Bin is a video editing and archiving network storage system for VMA and Journalism, as well as for departments and organizations with large files or editing needs. Bin is advantageous for video and audio storage over other file storage systems because of its speed and high volume. Connections to Bin are only allowed either on campus (in a lab, for instance) or using the Emerson VPN.
Non-video files should be kept on web-based systems like Google Drive or Box so they can be accessed and shared more easily. Bin is not to be used as an archive, but rather for active media production work.
Connect from a Mac
With a Finder window active, click Go > Connect to Server (CMD+K) and type smb://bin.emerson.edu. Authenticate with your school credentials. If the option is available, designate the domain as EMERSON. You will see a number of shares to which to connect.
Connect from Windows
Open the Run Command Box in File Explorer (WIN+R) and search \\bin.emerson.edu. Authenticate with your school credentials. If the option is available, designate the domain as EMERSON. You will see a number of shares to which to connect.
What the Shares are
- All Faculty and Staff Home Directories: The personal directories of Faculty and Staff that you have access to.
- All Students Home Directories: The personal directories of Students that you have access to.
- Courses: Directories by course code, permissioned specifically for use by courses.
- Departments: Shares categorized by Department.
- Faculty and Staff: A direct path to the home directory of a Faculty/Staff member.
- Organizations: Shares for organizations such as EIV.
- Sienna: The Journalism department's storage point for use with Sienna, the play-to-air Asset Management system.
- Students: A direct path to the home directory of a student.
- VMA Audio Library: Contains files for the Audio library. Accessible by VMA students and faculty.
- VMA SFX Library: Contains files for the Sound Effects library. Accessible by VMA students and faculty.
Commonly Used Shares
- Students (your personal space): smb://bin.emerson.edu/students
- Faculty/Staff (your personal space): smb://bin.emerson.edu/faculty and staff
- Foundations Practice - VM131: smb://bin.emerson.edu/courses/vm131 courses
- Motion Graphics: smb://bin.emerson.edu/courses/motion graphics courses
- Sourcebook: smb://bin.emerson.edu/courses/editing courses/sourcebook
- Edit Public: smb://bin.emerson.edu/courses/editing courses/EditPublic
- Audio Library: smb://bin.emerson.edu/VMA Audio Library
- SFX Library: smb://bin.emerson.edu/VMA SFX Library
- PPL Workshops: smb://bin.emerson.edu/departments/visual and media arts/ppl workshops
- Workshops: smb://bin.emerson.edu/workshops
Available Spaces
Bin is accessible by any lab computer, desktop, or laptop connected to Emerson’s Boston campus network or VPN. Note that while Bin is accessible from all across the campus, not all spaces have the wiring needed for high-speed video editing.
Data Retention
To ensure the efficient use of Emerson's network storage and maintain a sustainable infrastructure, Bin follows a five-year access-based retention policy. This applies to all storage locations within Bin, including:
- Student home directories
- Faculty and staff home directories
- Course shares
- Department shares
- Organization shares
Any file that has not been accessed, modified, or opened in the last five years will be permanently deleted. This process applies to all users and all files stored in Bin.
Deleted files may be recoverable within two weeks. After that period, the file is permanently lost.
Home Directory Retention
Home Directories are deleted per the Access for Departing Employees and Access for Departing Students guides.
How to Keep Your Data Safe
- If you need long-term storage, do not rely on Bin as an archive. Instead, move important files to permanent storage.
- If you are unsure about whether a file is actively in use, open it before the retention window closes to reset its last accessed timestamp.
This policy helps us maintain a reliable and high-performing storage system for active media production work.
Common Questions
Is Bin backed up? Is my data protected?
Bin does use snapshots, which saves past versions of files in case of accidental deletion or loss. To be safe, you should keep copies of important files in other locations as well, such as on your personal device or in web-based file storage systems like Google Drive and Box.
Can I access Bin from off-campus or over the web?
Bin is only accessible while on the Emerson campus network or VPN. Bin is not accessible by the web.
I need access to a student/professor/partner’s Bin directory. Who do I contact?
Please have both parties e-mail helpdesk@emerson.edu, both confirming the request.