Introduction to the Unix Cluster. Node: NFS/Emacs

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Accessing Files through NFS and Emacs

As mentioned in the Disks section (see Disks), the Network File System provides a way for disks to be `mounted' so that files on one workstation are easily accessible to the others. A combination of directory names and standard UNIX commands will allow you to access, copy, and transfer files between the Suns. (`Accessing Disks from the Crays', for info about those machines.)

At PPPL, there is also no need to use FTP to transfer files between the Suns and the VAXs---the Suns can `mount' the VAX disks. The way we have this implemented, the Sun directory `/n/usc/karney' is the same as the VAXs `karney$:[000000]'. This allows access to VAXs files as if they were local files. Also, since the `name spaces' on the VAXs and the Suns are different, the NFS server converts the Sun filename to a form acceptable to the VAXs (i.e. the back-up file `intro.tex~' becomes `INTRO.TEX$9E;1'). It's especially convenient to link your home directory to your VAXs directory, i.e.:

        [lyman|14] ln -s /n/vms/karney ~/vms

Now, `~/vms' will refer to your VAX directory. Note---the Sun file system doesn't support version numbers. If you edit VAX files on the Sun, you will lose all but the latest version! Also, VAX mounting of user files is not provided automatically---see Lena Scimeca (Rm. A127) to make the necessary changes on the VAX side. She will also take care of any other mounting necessary.

Another option that comes in especially useful for editing remote files is to use Emacs to run FTP. If you specify visiting a file with a filename of the form /host:filename or /user@host:filename, Emacs will run FTP for you.

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