- Remote File
- Graphical
- Command Line
- Secured Remote
- File Drawers
Transfer files to/from your account using File Transfer Protocol (FTP).
There are several different ways to ftp files to or from your home computer and your Mosaic account. Click Here to see how to use Internet Explorer's Web Browser Based FTP or Windows' command-line ftp program. You may also choose to download and install a third-party GUI (graphical user interface or "window"-based) FTP program on your home computer. Download.com has numerous free or free-trial programs such as WinSCP or SmartFTP that you can use. Whichever method you select you should connect to ftp.uncc.edu which is our UNIX based ftp server.
The original FTP specification is an inherently insecure method of transferring files because there is no method specified for transferring data in an encrypted fashion. This means that under most network configurations, user names, passwords, FTP commands and transferred files can be "sniffed" or viewed by anyone on the same network using a packet sniffer. This is a problem common to many Internet protocol specifications written prior to the creation of SSL such as HTTP, SMTP and Telnet. The common solution to this problem is to use either SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol), or FTPS (FTP over SSL), which adds SSL or TLS encryption to FTP . Both WinSCP and SmartFTP provide for secure FTP transactions.
OpenAFS
OpenAFS is a software package released by IBM as freeware that allow computers operating anywhere in the world to connect with AFS servers seamlessly. This means that no matter what computer you are on, if OpenAFS is properly set up and an internet connection is present you will have full access to your files on the Mosaic system as if you were sitting in the College of Engineering. Please remember that access times to your files are all dependent on the speed of your connection to the internet... the faster the connection you have, the faster you'll be able to access your files. Also just like logging in at a Mosaic workstation you have a 25 hour time-limit for connectivity.
Installing OpenAFS on Windows.
Installing OpenAFS on MacIntosh OS X.
Remote Mosaic Windows Desktop Workstation Lab
MosaicAnywhere is a way to run a Mosaic Windows session without being at a Mosaic workstation from almost anywhere a good, stable internet connection can be found. The technology that MosaicAnywhere is based on is Microsoft's Remote Desktop system which allows you to connect to a PC system remotely via the Microsoft Terminal Services Client, or MSTSC.EXE.
Remote Access to Mosaic Linux Desktop
Users can access the Mosaic Linux from anywhere by connecting to the Linux X-Servers using the graphical interface of NoMachine NX Client.
Instructions to install and use the No Machine NX Client to access Mosaic Linux
Access to Unix/Linux Command-line via SSH
If you have Internet access through an ISP (Internet Service Provider: i.e. Mindspring, AOL, Microsoft Network, etc.) and have downloaded a SSH2 client such as PuTTY , you can access your Mosaic files from off campus to check mail, write and/or compile programs, or perform any of other Unix command-line tasks. This is the most secure way to access your Mosaic account from off campus.
The server you would connect to using the SSH2 client is: is-sm1.uncc.edu .
You can also connect to the Mosaic Linux servers via SSH.
A secured VPN service is available to the College of Engineering faculty and staff thru the ITS network. With this service in place we are introducing remote access to a primary Mosaic Windows workstation system. This service will give the faculty access to run specific application software installed on their primary Mosaic Windows workstation as well as leverage the power of their desktop system. This service also gets around the typical Mosaic Anywhere time limit and reduces the contention for the Mosaic Anywhere servers.
To deliver this service we have to enable remote access rights to the COE faculty and staff on their primary Mosaic Windows desktop. To access this VPN service and to install a web browser java plug-in you must connect to the following link- https://connect2.uncc.edu/coe.
For more information on using SSL VPN from Windows click HERE
For more information on using SSL VPN from Mac OS X click HERE
More information for using the SSL VPN from Ubuntu Linux is coming soon.
Please make sure you follow these steps when you are done with your logged in session:
- When you complete the work on your Mosaic Windows XP, be sure to logout to end the session in a graceful fashion.
- If you don't logout after completing your work you risk losing any new data you generated.
- During a scheduled Mosaic workstations software update, the update process will take control of your workstation.
- To end your VPN connection, exit out of the VPN by signing out from the SSL Network Connect plug in.
Some restrictions with VPN:
- There is a time limit on the VPN connection. Timeouts are set as follows:
Inactivity - 120 min
Max Session - 240 minutes
When you approach the time limits you will get a warning message.
- Certain network based applications will not work while you have a secured VPN session open. We have seen that Open AFS client and Outlook Web Access (OWA) will not be able to open a network connection while you have a secured VPN session open.
If you have any problems or questions with using this service please use one of the contact points:
Mosaic Computing Services Smith 249c, 704-687-3150
Email: mlc@uncc.edu
Ticket: http://www.coe.uncc.edu/mosaic/support/email_us.php
PCS Group Smith 202a, 704-687-3335
Email: coepcs@uncc.edu
Ticket: http://www.coe.uncc.edu/pcs/general/email_us.php
Filedrawers
Filedrawers is a web-based file manager which lets you work with the Mosaic AFS file system. Using Filedrawers enables you to download, upload, and manage your AFS file space with just a web browser. To use File Drawers, go to http://coefiles.uncc.edu.
Click the Login link and use your Mosaic login and password to authenticate to the system. Upon successful login, it will forward you to the SSL-enabled version of Filedrawers (https://coefiles.uncc.edu).
You will then see all of your Mosaic folders and files, enabling you to interact with your Mosaic account from on-campus or off-campus.
To learn more, see the Help file on Filedrawers in the following table
http://www.coe.uncc.edu/mosaic/mosaic_resources/softwares.php.