The Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague operates the intranet server dolphin.natur.cuni.cz (DNS alias intranet.natur.cuni.cz). This server provides sufficient performance for all hosted applications, gives users the opportunity to use disk space and modern software tools. Here, we provide information on how to use the server, user manuals, and current operational information.
News and Important Notices
Guide to Changing Your Password in Windows Password Manager
For users who are unable to connect to the intranet server using the standard method and need to change their password in the prfuk.natur.cuni.cz domain from a workstation, we recommend reading this guide.
For technical questions, please contact Mr. Tomáš Petrus, who authored the text and illustrations in the guide.
Basic Roles of the Server
File Server
The server serves as a data repository for the following projects:
- telephone call listings
- shared folders of selected departments (e.g., CIT, EKO, PaM, Botanical Garden, OSBI, ....)
- data storage for internal needs of the Center for Information Technologies
Server Usage Guide - File Services
1. Connection Requirements
The server supports folder sharing in Microsoft networks. To use these services, the following requirements must be met:
- a current Microsoft Windows OS with the Microsoft Network client installed or Linux/*BSD/Unix with a Samba client (with DFS referrals support patch)
- MS Networks sharing enabled (TCP/UDP ports 137-139, 445) from the client station to dolphin.natur.cuni.cz and domain controllers
- valid username and password for the prfuk.natur.cuni.cz domain
2. Connecting to the Server
You can connect by mapping the appropriate network drives. Currently, the following services are available:
| Service | Authorized Users | UNC Path to Shared Folder | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| home folder | selected domain users | \\prfuk.natur.cuni.cz\root\intranet_alias\username or \\intranet.natur.cuni.cz\prf\username |
- recommended to map as drive "H:" |
| phone bill listings | authorized domain users | \\prfuk.natur.cuni.cz\root\intranet_special\tu\vypisy or \\intranet.natur.cuni.cz\special\tu\vypisy |
- recommended to use the shortcut in the user's home folder ("_link" subfolder) or map as drive "W:" |
Mapping can be either temporary or permanent.
Important Notice: Selected users have a "_link" subfolder in their home folder. This folder contains shortcuts to other shared disk areas on the server where the user has access and is expected to frequently access the data these links point to (typically phone bill listings for department secretaries). However, some file management tools ("file managers") cannot recognize that it is a folder shortcut and, during move/rename/delete operations, may manipulate the actual target data instead of just the shortcut. For example, the widely used "Servant Salamander" or "Altap Salamander" programs only started handling shortcuts properly as of version 2.5RC2. Therefore, we strongly urge users to treat the "_link" folder and its contents only as entry points to their data and perform all file and folder operations within the actual target folders, not the links themselves.
Other Technical Information
1. Types of Stored Data, Disk Quotas, Backups
Disk quotas on the server are very generous. However, with increasing quotas on central faculty servers, a bad habit has emerged: using the servers as backup storage for personal data. Consequently, expensive storage devices often hold large quantities of (often private or illegally obtained) multimedia files unrelated to the server's purpose. This also affects the tape library used for backups. Users are warned that if similar activities are detected on the intranet server, a data restriction policy based on file types will be implemented. Such files may be deleted by the server administrator at any time without warning. In contrast, data meant to be stored on the server is regularly backed up to a tape library located in a separate site. Additional protection against data loss is provided by the server’s disk array redundancy.
2. Shadow Copies of Shared Volumes
The server runs the shadow copy service for shared volumes. Twice a day (Monday through Friday), online copies of server data, known as "shadow copies", are created. These are fully consistent snapshots of the shared drives at a given time. The number of these "historical" copies retained is variable and depends on available disk space. The purpose of this function is to allow users to revert to a previous version of a file. Availability of any given version is not guaranteed (depends on whether the copy has been overwritten), but in practice it usually covers the cases where users accidentally overwrite data and need to quickly access the original version.
Older versions of files and folders can be accessed via the context menu of the respective file/folder. In the context menu, select "Properties" and then the "Previous Versions" tab. Data can be restored to its original location (this will overwrite newer versions) or to a different folder (the file copy, the set of copies, and the current version remain unchanged) - see the buttons below the list of available versions.
Further Support
If you need assistance with server services please use the helpdesk.
If you have connection issues, contact Mr. T. Petrus (petrus@natur.cuni.cz) or Mr. M. Rezek (rezekm@natur.cuni.cz). You may also use the helpdesk.