Google Filestream - Old Page information

Owned by Scott KAsai (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Jun 03, 2019
2 min read

Content

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Description

This article is just a little information with regards to what Google Filestream is.

Basically, Google Filestream creates a 'drive' mapping to your Google Apps Drive, allowing you to access your Google Apps Drive like it was attached to your computer.

Who can use it?

Anyone with the Google Apps for Education Account can use it.

Therefore, UCSB Connect users can use it.

Installation

  1. Download Google Drive File Stream for Mac or Windows. You must be logged into your UCSB Connect account to see this page.
  2. Run the installation package.
  3. Log into the portal with your UCSB Connect email address and password.
  4. Select Allow on the required permissions prompt.

System Requirements

  • Windows - Windows 7 and up.  At the moment, Windows Server based OS is not supported.
  • Mac - El Capitan (10.11) and up.  For High Sierra (10.13), please do the following:
    • Go to System Preferences
    • Go to Security & Privacy
    • Click on Allow for Google File Stream access when asked.

What are the restrictions?

This is best answered by checking out the FAQ on UCSB Connect's FAQ here.

Support

ECI can only give the 'best effort' support as this is a service provided by Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) group.

Most support issues can be referred to ETS here: http://www.connect.ucsb.edu/help/request

Pros

Filestream's Pros are the following...

  • Access to the data on Google App Drive without needing to copy all the data to your computer 

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    This was a drawback in using Google Drive Sync, Dropbox or even Box Sync.

    For those services to work properly, a copy of whatever was on that service had to reside on your computer, which would take up valuable space on your computer, especially laptops

  • Acts like a "drive" on your computer 

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    For Windows, it would act like a drive on your computer instead a folder tucked away somewhere.

    For Macs, it would be another mounted device instead of a folder buried somewhere.

Cons

Here are some of the drawbacks with Filestream

  • It is an Online Service 

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    This means that in order for Filestream to be effective, you need network access.

    You can set some files for 'offline' access, which means a copy of it will reside on your computer to work on and sync back when there is a network connection available.

  • Designed for use with the Windows/Finder environment. 

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    We have found that Filestream sometimes does not populate information if you try and go to the Filestream drive via Command Line (Terminal for Macs).

    It relies on Windows' Explorer or Mac's Finder to make a connection to Google Drive.

    Once the Windows/Finder browses to the location, the Command Line (Terminal) side will be able to see the files/folders in question.

Further Resources

You can get more information from the following links:

Getting started with Drive - https://gsuite.google.com/learning-center/products/drive/get-started/#!/


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