Overview

This page documents the configuration and process for allowing warehouse data requesters to retrieve their data over ftp.

The goals of this system are as follows:

• Allow users to retrieve their requested data over the internet.
• Limit users to retrieving only the data they have requested
• Disallow shell access for users - File retrieval only
• Require that users provide a username and password when retrieving their data.
• Require users to retrieve their data within a specified time frame.
• Avoid duplicating data on the server.
• Prevent users from changing data housed on the server.
• Maintain the directory structure of requested data.
• Automate the system configuration as much as possible.

Preliminary Configuration

• configure main data store for read-only access
• vsfptd configured for chroot to home
• ftponly shell
• /etc/ftponlyshell - shell script that echos a warning and exits
• Added to /etc/shells

Automated configuration

Setup

Per User

• Create user account on viking (if not existing)
• -m make a home directory
• -e YYYY-MM-DD specify expiration
• -s /etc/ftponlyshell set users shell to the warning shell
  useradd -m -e 2012-02-25 -s /etc/ftponlyshell username
  
  

• Update existing user account
• extend expiration?
• ensure shell is /etc/ftponlyshell
  usermod -e 2012-02-25 -s /etc/ftponlyshell username
  
  

Per Request

• Build matching directory structure for requested data in /home/user/user home
  mkdir -p /home/username/path_to_data/
  
  
• mount --bindExpose main data store directory to paralleluser
  mount directory--bind in/main_data_store/path_to_data/ /home/user//home/username/path_to_data/
  
  User permissions on /main_data_store/path_to_data/ must be set accordingly
• Generate wget retrieval script with user credentials and correct path
  OUT_DIR=. ; DWUN=username ; DWPW=password ; wget -r -c -nH -P $OUT_DIR ftp://$DWUN:$DWPW@viking.cira.colostate.edu/path_to_data/ ;
  
  

Tear Down

Per User (?)

• Delete user account and home directory

Per Request

• Un-mount relevant directories in /home/user/