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Welcome

The sharebox server, located at sharebox.ictp.it, provides a dropbox-like service for ICTP account-holders that supports file-sharing/collaboration with both ICTP and non-ICTP collaborators. It is not a replacement for FTP or other services aimed at the transfer of large files or the regular/periodic backup of important documents.

 

Client Side software (Both ICTP and non-ICTP account holders)

The service uses the SparkleShare client software from http://www.sparkleshare.org/ You may also obtain a copy of the client software using the links below.

  • Click on Windows (Vista,7,8 and above) to download. Note: Windows XP is not supported: To install, simply download and double click on the installer.
  • Click Macintosh OS/X: to download the zip file. Open the downloaded zip-file, then drag-and-drop the Sparkleshare folder from inside the zip-file to the "Applications" folder of your system Hard-disk.

  • ICTP Desktop in Linux: To install run the command sudo ictp-install sparkleshare

  • Ubuntu and similar distributions such as LinuxMint: To install use the command sudo apt-get install sparkleshare

  • Other Linux versions may have to compile the source code available from http://www.sparkleshare.org/

Client Usage

Please NOTE that for synchronisation to work correctly,  the names of files, documents, directories,  folders and shared-folders MUST NOT include the following characters:

<
>
:
|
?
*
\
/

Also,  "hidden" files (files that begin with a dot character) are not synchronised.

After, installation, you will need to manually start the client software. Once it is running (indicated by an icon Sparkleshare iconon the task-bar) following the steps below to:

  • Set-up automatic start of the Sparkleshare client software
    • For Windows platform: Use the "Local Services" utility from System group of the Windows Control Panel.
    • For Mac OS/X: Use "Login Items" from the "Accounts" section of "Systems Preferences".
    • For Linux  KDE Desktop: Use the "AutoStart" from "StartUp and Shutdown" section of the KDE "Systems Settings" utility
    • For Linux GNOME Desktop or Ubuntu Unity Desktop: Use the "Startup Applications" utility..
  • Identifing the client ID of your device:
    • Right-click on the SparkleShare client icon
    • Select "SparkleShare" from the pop-up menu
    • Select "Client ID" from the drop-down (new) menu
    • Select "Copy to Clipboard"
  • Communicating the client ID of a device to the shared-folder owner:
    • Open your favourite e-mail client
    • Compose a a new e-mail message addressed to the owner (ICTP account holder) of the shared-folder you wish to access
    • Paste the "Client ID" from the Clipboard into the body of the message. DO NOT REFORMAT THE BODY.
    • Add a proper Subject to the  message and send it.
  • Connecting to a shared-folder:
    • The shared-folder owner will send you the Address and Remote path of the shared folder. This information is similar to
      • Example Address:  ssh://{name}@sharebox.ictp.it
      • Example Remote path: /share/{name}/Shared-folder-name
    • Right-click on the SparkleShare client icon
    • Select "SparkleShare" from the pop-up menu
    • Select "Add Hosted Project.." from the drop-down menu
    • Click  "On my own server"
    • Type the provided address and remote-path into the right locations. NOTE: These information are CASE-SENSITIVE.
    • Enable the "Fetch prior history" check-box
    • Click on "Add"
  • Accessing and using a shared-folder
    • Right-click on the SparkleShare client icon
    • Select or click the shared-folder from the pop-up menu to open it in explorer or file-manager window.
    • Drag-and-drop the file, document or folder to be shared into the shared-folder explorer or file-manager window. NOTE: it is possible to edit documents and files within this window. Creating copies or renaming of files and folders inside the shared-folder is supported but may require an additional operation for complete synchronisation.
    • NOTE: Always access the folder via the Sparkleshare task-bar icon in order to avoid possible problems.
  • Basic troubleshooting errors, support, assistance or help
    • The Sparkleshare client utility will indicate errors such as failed synchronisation by placing an exclamation mark (!) in it's task-bar icon. Right-clicking on the task-bar icon would provide more details about the error and sometimes a way to retry or resolve the problem. Synchronisation errors are typically limited to single/individual devices.
    • Internally the Sparkleshare utility relies on a folder within your home-directory named "SparkleShare" for correct operation, please do not make manual changes to this folder or delete it's contents..
    • In case of difficulties, please contact ICTS staff on ext 999 or via the web from http://icts.ictp.it/help/

Administering or creating shared-folders (ICTP account holders only)

For ICTP account holders. Simply login to the admin page and create a share (project) to begin. The following procedures are available only after you Login to the Sharebox admin page. Before anyone can access your share, you will have to grant them access. Access control is based on a "Client ID" , which is unique for each device. That is the "Client ID" for a laptop is different from the that of a desktop, even if they are both used exclusively by the same individual. This implies that you will require a separate authorization for your home computer, different from your laptop and different from your desktop/office computer.

  • Creating a Shared-folder:
    • Click on the "Shares" TAB
    • Click on the "Add" button
    • In the new pop-up dialog box Type in a "Name" for the shared-folder. NOTE: you can use any name for the share apart from the characters listed above.
    • and a one-line brief "Description" for the Shared Folder.  NOTE: Do not fill in Address or Remote Path.
    • Click on the "Save" button
  • Obtaining the address/remote path information for a shared folder
    • Click on the "Shares" TAB
    • Click on the name of the shared-folder
    • Copy and paste , one after the other,  the "Addess" and "Remote path" information from the new pop-up dialog box into the body of an email message addressed to your collaborator. NOTE: These information are CASE-SENSITIVE.
    • Add a proper Subject to the email message and send it.
    • Finally, click "Cancel" to close the pop-up dialog box.
    • NOTE: You can delete or remove a shared-folder by clicking (selecting) the Delete check-box before clicking "Save". This will not automatically delete copies of documents contained in the shared-folder from devices.
  • Granting access to your shared-folder.
    • Once you receive a key from your collaborator, you can add keys using the steps below:
      • Click on the "ClientID (keys)" TAB
      • Click on the "Add" button
      • Type in a short name in the "username/HOST-ID" field
      • Copy and paste in the "Client ID" from the body of the received email into the "KEY" field.
      • Click on the "Save" button
      NOTE: You can delete or remove access by clicking (selecting) the Delete check-box before clicking "Save".  This will not automatically delete copies of documents accessed previously from devices, it just prevents access to subsequently updated versions.
  • Browsing your Shared-folder from the WEB
    • Click here for web-based access to your shared folder. This interface allows the owner of the shared-folder to access/download current and previous versions of stored files, documents and folders.
  • Obtaining support, assistance or help
    • The default space available to each ICTP account holder on sharebox.ictp.it is 5GB. If you require more space please send your request to ICTS.
    • You may create as many shared-folders as you wish. Note that each shared-folder may have completely different sets of collaborators.
    • In case of requests, comments or difficulties, please contact ICTS staff on ext 999 or via the web http://icts.ictp.it/help/

Thank you and enjoy the sharebox.ictp.it service.