Installing AFS client software, for Windows NT

General Information

Before installing a new version of AFS it's important to remove any existing setup for any earler version of the AFS. Instructions for doing this. Also useful: a general introduction to AFS

Setting up a client PC

• If you haven't installed AFS before, you need to first purchase the AFS client software through the usual channels for SLAC-supported software. Your local admistrator in charge of such purchases will request a license, which is associated with your PC, not with your username. Any user logged in to your PC can use the AFS software. The license costs $95. Once your userid/machine-name have been entered in the relevant authorization list, and you have logged in as the system administrator, you can proceed to download the AFS software

• Click further down the page on the AFS link: Transarc AFS client and follow the instructions in "README-SLAC". It may be necessary, however, to install the latest AFS patch from Transarc rather than the 'patch' folder indicated in the instructions. The latest patch level is 10. So, check to see if this is available in the 'patch' folder or not. Near the end of the AFS installation, you are prompted whether you would like to configure the AFS Client, which you should check-select. After downloading the patch 10 file, double-click on its icon to install it. Sometimes the patch does not install itself properly when coming from the SLAC site, complaining about insufficient memory.

  After completing the AFS client and patch installation process (and rebooting), the local system administrator can proceed to:

• Make the the AFS netdrive (typically 'S') visible for all users on the machine.

• Move the Programs Folder entry for the AFS application to the one for "All Users", making sure the "Everyone" has read permissions.

The installation procedure sets up an additional netdrive pointing to the (UNIX) AFS home directory of the user authorized for the AFS installation. This allows the user to use the same working directory for UNIX and NT, if it's useful to do so. Naturally, all group AFS directories are visible in the same way from NT as they are from UNIX.

To write to any AFS directory for which you have (AFS) write permissions, typically particular group directories or your UNIX AFS home directory, you have to "log in" to AFS with your AFS password. This requires that you have acquired an AFS account. If you already have a central UNIX account, but with a home directory that is not yet under AFS, you can create yourself an AFS account with UNIX command: 'movetoafs', which also moves your NFS-based home directory to AFS, and makes it the default when you log in. If you do not yet have any UNIX account, you can acquire one by first filling out the Help Desk form for a Central UNIX account. The process will create a UNIX account for you under AFS.

To get AFS authentication from NT, go to the Start/Programs/Transarc AFS Client. Select "Authentication" on the pull-right submenu. Click on 'Get Tokens' and log in from there. Tokens last as long as you are logged in to NT, and up to 24 hours from your log-in time.

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Kay Ganapathi
Last updated: September 25, 2008