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Center for Conservation Biology | UC Riverside: Research Unit Resource Guide

5 Project Management Tools

5.1 UCR VPN - GlobalProtect

UC Riverside provides free access to a Virtual Private Network (VPN), GlobalProtect, that allows you to access the CCB NAS Server or campus resources (ex: library services) when working remotely.

To install and use the GlobalProtect VPN, navigate to the UCR ServiceLink GlobalProtect Connection Installation Instructions.

5.2 CCB NAS Server

The Center for Conservation Biology has a NAS Server, which serves as the primary data storage location to access data and reference files. CCB staff should ensure that all work and research related files are saved on the NAS. Reference Chapter 7 for proper directory organization and file naming.

Network-attached storage (NAS) is dedicated file storage that enables multiple users to retrieve data from centralized disk capacity. The purpose of NAS is to enable users to collaborate and share data more effectively. It is especially useful to teams that need remote access. NAS connects to a wireless router, making it easy for remote workers to access files from any device with a network connection.

The CCB NAS server model is Synology DS920+. For more information on the unit, see Chapter 8.

5.2.1 Access the CCB NAS Server from Local Computer

In order to access the CCB NAS, there just a few steps:

  • Step 01: Request the creation of a NAS user account through the designated CCB staff member. You will need to provide your preferred username (typically similar to UCR ID) and a passcode. The passcode must be a strong code: a unique code with 12 - 15 characters consisting of a mix of letters, numbers, symbols, and does not contain personal information.

  • Step 02: Once a user account has been created, log onto the UCR VPN (see above section).

  • Step 03: Map the server onto your local computer:

    • For PCs running Windows 11:
      1. Open File Explorer on Windows 11.
      2. Click on This PC from the left pane.
      3. Click the See More (three-dotted) button in the command bar and select the “Map network drive” option. Screen shot of PC file path to map network drive.
      4. Use the Drive drop-down menu and choose a letter to assign the drive.
      5. In the Folder field, enter the network path to the shared folder, \\CCBNAS.dyn.ucr.edu\pdo. (Or click the Browse button to browse the folder to map as a network drive, and click the OK button.)
      6. Check the Reconnect at sign-in option to make the connection permanent.
      7. Check the Connect using different credentials option if the credentials are different from the account you are already using.
      8. Click the Finish button.
      9. Confirm the network account credentials (if applicable) to map the network drive to Windows 11.
      10. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, the network drive will become available in File Explorer.

If you run into issues, first read over this blog post for a common linkage issue.

  • For PCs running Windows 10:
    1. On your Windows 10 PC, open Windows Explorer.
    2. Click on This Computer.
    3. Click on Map network drive.
    4. Select a drive letter from the drop-down menu.
    5. Enter \\CCBNAS.dyn.ucr.edu\pdo into the folder field.
    6. Click Finish.
    7. Enter your Synology NAS username and password in the Windows credentials pop-up prompt.

The mapped network drive will now appear within Windows Explorer as local storage, allowing you to quickly transfer files.

  • For Macs:
    1. Open the Finder app.
    2. Click Go on top bar and select Connect to Server.
    3. Type in the CCB NAS IP: smb://CCBNAS.dyn.ucr.edu/pdo
    4. Enter User Name and Passcode.

There should be a connection set to the CCB NAS at the folder level.

5.2.2 Connecting the CCB NAS Synology to Git

The information below was taken from the Synology Knowledge Center.

Git is an open-source distributed version control system, which allows you to maintain software source code, documents, or any type of file on a computer with speed and efficiency.

5.2.2.1 To create a Git repository:

  1. Sign in to DSM using an account with administrative privileges.
  2. Go to Control Panel > Terminal & SNMP > Terminal then enable SSH service.
  3. Go to Control Panel > Shared Folder and create a shared folder for Git repositories.
  4. On your computer, enter the command below to access Synology NAS via SSH: ssh [Synology NAS admin user name]@[Synology NAS IP address or hostname] -p [The port number of SSH] For example, you can enter: ssh myadminuser@192.168.1.2 -p 22
  5. Enter the command below to change the current directory to the shared folder you created in step 3: cd /[Volume name]/[Shared folder name]/ For example, you can enter: cd /volume1/mysharefolder/
  6. Enter the command below to create a folder on your computer for the Git repository: mkdir [Folder name]
  7. Enter the command below to change the current location to the new folder: cd [Folder name]
  8. Enter the command below to create a Git bare repository under the folder you created in step 6: git init --bare

5.2.2.2 To Allow Users to Use Git on Synology NAS Server

  1. Sign in to DSM using an account with administrators’ privileges.
  2. Go to Control Panel > Terminal & SNMP > Terminal, and enable SSH service for users to access Git repositories via SSH.
  3. Go to Control Panel > User & Group and create a user. Grant Read/Write permission of the Git repository shared folder to the user.
  4. Go to Package Center > Installed and open the Git Server package.
  5. Allow the user to access repositories via git-shell.

5.3 Google Apps

The CCB team utilizes a number of Google applications for project management, data & file sharing, and communicating with colleagues.

Google Calendar: There is a lab Google calendar, UCR CCB Palm Desert. This calendar maintains lab mates work and leave schedules as well as any team meetings. Please make sure this calendar is shared with you once you have obtained your UCR NetId.

Google Drive: CCB utilizes Shared Drive folders as a file sharing application. You must request access to the shared drive folder from the lab P.I.

Google Sites:

The CCB’s Desert Climate Research Initiative (DCRI) | Iniciativa de Resiliencia Climática del Desierto (IRCD) has a Google Sites that provides information on the Center’s climate and community resilience work.

There is a CCB Google Site that is in draft form at the moment. This site may serve as an intranet or provide public facing information in the future.

5.4 Microsoft 360 Suite

UCR provides free access to Microsoft Office 365 Pro Plus for faculty, staff, and students! Please note that the available applications differ between PC and Mac OS. To learn more about downloading Microsoft applications, please visit the UC Riverside Microsoft 360 information page.

Microsoft 360 training resources can be found here.

5.5 Slack

Image of Slack logo, light blue, bright green, red, and mustard yellow symbol with lower case slack spelled out in black font.

Slack is a messaging app that connects teams via channels and direct messages (DMs). To make the most of this team communication tool, you will need to download the application to your desktop, have the application open throughout the workday, and adjust the notification settings to your preferences to receive timely alerts.

5.5.1 Download the Slack app

  • For Windows: download Slack here.
  • For Macs: download Slack here.
  • Consider adding the app to your Android or iOS device(s) for mobile communication with the CCB team!

5.5.2 Join the CCB_UCR Slack Workspace

Follow this link to join the CCB Slack workspace. Once you have joined, you will be automatically be added to several workspace channels:

  • #general: a channel for general announcements and team-wide conversations
  • #how_to_slack: a channel for tips for how to best use Slack and its apps, as well as a space for the team to ask questions re: how to best utilize this communication tool. Check out the pinned messages and bookmarked websites.
  • #meetings: a channel for announcing meetings and sharing resources for team meetings.
  • #random: a channel to share random news, updates, ideas, jokes, etc.

5.5.3 Slack Resources

The Slack help center has useful how to guides and tutorials to facilitate working in Slack.

Slack Trainings

Check out Slack’s Top 5 tips for getting started in Slack (5 min read) to learn the app’s basic functions and communication workflows.

The Slack help center’s “how to” guide has several sections:

Slack Apps

Up to 10 Slack apps are available for free Slack accounts, and unlimited apps are available for Pro Slack accounts.

  • A Trello app is incorporated in the CCB_UCR Slack workspace. You can create cards in Slack for the CCB Team Projects Trello workspace. To learn how, follow this Slack connect tool.
  • The Zoom app can be added to Slack that allows your to start or join a Zoom Meeting or Zoom Phone call by using the “/zoom” slash command in any Slack channel or message.
  • Add the Google Drive app to Slack to share resources from the CCB Shared Drive.
  • There is an app for Microsoft Teams which allows a Teams video call from Slack.
    • Start a Teams video call right from Slack Launch a call in Slack with the /teams-calls slash command. Before joining, get a quick glance at who’s already on the call and when the call kicked off.
    • Jump from Slack straight into a meeting — join Teams meetings directly from calendar reminders in Slack, using the Outlook or Google Calendar apps.
    • Customize call settings for your team. Set Microsoft Teams Calls as your default calling provider, so anyone can start a video call in Teams with a quick click of the phone button in Slack.

Other cool Slack workspaces to join:

5.6 Trello

Image of Trello logo, blue 3 bold blue lines and trello in black font.

Trello is a project management app tool that provides teams the opportunity to create task lists, reference & resource lists, and communicate via tagging! To connect with CCB’s Trello Workspace, send a request to CCB’s PI. The main board is CCB Team Projects.

5.7 Zoom

Zoom is a great tool to schedule virtual meetings, and the CCB hosts Zoom-based team meeting regularly. UC Riverside provides all faculty, staff, and students a free premium account. In order to utilize this service, download the application and sign in via Single Sign-ON (SS0). For the most current installation and log in information, visit UC Riverside’s Information Technology Systems Zoom account page.

Image of UC Riverside's Zoom Service page that has 4 buttons that prompts users to either Sign In, Sign In, Download, Join, Host.

  • Step 2: Once the application is downloading, Zoom will automatically open. You will be prompted to either Join a Meeting or Sign In. Select Sign In and set up your UCR Zoom account using your NetId information.

  • Step 3: Click the Sign In with SSO button, then enter ucr in the company domain section.

Image of Zoom Account Sign In prompt displaying 4 buttons: SSO, Apple, Google, Facebook
  • Step 4: You will then be prompted to sign in, this time using your UCR NetId. The program may open up an authentication window requesting your UCR NetId as shown below:
  • Step 5: Personalize your Zoom account! You can add your name, pronouns, and an image to your profile, create a personal Zoom room to utilize as a default meeting space, and set settings like mute all participants when they join a meeting or turn off settings such as start meetings with participant video on. Participants can change this during the meeting.

Happy Zooming!

Zoom Resources:

5.8 Zotero

The Center for Conservation Biology shares research references through Zotero software. Zotero is a citation management tool and allows groups to collect and share references easily. The Zotero browser extension makes it easy to copy citations from webpages.

To install Zotero and the extension, please follow UC Riverside’s installation instructions here. Note: These instructions are for a Windows machine, but it is a similar process for Macs.

The next step is to create a Zotero account and enable syncing to enable extension use and to be able to join the CCB Zotero Reference Group. Make sure to use your using the UCR email address when setting up the Zotero account.

To connect to the CCB Zotero Reference Group, navigate to this link. If you do not have access to the Group page, please send a request that you be added to the CCB PI.

For more information on how to use Zotero, check out these links: