Phase One of the CatFiles reorganization project (Y: Drive) was completed in 2022, and Phase Two (W: Drive) is now underway. CatFiles was the central file server at K-State for many years. Storage technology has improved over the years, and security threats have increased. For those reasons, the strategic decision has been made to reorganize CatFiles.
Archives and Records Management has partnered with the Division of Information Technology for this project. K-State Libraries is currently taking part in a pilot to help determine the best policies and procedures for this enormous undertaking that will affect 160 departments. More information will be provided about the timeline, archiving process, and storage options in the coming months.
While the long-term goal is to reduce the usage of W: Drive, all the current CatFiles W: Drive business needs must first be addressed. We appreciate your patience as we create an organization process while following the K-State’s Records Retention Policies.
What to expect
Archives and Records Management will run reports for each department to better understand the files stored on that department’s CatFiles W: Drive. An Archives and Records Management team member will then work with the content owners to determine where those files need to be moved or if the files need to be deleted. Most files will be classified into one of the following categories:
- Migrate — Files will move from the W: Drive to OneDrive/SharePoint.
- University Archive — Move records that must be permanently kept to the Records Management “Deep Permanent Storage” infrastructure.
- Cold Storage — Move inactive, rarely used, or accessed data to Cold Storage.
- Delete — Delete files that are no longer needed.
The reorganization of CatFiles is expected to take two years, with the Archives and Records Management team working with 160 departments to ensure all needs are met. Some files are unique, and those will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
