OpenAFS Client for Macintosh

An AFS client is required for Macintosh systems to directly access the Dartmouth Research Data Storage system (RStor).   This system contains legacy projects and new data are not being added.  Authentication to this system may be by NetID, or by a separate username and password which apply only to to Rstor.  The Auristor client is built for a specific major release of MacOS (e.g. Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey).  You must install the correct package, and after a system upgrade to a new major release, you must reinstall the Auristor client.

Once installed, the RStor space appears as a mounted network share.

Installing the OpenAFS client for Macintosh

1. Download the AFS client installer.   This is a disk image file (.dmg). If you aren't sure which version you are running, click the Apple icon always at the top left of the screen, and then About this Mac and look for Version
   • 10.10 and later: Download directly from www.auristor.com/openafs/client-installer/  Our AFS cell name is northstar.dartmouth.edu (will be requested for the download).  Also see local notes on installing and configuring 
   • Older versions - please contact us for special instructions.
2. If the Disk Image does not automatically mount, find it in your Downloads folder. Double-click to mount it as a volume named OpenAFS.
3. When prompted for a default cell name; enter northstar.dartmouth.edu. Click through the other screens (OK or Next).
   
   
   
   If it offers to download Xcode, you can decline.  There may be warnings about installing code from unidentified developers. Depending on the version of MacOS, you may also be diverted to system Security Preferences during the install, where you must grant the Auristor system extension permission to install on your system.
4. Eject the OpenAFS volume (drag to trash).
5. Open System Preferences and look for a new control panel Auristor in the section for non-Apple software at the bottom.  Open it and check the options Auristor Menu, Backgrounder, and Use aklog, as shown below: 
6. Click the Option tab, and check Enable auto-renew
7. Reboot for the new client to run.

You should now have an AFS 'mounted server' on your desktop (if your Finder preferences include 'show mounted servers').  In the Finder, AFS space appears as afs in your boot volume (e.g. Macintosh HD). In a Terminal window, AFS space appears under /afs.

The AFS client uses some disk space for file caching. This is 100MB by default, but it may be helpful to increase this. Please ask Research Computing for advice on changing this setting.

To do a clean uninstall of OpenAFS client, use the uninstall program that comes bundled with the installer.

Basic Usage

You now have access to AFS space, but can only see public files until authenticated. You authenticate to AFS by clicking the padlock icon in the top toolbar, and selecting Get new token.  Alternatively, open the Auristor preference panel and select Get new token in there.

Enter your username in the form netid@KIEWIT.DARTMOUTH.EDU and the same password that you use for email etc..  If you are using a legacy RStor account, the username is rstor-username@RSTOR.DARTMOUTH.EDU. When you are authenticated, the padlock will have no red 'X'.  You now have access to any  parts of AFS which your account has been given permission to see (e.g. research group shared space).

You can also drag any AFS folder to the left Finder panel to make a shortcut. This is generally the most convenient way to navigate to shared space.