Project Directory Service

The Project Directory Service (PDS) provides "project" disk space for each individual course-section being offered in the current academic semester.

Overview

Space is created automatically for every course in Banner. This space includes folders for the course instructor as well as every student in the course. The information for this space is updated nightly from Banner, so any changes in course enrollment are automatically generated. Folders for students who drop a course are moved into a special withdrawn area of the PDS space. Any files placed in these folders which require streaming are also automatically streamed via IUP's streaming server.

Access and Security

To access the PDS, faculty and students must log in with their IUP network username and password. PDS security is managed via NTFS permissions.

Project Directory Service Size

The initial course-section quota is set to 5 MB. Instructors can easily increase this quota to 250MB, 1GB, 2 GB, 3 GB, 4 GB, or 5 GB by using the PDS Quota Utility.

Quota needs beyond 5 GB may be requested by creating a ticket in ihelp.

Data Archiving

• Data is archived for a total of three semesters (current and two previous semesters)
• Students will have access to their files on the P drive until two weeks into the next semester (e.g., a student using the P drive in the fall will have access to those files until two weeks into the spring semester).
• PDS receives periodic full and nightly incremental backups
• PDS provides a file-restoration process permitting restoration is within a four-week window.

The structure for the Project Directory Service (P drive) is setup in a multi-layered folder structure. The upper level folder is call "courses." Under this main folder, a folder exists for each Academic Semester. Departments are set up under each semester which contain the courses taught that semester. Under each course, there is a folder for each section.

An example for COSC 101 001 being taught in the spring 2020 semester would be (the | depicts and separates each folder name):

courses | spring2020 | COSC | COSC101 | 001

Each section folder contains the folders for a particular class. Here is a brief explanation of the folders under each section and how the access is restricted for each folder.

Dropped Folder

This folder contains the folders for students that have dropped the course. Anything a student who dropped the course saved while taking the course will be in their folder.

The instructor(s) has full control access to this folder and the folders beneath it.

Hand-In Folder

This folder allows students to turn in assignments electronically. Note: Students cannot open this folder. To turn assignments in using this folder, simply drag the assignment to this folder. When they release their mouse, the file will be added to this folder and the assignment is "turned in." If this method is not preferred, the student can copy and paste the file into the folder.

Note: Any files in this folder that share the same name, only the first file will be successful in saving. To ensure the uniqueness of the file name, the student should add their username to the name of the file. For example, Assignment-One-Username.

The instructor(s) has full access to this folder. Students have add access. Add access allows students to write files into the folder, but they cannot view or change any of the files in this folder, even their own. Once a file has been submitted in the hand-in folder, the student will not be able to delete or change the submitted file. Any student can not save files directly to this folder from any application.

Information Folder

This folder should be used to provide students with information on the class or additional electronic reference material for the course; e.g., course syllabus.

The instructor(s) has full access, students have read access. Read access allows students to open and view files.

Instructor-Only Folder

This folder is used for the instructor to store materials that are related to the course, but should not be accessed by the class. This folder will also have a class list file that is updated nightly based on registration, adds, and drops. The format of this comma delimited file is student's last name, first name, middle name, email address, email alias, and user ID.

The instructor(s) has full access.

Shared Files Folder

This folder is a working area that the entire class can access. Additional subfolders can be created to accommodate special projects or assignments.

The instructor(s) and students have full access.

Students Folder

Each student has an individual subfolder within this folder that is identified by their email alias. Students can only access their own student folder. The instructor(s) can access all student folders in the area. This will allow them to work on course-related projects and assignments.

The Instructor(s) has full access, students have full access to their individual folder only.

World View Folder

This folder may be accessed by any individual with an IUPMSD network account.

The instructor(s) has full control access, everyone has read access.

The PDS Quota Utility allows instructors to increase their Project Directory storage space. The steps listed below explain how to increase your quota. If you are off of IUP's campus, you will then need to connect to the VPN (VPN connection setup).

1. Open your web browser go to PDS Quota Utility
2. If a login box appears, enter IUPMSD\ followed by your username, then enter your network password.
3. Click the OK button.
4. On the PDS Quota Utility Form:
   1. The Semester field should reflect the current semester. If this is not the semester you need, use the drop down arrow to select the semester.
   2. Enter the Department ID, Course Number, and Course Section number (i.e. ACE 620 501) in the respective fields.
   3. Select the quota size desired via the radio buttons. Select 250 MB, 1 GB, 2 GB, 3 GB, 4 GB, or 5 GB. Click on the send button.
5. After submitting, you will be presented with a web page indicating that the quota was set successfully.

If you need more than 5 GB of disk space, please contact the IT Support Center by logging an ihelp ticket with your request.

To access the Project Directory Services via the web (read only), type www.project.iup.edu in the address box of your web browser. You may be required to log in using your network username and password.

If a login box appears, enter IUPMSD\ followed by your username, then enter your password.

You should now see the parent directory of the Project Directory Service. Click through the directory structure (Term, Subject, Course, Section) until the desired course and section are found. When you get to the desired section, you will have the appropriate access as described above. At this point, you can create a shortcut in your web browser for easy access later in the semester. You will only have read access to these folders, and you will not be able to turn in an assignment via this option.

You can map the Project Directory to a specific drive on your computer. This will be similar to a shortcut. Here are instructions on how to map the Project Directory to a specific drive on your computer.

Mapping a drive will allow you to save files to your student folder and allow you to turn in assignments to the hand-in folder.

The Project Directory Service also supports FTP (File Transfer Protocol) access. FTP access allows you to transfer files between your computer and the Project Directory Service.

Although there are many free FTP utilities available for different operating systems, the steps listed below explain how to establish FTP access on a Windows computer using Internet Explorer.

1. Open Internet Explorer and go to ftp://ftp.project.iup.edu/.
2. When the login window appears, enter IUPMSD\ followed by your username, then enter your password.
3. After logging in, you will see a folder labeled courses. Continue to click through the folder structure to find your course and section.
4. You should now be able to transfer files between your course folders and your local computer.

Note: When accessing the Project Directory Service through the FTP service off of IUP campus, you will have to connect to VPN for IUP.