File Storage and Printing
Managing your file storage
Central system disk storage includes all of the following:
- Email messages in your inbox or other Mail folders
- Files stored in your SAMBA windir/myfiles directory
- Files stored in your WWW personal web directory (www.d.umn.edu/~username, or myweb)
- Miscellaneous files stored in your central system "home" or "login" directory (Files you download from the Internet using a browser, cache files, etc.)
What is my current disk quota?
Registered students are allotted a 100 megabyte disk storage quota on UMD systems. Students can purchase additional storage for $6 per 100 megabytes per semester (disk storage cards are available at the Computer Corner). To check your current disk quota, view your Central Systems Usage Report on the web and look for the "Disk Quota" amount.
Faculty and staff do not have a disk quota, but are billed monthly for their disk usage (see: System Rates for details).
What happens if I exceed my disk quota?
If you are a student and exceed your disk quota, you will receive an automated email message explaining that you using more disk space than you are allocated. You will need to either remove some of your data to bring your total disk usage within your quota, or purchase additional disk space. If you do not do either of these in the time given, your Internet/email account will be closed.
How can I check my current disk usage?
Faculty, students and staff can check their current disk usage at any time. To check how much disk space you are currently using, view your Central Systems Usage Report on the web and look for the "Disk Usage" amount.
Or, if you prefer, you can stop by the TechCenter in Kirby Plaze 165 and ask a consultant to scan your student ID and tell you what your disk quota and disk usage numbers are. This report reflects your disk space total as of midnight.
How do I delete files?
If you are over your disk quota, take these steps to delete files you no longer need:
- Delete EMAIL messages: Delete any old messages you no longer need, especially messages that have large attachments (jpgs, etc.). Be sure to "purge" the deleted messages. Also, be sure to check for messages you may have saved to other folders. You can do this with webmail or any email program such as Mulberry that uses the IMAP protocol (not POP).
- Delete Samba WINDIR/MYFILES files: Connect to your WINDIR directory from a lab PC (or the MYFILES directory on a lab Mac) to delete any files stored there. Or, use our FileInfo File Manager tool to list and delete items in your WINDIR/MYFILES directory.
- Delete WWW files: Delete the files using the program you used to create
them (such as Dreamweaver).
You can also connect to your personal web file storage area in the PC labs using the "Connect to your WWW Files" icon and in the Mac labs using the "Connect to MYWEB" icon. See our SAMBA page for information on how to connect to these areas with your own computer. - Delete HOME/LOGIN directory files: Use the FileInfo file manager tool to list and delete these items.
Deleting files using the FileInfo File Manager tool
The FileInfo File Manager tool provides a user-friendly web interface for managing your Mail and Samba (MyFiles/MyWeb) files.
- From any on-campus computer, open a web browser and login to the
File
Manager page (you will be prompted to authenticate with your email/Internet
ID and password).
Note: If you are off-campus, you must connect using the VPN client. - Select your "Home file folders" (including windir/MyFiles), your "Mail File Folders", or your "Web Files Folders" (MyWeb).
- Check all files you wish to delete, then click on the "Work with Checked Files" button at the bottom of the list.
- On the next page, select "Delete Files or Folders" to removed all previously checked items. Or, select "Zip or Unzip files" to compress the files to conserve disk space.
Finding the "big" files
There are a number of Unix commands you can use to help you sort through your files. This can help you to find some of the big files you may wish to delete.
| Command | What you see |
|---|---|
| diskuse -detail | Detailed listing of all your directories (login, Mail, web)(in kilobytes*) |
| du -k | more | Detailed listing of your login directory(in kilobytes*) |
| cd www (press Enter) du -k |
Size of files in your web page directory (in kilobyes*) |
| cd (press Enter) cd directoryname (press Enter) ls -la | more (press Enter) |
Size of files in a particular directory (in bytes*) |
*Note: 3524 bytes = 3.44 kilobytes = 0.0034 megabytes
Problems or questions? Contact the ITSS Help Desk (726-8847, email:helpdesk).
Rev: 08.08 sab