Running out of memory?
New service offers free computer storage space

13 March 2001 | Campus computer users who need extra storage space for their computer files can take advantage of a new service called i-drive, sponsored by Berkeley’s Information Systems and Technology.

The service provides 50 megabytes of free Internet storage for faculty, staff or students with a UCLink account.

In addition to storage, i-drive can be used to share or receive files, alleviating the need to send cumbersome e-mail attachments.

“Some faculty members are putting class-related documents, such as agendas, syllabi or assignments, on i-drive so their students can access or download the information,” said Audrey Bersot, the i-drive campus outreach coordinator. “The student can also add his or her own work to the instructor’s dropbox.”

And because i-drive is accessed through a Web browser, it’s a convenient way to access files for those doing academic or administrative work off-campus using an Internet connection.

Though the files are set up to be shared by anyone with access to the Internet, they can be password protected.

The 50 megabytes of storage also make i-drive an ideal place to post photographs — which can take up valuable space on departmental computers — that may be related to work or studies. For example, a professor can look at a picture of a student’s architectural model or a staff person can post photos of reservable classrooms for viewing by prospective clients.

Another i-drive feature is a Web publishing program that allows users to create their own Web site on the Internet.

And if the bookmark list on your Internet browser is getting too long, i-drive has a utility called Filo that automatically clips Web pages and saves them directly to an i-drive account. It is especially helpful for those who are collecting research from the Internet, as it eliminates the need to cut and paste information from the Web to a word document.

Go to http://idrive.berkeley.edu to set up an i-drive account. Users need a UCLink account to create an i-drive account. Visit http://bilink.berkeley.edu to obtain a UCLink account. It takes about an hour for the account to be activated.

Because i-drive has no restore feature for individual files, campus users are encouraged to back-up important documents on their own computers.

Send e-mail to help@cal-idrive.berkeley.edu for general and technical questions about i-drive. Walk-in assistance is available through the Student Computing Consulting Service, on the first floor of Moffitt Library, 9 a.m.-noon, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

A “Getting Started With i-drive” class is being offered from noon to 1:30 p.m., March 10, and 9 to 10:30 a.m., April 14, in 212 Wheeler Hall. Classes are also offered for staff through CAL PACT, from 10 a.m. to noon, March 16, April 6, 18 and May 18.