[labnetwork] Getting files off older computers

[Michael Rooks]

We have an internal lab network for old PCs, and a file server with two 
ethernet ports- one looking in, and the other looking out. Lab users 
dump their data, images, etc on the file server, and then later reach 
over to retrieve their stuff. In a few cases we have an even simpler 
setup: wire up a new Windows box next to the old one, then use the new 
box as the Z: drive for the old WinXP instrument. The user can then turn 
to the new box to transfer files to network storage. That means the new 
box must have two ports. We've been using little Intex Nuc boxes, since 
they are cheap and come with one wireless and one wired port. We use the 
wired ethernet for the local connection, and the wireless for connection 
to the campus network.

It's difficult to shut off the USB ports, since they are used for the 
keyboards and mice. We put stickers over the unused USB ports, but 
sometimes people use them anyway. Short of gluing the connectors I don't 
have any good ideas about how to ban USB sticks.

--------------------------------
Michael Rooks
Yale Institute of Nanoscience and Quantum Engineering
nano.yale.edu <http://nano.yale.edu>



On 09/10/2018 01:28 PM, Dennis Culver wrote:
> Hello Kevin,
> I run into this issue with systems running WIN 3.1 & Win 98.  On the 
> process equipment, disable USB support in BIOS so your process systems 
> don't get infected and allow a "print to file" option as this isn't 
> bi-directional.  Then, just install a wireless network card to each 
> system PC so that those files could be dumped to a dedicated PC for 
> file retrieval or directly sent to each students Email address through 
> that PC.  There is an inexpensive program called Nitro Reader that can 
> create *.pdf files at your source PC's as well so there aren't any 
> compatibility issues with software.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kevin McPeak <kmcpeak at lsu.edu>
> To: labnetwork <labnetwork at mtl.mit.edu>
> Sent: Mon, Sep 10, 2018 4:56 am
> Subject: [labnetwork] Getting files off older computers
>
> Dear Colleagues,
>
> Here at the LSU cleanroom, we have several older computers (e.g Win XP 
> and Win 7) which are not allowed on the network. These computers are 
> connected to instruments (e.g. SEM and AFM) that we often need to get 
> files from. Unfortunately, the instruments do not run on Win 10 (our 
> network administrator won't allow Win 7 on the network as well).
>
> The current protocol to get images etc. off these older computers is 
> to use a cleanroom owned USB stick to move the file to one computer in 
> the cleanroom which is on the network.
>
> I do not like this protocol. It is very difficult to stop users from 
> using their own USB stick, which could be infected. Also USB sticks 
> grow legs.
>
> I suspect other facilities on the list have faced these same 
> challenges. I am curious how you have resolved them. Thank you in 
> advance for your input!
>
> Regards,
> Kevin
>
> -- 
> Kevin M. McPeak
> Assistant Professor
> Louisiana State University
> Dept. of Chemical Engineering
> 3307 Patrick Taylor Hall
> Baton Rouge, LA  70803
> email: kmcpeak at lsu.edu <mailto:kmcpeak at lsu.edu>
> phone: 225-578-0058
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