At IU, what is Slashtmp and how do I use it?

On this page:

• Introduction
• Guidelines for use
• Uploading a file to share with others
• Letting someone share a file with you
• Deleting files
• Storage quota
• Reporting problems

Introduction

At Indiana University, Slashtmp is a service that allows IU graduate students, faculty, and staff to share non-sensitive research data with others via a web interface. It is particularly useful for those who want to share files that are too large to send via email. Slashtmp supports file encryption and each account is allotted 1GB of storage space.

Guidelines for use

Slashtmp is intended to support research and collaboration. Do not use Slashtmp as a place to store data that are subject to HIPAA or FDA CFR 11 regulations, or as a place to exchange institutional or financial data.

Files on Slashtmp are purged 90 days after the date they were uploaded. Files are not backed up, so once you delete a file there is no way to restore it. You should not use Slashtmp as the only place to keep files you cannot afford to lose.

Uploading a file to share with others

To upload a file so you can share it with others:

1. Use your IU Network ID to log into Slashtmp.
   
   
2. In the "File upload section", under "Upload one of your files", click Browse to select the file (maximum size allowed is 1 GB).
   
   
3. Add an optional "File Description" (UITS recommends you do this).
   
   
4. To restrict access to users with IU Kerberos accounts, select the Must authenticate to download checkbox. If you don't check this box, anyone with the URL for the uploaded file can access it (unless the file is encrypted).
   
   
5. To encrypt the file to reduce the risk of unauthorized access, enter a password next to "Encryption password".

   Giving your uploaded file a password provides an additional level of security for the URL that is generated. The password you enter is used to encrypt your file on the Slashtmp server disk. You (and others with whom you share it) must use the password to download the file. Someone who learns the URL for a file will need the encryption password to properly decrypt the file.

   Note: The Slashtmp server never stores your password. Your password is used only to encrypt and then to decrypt the data. If you forget your password or mistype it during upload, there is no way to recover the original data. If this happens, delete the file from Slashtmp and upload it again.

6. When you're finished, click Upload the file! .
   
   
7. Slashtmp notifies you when the upload is complete, and provides a URL and quick link for accessing the file. Follow the on-screen instructions to return to the main page.
   
   
8. Email the URL to people with whom you want to share the file. If the file is encrypted, you must share the encryption password, too. Also, you might consider warning others if accessing the file requires IU Kerberos authentication.

Your newly uploaded file will appear in the "File download section" on the main page with the URL for sharing the file, the date it was uploaded, the file type, the description, the file size, and the date the file was last accessed.

Letting someone share a file with you

Note: The Create upload URL! feature will not work until you have uploaded at least one file to Slashtmp. If you are unable to create an upload URL, try uploading a file to Slashtmp first.

To let someone share a file with you:

1. On the Slashtmp main page, in the "File upload section", under "Allow a guest user to upload a file", click Create upload URL!.
   
   
2. On the resulting page, copy the URL and email it to the person who has the file to share. That person can follow the URL to upload the file using the instructions above.
   
   
3. When the person has uploaded the file, it will appear in your "File download section". To download the file, under "URL/Link", click the corresponding link and choose to save the file to your computer.

Deleting files

Note: Slashtmp files are not backed up. When you delete a file, there is no way to recover it.

Your Slashtmp files will disappear automatically 90 days after you upload them, but you may delete them sooner:

1. On the Slashtmp main page, find the file in the "File download section".
   
   
2. Under "Keep/Delete", select the Delete file radio button.
   
   
3. Click Delete checked files.
   
   
4. Slashtmp notifies you when the deletion is complete. Follow the on-screen instructions to return to the main page.

Storage quota

Each Slashtmp account is allotted 1GB of storage space. The heading of the "File download section" shows you how many files are uploaded, the total amount of space used, and the percentage of your quota you're using.

Reporting problems

To report problems with Slashtmp, email  ithelp@iu.edu .