How to Recover Backed-up Files on our Server
Euclid files are backed up two different ways.
Backup First Method
We have a server called backup.math.temple.edu, distinct from our main server euclid.math.temple.edu, that mirrors the contents of euclid each day at 5AM and 5PM. If you wish to recover a file that you've deleted, then accessing backup prior to 5AM, 5PM may allow you to recover your file.
Backup Second Method
There is another server archive.math.temple.edu that mirrors the contents of euclid every 4 hours starting at midnight. The last backup of each day, i.e. midnight, is not overwritten, so archive holds daily snapshots going back to October 2008. If you wish to recover a file that you've deleted, then accessing archive prior to 12AM, 4AM, 8AM, 12PM, 4PM, 8PM may allow you to recover your file. On the other hand, you can recover archived versions of any given file by accessing archive and typing for example
ls monday/oct-06-2009/home/fac/dept/private/Schedule.xls
or by globbing to obtain all versions
ls */*/home/fac/dept/private/Schedule.xls
Of course files in backup or archive are only as private as you've made them in euclid.