBC Help, and provide the new partipant's name, email address and phone number. If you have an active login, your name will show up on SBC's People page.

How do I get to data on the server?
1. See Fileserver Access.
2. From a desktop computer located at UCSB, you can "map a drive", which allows you to see the central data server as if it were a drive on your UCSB desktop.
Go to Windows Instructions.
Go to Macintosh Instructions.
3. From off campus, the simplest way is to use a browser, and start at SBC's Data Page or see #1 above for other methods.

I've followed the instructions for Windows, but that little box keeps popping up asking for my password. What's wrong?
1. The process by which the server identifies you as an SBC member is called "authentication" and your desktop computer has cached authentication information from the last time you connected. If the data server has been updated since then, the information requested by the server will not match what is stored on your computer. You may need to reboot your local machine to erase the cache, and then map the drive again.
2. Sometimes even if you've followed the instructions to reboot and remap, the dialog box will still pop up multiple times. Currently, our password file is stored on a different computer from the data server, and these 2 computers have different architectures, which interferes with authentication. It could take 4 or 5 tries to get in. During 2008 we will be retiring the computer holding the passwords, and this headache will be history.

I have a PISCO (or MCR) login. Do I need another one for SBC?
No. People on any of these projects can access any of the servers. However, you will need to map a separate drive to each, or use a different URL. See each project's help page for the name of their data server. SBC Help can also find out the names of the other data servers.

Finding Stuff

I need help finding my way around the directories.
1. see the internal guide: HERE.
2. Your group is the best source for information on any recent changes to the directories.
3. Ask the data manager: EMAIL.

Sharing Data

I need to share files with some other people, but they dont have permission to edit a file that I wrote.
We use 'groups' to control who has permission to read and write files. Generally, anyone with a login can read or download a file, but only certain responsible individuals can alter them. Shared directory systems simplify access for groups of collaborators, but that convenience comes at a cost: the users need to know a little bit about the system's structure. Here's how it works:

Although a directory is group-writeable and you are in that group, the owner still has ultimate control over the permissions settings on each file (or subdirectory) that s/he creates. Most of the directories in the "internal folder" are set up so that new files are writeable by a group. Sometimes the settings on your desktop computer override these. However, the file's owner can always change these settings manually. To see the owner of a file, in Windows XP choose the "Details" View. Then right-click the header area and click "Owner".

If you are not one of the priviledged few allowed to write to a directory but feel you should be, contact your data manager.

To edit the permission settings on any file or directory through a mapped drive (Windows XP):
right-click the file -> Properties -> Security
At the top of the dialog box is a list of users and group names (the owner, the group, and "Everyone").
check the boxes to allow the permissions you need. Usually highlighting the group, and checking "write" is what you'll need to do. If you don't own the file, you wont be able to change its permission settings.
If you are using the command line in ssh (you know who you are): chmod g+w filename

Your other option is to ask your IM (SBC Help) to change the permissions for you - which of course, is no problem (the PISCO and MCR IMs can do this too). However it usually works out that you don't know there is a problem untill access is urgent. If an IM is unavailable, you'll be less frustrated if you know the process yourself. If it turns out that there is a directory in which everything always must be group writeable, then contact the IM about resetting the permissions there on a regular basis.

By the way: The default setting on most fileservers is that a file can be edited only by its owner. This is mainly so that the files you create in your home directory are yours alone. This can be valuable in the group-owned directories, as well. Often only one person is responsible for all the data in a file, and so others shouldn't have any edit privileges. The downside is that when you create a directory, no one else will be allowed automatically to write to it. But as the owner, you can change the permissions. If you need to transfer ownership of a file, contact your IM.

LTER Network Office

Do I have a login at the LTER Network Office?
Your IM should have created an account at the Network office when your account at SBC was created, and sent you login instructions. If you're still not sure, you can look yourself (or anyone) up in the Network database by going to http://lternet.edu and clicking "Personnel Database". You can edit your information at the LNO by clicking "Intranet" on the same page, and then logging in. Remember that your login-password at LNO will probably not match your login at SBC -- these are 2 separate accounts. Your IM (SBC Help) can update your info at the network office if you wish, as well control your membership in certain (but not all) mail lists.