Description

What is Pine or a Home Directory?

Pine

Pine is a text-based email program that provides access to your UBC Email (Netinfo/Interchange) account. You can use Pine by connecting to Interchange (interchange.ubc.ca) with an SSH program, like PuTTY.

Home Directories

A home directory is a folder on the Interchange server where you can store your files. You can transfer files between your computer and your home directory using an SFTP program, like FileZilla. If you receive an email message with an attachment in Pine, you can save the attachment to your home directory (if the size of the file doesn't exceed your quota).

Changes from the Old Pine / Home Directory Service

The refreshed Pine / Home Directory service features significant improvements:

  • It runs on a new platform, ensuring reliability for years to come. Data in home directories is stored on the UBC Storage Grid, and the service offers the latest version of Pine.
  • CWL is used for authentication, allowing you to use the same username and password that you use for accessing the majority of UBC's online services
  • All communications to the service are encrypted, ensuring the security of your CWL account and data

  • We have tried to keep change to a minimum, but if you have used the old Pine / Home Directory services, you may need to undertake a few steps to access the new service.

    • You will need a CWL account that matches your Netinfo/Interchange username (the name that appears before the "@" symbol in your UBC Email address). If you do not have a CWL account that matches your Netinfo/Interchange username, learn how to sign-up for a CWL account.
    • You must be running Windows 95 or newer, or Mac OS X, to operate supported SSH and SFTP software.
    • If you are running Windows, download PuTTY , an SSH client. This client is much like Telnet, only it communicates with the service with an encrypted connection, protecting your information. Mac OS X comes with an SSH client installed.
    • Download FileZilla , an SFTP client for accessing files in your home directory. This client is much like an FTP client, but it also communicates with an encrypted connection. FileZilla is available for Windows and Mac OS X.

    Learn how to use PuTTY and FileZilla with the renewed Pine / Home Directory service.

    Dial-up Terminal Users

    If you connected to Pine with a dial-up terminal, like HyperTerminal, you will need to change your connection method to access the refreshed Pine / Home Directory service.

    You will need to configure your computer to connect to UBC Dial-up (Netinfo/Interchange) using PPP. This is supported on computers running Windows 95 or greater, and Mac OS X.

    Using Pine

    When you log-in to the new service via SSH, you will no longer need to navigate through menus in order to access Pine. Instead, Pine will load immediately. Your current address book will be migrated to the new service, and you will find no changes to the folders and messages in your mailbox.

    Home Directories and Disk Quota

    All of your old home directory files will be moved to the new service automatically; they will be located in a folder called old-home under your new home directory. You will have one year to download your old home directory files, or move them to your new home directory folder (simply click on the files and drag them to your home directory folder in an FTP program). On January 15 2009, your old home directory will be removed.

    During the one year period, your old home directory files will not count against your disk usage quota. Please note that disk quotas are enforced on the new service. When you exceed your disk quota, an email message will be sent to your UBC Email address and you will not be able to copy any additional data to your home directory.

    If you try to copy files from your old-home directory to your home directory, and you get an error message, you have likely exceeded your disk usage quota.

    Features and Pricing

    The renewed Pine / Home Directory service offers these features:

    • CWL authentication
    • Access to Pine via SSH
    • SFTP access to home directory storage
    • 4 MB of home directory space

    Due to decreasing demand, the Pine / Home Directory service is a special offering for UBC Email subscribers. Currently, this offering is free of charge, though pricing may change in the future. Any changes to pricing or features will be announced in advance.

    More Information

    For more information about Pine / Home Directory service, please contact the UBC IT Service Centre Help Desk