How to install Dell EMC GeoDrive

Overview

Dell EMC GeoDrive (GeoDrive) is a free application that runs on Windows and Windows Server, exposing UKCloud Cloud Storage as file systems. It's designed as an easy way to use object storage by enabling Windows applications to interface with Cloud Storage servers using the popular S3 REST API.

Use cases

You can use GeoDrive to:

Expose UKCloud Cloud Storage for native access on Windows through a centralised server with GeoDrive installed on a centralised Windows Server installation
Present Cloud Storage as storage for applications, without additional development
Use Cloud Storage as a target for backups or long-term file retention

Before you begin

GeoDrive offers a single caching option:

Stub: files are initially stored locally and replaced with a stub, or shortcut, after a period of time. When you access a file that has been stubbed, it will be retrieved from the cloud. This offers the best scalability, as you can use a virtually unlimited amount of cloud storage.

Installing GeoDrive

Raise a Service Request, using the Other Service Request template, to access the GeoDrive installer.

For more detailed instructions, see How to use My Calls to raise and monitor support tickets.
Extract and run the setup launcher from the ZIP file.
Step through the wizard, adjusting values to suit your environment.

Note

The Data Directory is used as a local cache for any content you place in the GeoDrive drive, so you may want to put this on a non-system volume.
When the installation is complete, click Add GeoDrive Drive to open the Drive Parameters page.
On the Drive Parameters page, select any available drive letter from the drop down menu to use as the GeoDrive drive then click Next.

Optional: give your ECS drive a description.
On the Settings page, click the Hosts button to configure the connection to the Cloud Storage service.
On the General tab, click the Add button and configure the settings as shown in the following example:
- You can find the User ID in the Storage section of the UKCloud Portal.
- If you've forgotten or don't know your Secret Access Key, you can reset it in the Storage section of the Portal.
  
  Note
  
  The Server Name and Description can be anything, but must not be blank. In the example it is shown as UKCloud and UKCloud - ECS Drive.
From the Use https or http list, select HTTPS.
In the Host name / IP field input one of the following S3 API endpoints:
- Corsham (Assured)
  - Internet: cas.cor00005.ukcloud.com
  - PSN Assured: cas.cor00005.psnassured.ukcloud.com
  - HSCN: cas.cor00005.ukcloud.thirdparty.nhs.uk/
- Farnborough (Assured)
  - Internet: cas.frn00006.ukcloud.com
  - PSN Assured: cas.frn00006.psnassured.ukcloud.com
  - HSCN: cas.frn00006.ukcloud.thirdparty.nhs.uk/
Deselect the Port Override check box.
Click OK to return to the Settings page.
The rest of the fields on the Settings page enable you to configure the root directory, encryption and compression settings.

If not already selected, make sure to select the Write all files and folders in lower case check box.

Tip

Configure the remaining fields appropriately for your environment, or accept the defaults. We suggest you give the root directory a friendlier name, so that you can more easily identify it.
Click the Advanced button to configure various thresholds, such as how long a local file will be retained before being replaced with a stub.
Click Next to get to the Logging page.
Change the settings on the Logging page to meet your requirements.
Click Finish to complete the wizard. GeoDrive connects to Cloud Storage and starts synchronising any content you put on the drive letter you assigned to it.
You can share the GeoDrive drive, or a folder within it, so that other machines on the network can access it.

Tip

See Microsoft's How-To guide on how to share a a drive on the network from Windows.

Next steps

This guide has shown you how to install and configure GeoDrive for use with Cloud Storage. For more information about how to use the service, see the following articles:

Dell EMC GeoDrive overview video

Feedback

If you find a problem with this article, click Improve this Doc to make the change yourself or raise an issue in GitHub. If you have an idea for how we could improve any of our services, send an email to feedback@ukcloud.com.