2.12 Managing Your iFolder Account

To view and manage your Novell iFolder account, right-click the iFolder icon, then click Account Information. A Novell iFolder window opens on your desktop.

You can use the toolbar at the top to view the conflict bin and access help.

The iFolder window also provides three property tabs:

2.12.1 Viewing Account Information

The Account Information tab displays information about how you have configured and are using your iFolder client. It is divided into the following three sections:

User Information

Lists your current user ID, the location of your local Novell iFolder directory on the current workstation, and the IP address of the iFolder server where your files are stored.

Server Information

Lists the total space you have on your iFolder server. It also lists how much of that total space is used space or free space.

Your iFolder administrator assigns the storage quota that you are permitted on the iFolder server. On first install, the iFolder client sets up your iFolder account on the iFolder server with a default quota of online storage. Within that quota, you must manage your working files and the conflict bin. For example, given a quota of 200 MB, you might set aside 10 percent, or 20 MB, for the conflict bin.

HINT:If you need to make room for additional files, check the Conflict Bin to clear unneeded files and to reallocate space allotted to your bin.

Your iFolder administrator can help you determine an account quota that best meets your needs. When deciding what your quota should be, consider your work environment and the types and sizes of files typical for you. For example, any files that are larger than the quota will not be synchronized because doing so would exceed the storage allotment on the iFolder server.

If you need more space, contact your iFolder administrator.

Client Information

Lists the size of the files that are waiting to be uploaded to the server from your workstation and the number of files that the iFolder client has yet to synchronize with the iFolder server.

2.12.2 Viewing Account Activity

The View Account Activity tab displays a log of the changes that are uploaded or downloaded between the iFolder client and the iFolder server. The log records the time and date that a change was made, followed by a short description of what type of change took place. When you make a change to a file in your iFolder directory, the changes are automatically logged and tracked.

Click Sync to force the server to synchronize with your local iFolder directory. While files are synchronizing, click Stop to pause the synchronization process.

You also have the option to save your log activities or to clear the log of all its current entries.

2.12.3 Setting iFolder Preferences

The Preference tab sets your preferences for synchronization, encryption passphrase, and login password. To set iFolder preferences, right-click the iFolder icon, then click Account Information > Preferences.

Setting Synchronization Preferences

You can turn auto-synchronization on or off by checking or unchecking the Automatic Sync check box.

  • Synchronize to Server: Sets the delay (in seconds) between making changes to your iFolder files and the time that the iFolder client uploads them to the iFolder server.

  • Synchronize from Server: Sets the interval of time (in seconds) that the iFolder client waits to check with the iFolder server to see what changes need to be downloaded to your workstation.

If you adjust either of these values, click Apply for your changes to take effect.

Setting Login Preferences

You can request that the iFolder client remember your password and encryption passphrase so that you do not need to enter them each time you activate synchronization for your iFolder files.

2.12.4 Viewing Files in the Conflict Bin

Conflicts sometimes occur between versions of files during synchronization, as files are exchanged between your workstations and the Novell iFolder server. If a conflict arises between versions of files being concurrently synchronized among your workstations, iFolder gives priority to the file with the most current time stamp. Then, it saves the disputed file in the Conflict Bin. However, if the file size exceeds the maximum capacity you have specified for the bin, the file will not be saved. Also, if the bin is full, iFolder deletes the files according to a first-in-first-out rule to make room for new conflicted files.

For example, suppose that you have the iFolder client installed on two computers: computer A and computer B. At some point in the day, you disconnect both of these computers from the network and continue to work from both computers offline. While you are working, you make a change to one of your iFolder files on computer A and then, later in the day, using computer B, you make a different change to that same file. You now decide to work online, so you reconnect computer B and then computer A to the network in order to synchronize your changes to the iFolder server.

When you reconnect computer B to the network, its change is uploaded to the iFolder server. However, when you reconnect computer A to the network, it also uploads its change to the iFolder server, overwriting the newer change that you made on computer B. To prevent data loss, iFolder saves the overwritten file to the conflict bin.

Opening the Conflict Bin Viewer

The Conflict Bin Viewer allows you to view and manage files that were saved in the conflict bin when they were overwritten or deleted during a synchronization. You must be logged in to the iFolder client to view and manage the files in the conflict bin.

To view and manage the files saved in your iFolder conflict bin:

  1. Log in to the iFolder client.

  2. Open the Conflict Bin Viewer using one of the following methods:

    • Right-click the iFolder icon in the system tray, then click View Conflict Bin.
    • Right-click the iFolder icon in the system tray, then click Account Information > View > View Conflict Bin.

Setting the Bin Size

In the Conflict Bin Viewer, you can set the maximum space (in MB) you want to reserve for the files in conflict. This space is not part of the total space allocated to you for iFolder storage by your iFolder administrator. The conflict bin resides on your local hard drive, not on the server.

To set the maximum size of your conflict bin:

  1. In the Conflict Bin Viewer, click File > Properties.

  2. Specify the maximum space to reserve.

  3. Click OK.

Restoring and Deleting Files in the Conflict Bin

You can restore or permanently delete the files in your Conflict Bin. A restored file moves from the conflict bin to your local iFolder directory. After it is restored, iFolder updates the copy of the file in your directory on the iFolder server whenever you next login to iFolder from that workstation.

To restore files in the conflict bin:

  1. In the Conflict Bin Viewer file list, select the files you want to restore.

  2. Click Restore.

To permanently delete files in the conflict bin:

  1. In the Conflict Bin Viewer file list, select the files you want to delete.

  2. Click Delete.