Using the AFS client in Windows

The AFS client for Windows lets you transfer data between a Windows PC and the AFS filesystem on the unix fileservers. It is faster and more convenient than using Network Neighborhood for transferring to and from AFS. This document describes how to use the Windows AFS client.

Background

In the CABI we use the Andrew File System (AFS) on our unix/linux computers. Users' home directories and dv* volumes are on AFS. The files are physically located on our IBM servers. The linux and Sun workstations have AFS clients, which means that when you log into one of those computers you have access to your AFS files.

From a PC, you can get access to your AFS files via the Network Neighborhood. Connect to any of the linux computers via the Network Neighborhood (you need to use your linux password) and navigate through afs-cabi\users or afs-cabi\temp to get to your data. Note that this is an indirect route to your AFS files. For example, if you copy data from your PC to AFS, the data would first go from your PC to a linux computer (via Samba) and then from the linux computer to one of the IBM servers (via the AFS client).

A better way to get access to your files is through the Windows AFS client. Some of CABI's Windows computers (such as the 3T and 7T SMIS servers and Alborg) have an AFS client, which means that you can get access to your AFS (unix/linux) data directly from the IBM servers, without going through the Network Neighborhood. This greatly speeds up data transfer.

If you would like to install the AFS client on your Windows PC, please contact the helpdesk (phone x6521).

How to use the Windows AFS client

These notes were written for the Windows NT AFS client; the client for Windows 95/98 and Windows 2000 is similar.
Locate the clock on the taskbar (bottom right of the screen)
Taskbar with AFS client icon
Open the AFS client by clicking on the padlock icon with the red cross on the taskbar next to the clock. A window will open:
AFS window
Click on Obtain New Tokens...
Windows AFS client login
Enter your username and password and click OK. AFS will now be available in Windows Explorer.
Windows Explorer and AFS file system
The AFS file system (AFS-CABI) is mounted as drive Z. You can now access your AFS files through drive Z.

When you want to log out of AFS, bring up the AFS client window again by clicking on the padlock icon on the taskbar next to the clock.
AFS window -- log out of AFS
To log out, click on Discard These Tokens so that someone else can log into the AFS client.

Tokens

When you log into the Windows AFS client, you receive a token, which is a unique identifier. AFS uses this to authenticate you when you try to do things like copy files, write files, etc. Your token is valid for 25 hours after you log in; then it expires. If you need to be on a computer for more than 25 hours, or if you run a program that accesses your AFS files for more than 25 hours, you need to renew your token by clicking the "Obtain New Tokens" button before it expires.

If you access your AFS files via Network Neighborhood, you also receive a token. However, there is no way to renew it.
This page was last updated on 7/21/2002.