User's Guide

About This Guide

Audience and Purpose

This guide describes concepts and procedures for accessing information stored in the AFS filespace. It is intended for AFS users who are familiar with UNIX but not necessarily AFS.

The initial chapters in the document describe basic AFS concepts and guidelines for using AFS, and summarize some of the differences between the UNIX file system and AFS.

The remaining chapters detail the procedures for basic AFS functions, including logging in, changing a password, listing information, protecting files, creating groups, and troubleshooting. Concepts important to a specific task or group of related tasks are presented in context, just prior to the procedures. Many examples are provided.

Instructions generally include only the commands and command options necessary for a specific task. For a complete list of AFS commands and description of all options available on every command, see the AFS Command Reference Manual.

Organization

This document is divided into the following chapters:

• Basic AFS Concepts - Introduces the basic concepts and functions of AFS. The AFS User's Guide is designed for experienced UNIX users with no previous knowledge of AFS. To use AFS successfully, it is important to be familiar with the terms described here.

• AFS Command Syntax and Online Help - Describes AFS command syntax and how to obtain online information about commands.

• Using AFS - Describes the concepts and task-oriented procedures for using AFS: logging in, authenticating, unlogging, logging out, accessing files and directories in AFS, and changing your password.

• Listing Information - Describes how to list information about AFS functioning: volume quota, the location of directories, the status of file server machines, and the foreign cells you can access.

• Protecting Directories - Describes how to protect your directories using AFS access control lists (ACLs).

• Using Groups - Describes how to create and manage groups.

• Troubleshooting - Outlines step-by-step diagnostic and corrective steps for specific problems.

• Appendix A: NFS/AFS Translator - Describes how to use the NFS/AFS Translator to access the AFS file space from an NFS client machine.

• Glossary - Defines terms used in the AFS User's Guide.

• Index - Indexes alphabetically all important commands, examples, and procedures in the AFS User's Guide.

How To Use This Guide

Before you begin using AFS, read the introductory chapters: Basic AFS Concepts and AFS Command Syntax and Online Help.

Next, follow the procedures outlined in Using AFS to get started using AFS as an authenticated user. It describes how to access files in the AFS file space and how to end an AFS session.

Related Documents

The AFS Documentation Kit also includes the following documents:

• AFS Command Reference Manual - Details the syntax of each AFS command and is intended for the experienced AFS administrator, programmer, or user. For each AFS command, the AFS Command Reference Manual lists the command syntax, aliases and abbreviations, description, arguments, warnings, output, examples, and related topics. Procedural and conceptual information is not included. Commands are organized alphabetically.

• AFS System Administrator's Guide - Describes concepts and procedures necessary for administering an AFS cell, as well as more extensive coverage of the topics in the AFS User's Guide.

• AFS Installation Guide - Provides instructions for installing AFS server and client machines.

Document Conventions

See AFS Command Syntax and Online Help.