File storage

CLOUDFLOW uses File stores to map files stored on a specific location. Files can be stored locally, on a network share or on an external location.

Local storage

The easiest way of storage is local storage or direct attached storage (DAS). In this case, the files are stored on the server itself, and CLOUDFLOW can access the files via a local path. The File store mapping will be a local path, for example C:\Filestore\.

On a network share

You can also store your files on a network share.
  • :
    • UNC paths: on Windows it is preferable to use UNC paths (\\server\share).
      Note: Do not use mapped drive letters, as a mapped drive letter is bound to a user context. The CLOUDFLOW service will run under another user, and will not have access to these drive letters.
    • Mount credentials: if the server runs as a domain user, the IT department can setup the authorization for the user in such a way that it can mount the network shares without requiring a password. For environments that do no use a domain, CLOUDFLOW offers the ability to specify the mount credentials that need to be used to mount the share.
  • :
    • SMB share: to connect to a shared folder, you need to use the smb notation (smb://server/share) and restart CLOUDFLOW to mount.
    • AFP share: to connect to a shared folder, you need to use the afp notation (afp://server/share) and restart CLOUDFLOW to mount.
    Note: In case of a change in a remote File store, CLOUDFLOW needs to be restarted in both cases.

External files

Although it is preferable to use a CLOUDFLOW URL, files that do not belong to a mapped File store can still be accessed by addressing them directly on the file system. You can do this by an official standard which starts with file:///. This URL can differ depending on the OS CLOUDFLOW is running on.

OSX examples:

  • file:///folder_on_boot_disk/file.txt
  • file:///disk_name/folder_on_disk/file.txt
  • file:///volumes/disk_name/folder_on_disk/file.txt

Windows examples:

  • file:///C:/folder_on_disk/file.txt
  • file:///disk_name/folder_on_disk/file.txt