Netfiles is a network storage solution for back-up files, file sharing, and general file storage for students, staff, and faculty. It can be used to host personal web pages and other files you want to share with ease. Getting an account is simple and the possibilities with NetFiles are endless, so try it out.

Contents:

• Getting Started with NetFiles
• Installing the Xythos Desktop Client (Windows Users)
• Using Xythos Desktop Client (Windows Users)
• Using Xythos Desktop Client (Macintosh Users)
• Emailing a File
• Hosting Your Personal Web Pages in NetFiles
• Helpful Links

Getting Started with NetFiles

Before you can use NetFiles, you must create a NetFiles account, which can be done from your MyAccount page. Near the bottom of that page, under the section labeled "Other Accounts", click the link named "NetFiles Account Options"

1. Read and follow directions on the page. Press "Submit".
2. You can now access your NetFiles account at by entering http://netfiles.umn.edu in the URL address field of your web browser.
3. For your convenience, you may want to bookmark the NetFiles page. To do this, click on the previous link and go to your browser's bookmark menu and select "Add to Bookmarks" or "Add to Favorites", depending on which browser is your default. If you use the My UMM Portal, you may also want to create a link to NetFiles in your portal. This is done by simply clicking "Enable Editing" on the bottom of your portal page, then under the "My Favorites" section, click "Edit". On the left side will be what you will see for the link on your page once you add it. On the right side is where you will need to type in "netfiles.umn.edu" in the first empty text box. Click "Save" when you are finished.

You may find it helpful to read the NetFiles documentation. The "Getting Started" section contains clear and coherent setup instructions for first time users.

Installing the Xythos Desktop Client (Windows Users)
(Faculty and Staff License Only)

(Mac users - See below)

The Xythos desktop client makes your NetFiles function like a local drive on your computer. It has three features that the web client does not have. The first feature, BackUp, allows you to use your NetFiles as a backup desktop for your computer. The second feature, Offline Files, allows you to make your NetFiles available to you offline by using cache. The third feature, Intellitach, is an alternative to sending large file attachments in emails. Instead, you send a "ticket", which the recipient can click on to download the attachment directly from NetFiles.

Staff and faculty can download the Xythos desktop client on their computers through the following steps. (The desktop client software is not licensed for student use.) Also, you must have a NetFiles account in order to use Desktop Client. To create your NetFiles account, refer to ‘Step 1’ above.

Download the installer. You will need to type in your Internet ID and password for authentication.

1. Enter phone number, email address, and number of licenses needed.
2. The installer will begin to download. Choose a destination for the installer to be placed. It is usually best to save it to the desktop so you know where it is for later deletion.
3. Double-click on the installer you just downloaded (or click "open" in the downloads window).
4. A window will prompt you to select your language. Press "Continue".
5. A window will appear telling you that you are installing the Xythos Desktop Client. Press "Install" to continue.
6. Next, the License Agreement will display. Skim through it and click the box next to words "I accept the terms of the agreement". The box should now have a check mark inside of it. Press "Next >".
7. The installer then wants to know where to install this program. The default setting is usually fine. Press "Next >" to continue with the installation.
8. Confirm the information you typed during step 7. Carefully read the information and check for errors. If everything is correct, click "Next >", otherwise, you can click the "< Back" button to go back to step 7.
9. The install begins. When the installation completes, you will be asked to restart your computer. For Xythos to work, your computer will have to be restarted. Before doing anything else, save any files you have open on your computer, then press "Finish". Your computer should then restart. If it does not, then go to the "Start" menu (bottom left corner of the screen) and click "Shut Down". A window will pop up which gives you the option to "Restart" your computer. Select "Restart". When your computer starts up again, Xythos will be completely installed.

Using Xythos Desktop Client (Windows Users)

Configuring Xythos:
Xythos can either be accessed from the system tray in the bottom right corner of the screen or from the start menu (via the folder called " Xythos Drive "). When you open Xythos Drive , a window will pop up in the center of the screen. Follow these steps.

1. Select the tab labeled "Connect" if it is not selected already.
2. Click on the button called "Service". A drop down menu should appear.
3. From the drop down menu, select "New".
4. Fill in all of the spaces provided. For "Connection Name", type in anything you want because the name is arbitrary. For "Server URL", type in http://netfiles.umn.edu/users/INTERNET ID where INTERNET ID is your internet ID. For "Username", type in your internet ID.
5. You have the option for your password to be entered each time automatically. All you need to do is check the box next to "Save Password" and type in your password in the "Password" space.
6. You also have the option for Xythos desktop client to start online, that is, you do not need to sign in each time you turn on your computer. To do this, click the button named "Advanced >>". Now, click the radio button next to "Online" under "Start Up Mode".
7. Press "OK".

Xythos is now configured, but for your own convenience, you may want to create a desktop shortcut for Xythos. To do this, go to the "Start" menu, select "My Computer", and right click " Xythos Drive ". Choose "Create Shortcut" and when asked if you would like to place it on the desktop, choose "Yes". You can now use this shortcut to access your Xythos files and you can drag files onto it to store them in your NetFiles.

Using Xythos Desktop Client (Macintosh Users)

Launching Xythos Desktop Client differs for Macintosh users.

Configuring NetFiles on a Mac:

1. While selected on Finder, open the "Go" menu at the top of your screen and choose "Connect to Server".
2. A window will pop up. In the blank called "Server Address", type in https://netfiles.umn.edu/users/INTERNET ID, where INTERNET ID is your internet ID. Leave "Favorite Servers" empty. Click the "Connect" button.
3. Another window will pop up asking you for your internet ID and password. Enter this information in the spaces provided. Check the box next to "Remember this password in my keychain". Click the "OK" button.
4. The computer will connect to the server. (If it does not connect, verify your Internet ID and password for correctness. Also, make sure you typed in the correct server address. If even one character is misplaced or incorrect, the connection will fail.) You will then have a connection icon on the desktop (appears as a grey-colored globe with your Internet ID as the name). Click once to select this icon. Go to the "File" menu and select "Make Alias". This alias is how you will access your Xythos Account from now on. When you wish to disconnect from NetFiles, drag the globe icon (not the globe alias when you want icon) to the trash. To reconnect to NetFiles, simply use the alias.

Emailing a File

It's very easy to email a link to someone if they want to access a file on your Netfiles space.

Option 1:
The quickest way is to right click on the file in your Netfiles browser and select "Copy Link Location". After you've opened up your email client, simply select "paste" from the right click menu to paste the link in your email you wish to send.

Option 2:
Another way is to use the integrated email procedure in Netfiles itself. When in the Netfiles browser, select the checkbox next to the files you wish to email and then click on the "Email" button on the far right top of the page. This will take you to the next step where you can either email the link to someone, or email them a ticket for access to the file through your supported email client.  Note:  This method may not work properly if you are using one of the computing lab computers, because these computers are not set up for auto-launching an email application. Use Option 1 to email the link using Webmail.

Hosting Your Personal Web Pages in NetFiles

Space allotment
Each user is given 5 GB of space with Netfiles. You can use as much of this space as is available for personal webspace.

  Create your www directory

Some early users have www directory automatically, this directory was removed from new user templates due to a trash problem. Newer users can easily create this folder themselves.

1.      Create a directory named "www".

2.      Click the share icon.

3.      Add a check for the Read permission for the Public group and make sure that "Apply the changed permission to this directory as well as its sub-directories and files." is selected before applying the change.

Your Webspace

Your Netfiles account is set up with a special folder called www. Anything you place in this folder is web accessible to all users.
The URL for this space is http://netfiles.umn.edu/users/{Internet ID}/www  where{Internet ID} is your Internet ID. If you would like, you can use your World Wide Web URL

Your browser will look for one of these files (in this order) to identify your homepage:

• index.html
• home.html

Note that these files are case sensitive. If your directory does not have one of these files in it, users who go to your site will see a listing of files in the directory.

  Setting permissions

In addition to having your WWW folder be web accessible, you can make any folder in your netfiles space, web accessible to either the entire internet or just a small number of users.

The permissions you can set on any folder are Read, Write, Delete, and Administer.

  Making a folder web accessible

To make a folder Web Accessible, you need to change the rights for Public from none to Read.

Setting up webspace for a group of authenticated users

Netfiles allows you to set up webspace to allow only a group of users you choose to access it. To do this you need to:

• Create a group
• Give the group access to the folder you wish to share

Using Dreamweaver to Publish to your webspace

If you choose, you can use Dreamweaver to publish your webpages. 

Helpful Links

• University of Minnesota NetFiles Support Website : The main U's NetFiles page. Contains useful information for NetFiles and some applications, including hosting your website using NetFiles.
• NetFiles built-in documentation : Contains useful information on getting started on using NetFiles, information on using NetFiles, a Frequently Asked Questions section, and much more.