How do I map a network drive/connect to my University filestore (M drive)?

Every user at Aberystwyth University has 2 GB of filestore on the University network on which to store their work. This filestore (known as your M drive) is located on a server in the Computer Room in Llandinam Building and so can be accessed from any computer with a connection to the Internet.

The following instructions enable you to make a connection from your computer to this filestore. This is called mapping a network drive .

To do this your computer must be connected to the University Network ( How do I do this? ). If you are not connected to the University Network but have an internet connection, you can use FTP ( How do I do this? )

• If you are using Windows XP, Vista or 7, you can try the following buttons to see video instructions or let us do it for you automatically.  Otherwise, you can follow the manual instructions .

 

• Otherwise, manual instructions to connect to your central filestore using:-
  • Apple Snow Leopard/Leopard/Tiger
  • From the command prompt
• Creating a case-sensitive connection to your drive
• Troubleshooting

Show me

Windows XP/Vista/7

• Right click on the My Computer/Computer icon
• From the menu which appears left click on the Map network drive... option
  
• In the Drive: box, select a letter to call the drive from the drop-down menu.
  • Use M: if you're connecting to your own filestore.
  • If you want to connect to more than one network drive, you must choose a different letter for each connection.
• In the Folder: box, enter \\smb1.aber.ac.uk\<your userid>
• If you want to reconnect to this drive every time you login to your computer, check the Reconnect at logon box
• XP/Vista ONLY :
  • Click on the text different user name where it says Connect using a different user name
  • In the window that appears type in the username and password of the account you are mapping.
    
  • Click OK
  • Click Finish
• 7 ONLY :
  • Check Connect using different credentials box
    
  • Click on Finish
  • In the window  that appears type in the username and password of the account you are mapping.
    

NOTE: Even if you check the Reconnect at Logon: box, the machine will still prompt you to re-type the password every time you log on unless you log on to the computer with the same username and password as the drive you have mapped.

[ top of page ]

Apple Snow Leopard/Leopard/Tiger

• Click the Desktop until you have the Go menu at the top
• From there select Connect to Server
  
• In the Server Address box enter smb://smb1.aber.ac.uk/<your userid>
• Click the + icon next to the Server address box so you don't have to remember this each time.
  
• Press Connect
• If it asks you for SMB/CIFS File System Authentication, fill in the boxes with the following:
  
  

  Name	Put your userid in here
  Password	Put your AU email password in here

  
  
• Press OK

[ top of page ]

From the Command prompt

• Go to Start
• Select Run
• Type command and click OK
• At the prompt type the command:

  net use m: \\smb1.aber.ac.uk\username /USER:username /PERSISTENT:YES
  where

  • m is a drive letter you are not already using on your computer
  • username is the login of the account you wish to map to

  All the spaces and capitals must be typed in exactly as above and then hit Enter

• You will be prompted for a password - this is the AU email password of the account you are mapping to. Type the password and press Enter
• You should now see a drive mapped to the account whose details you entered above.

[ top of page ]

Case-sensitivity

If you wish to map a network drive which supports case-sensitivity, follow the instructions for whichever operating system you have as given above but:

• the path must be \\smb*\cshome where * is replaced by the relevant server number for your userid (see table above)
• when prompted, type in your own login and AU email password

[ top of page ]

Troubleshooting

• If you have an operating system not listed on this page please contact Information Services
• Check the password you are using is valid ( How do I do that? )
• Check you have a working network connection by accessing the Internet and refreshing your page
• Try mapping the drive WITHOUT using the .aber.ac.uk in the path name e.g
  \\smb2\[your user name]
• If you have a firewall on your computer, for example Zone Alarm or Norton Personal Firewall, you may have to allow the AU fileserver through your firewall. Most firewalls have an 'Allowed' or 'Exception' section where you can list trusted sites. You need to add the AU fileserver to this list. ( How do I do that? )
• For stunet users only - change the name of your computer in My Computer/Computer
  • Right-mouse click on My Computer/Computer
  • Select Properties from the menu which appears
    • Click on Change Settings if applicable
  • Choose the Computer Name tab
  • Delete whatever is in the Computer description: box and type in your username
  • Click on OK
• Make sure the Client for Microsoft Networks is switched on:
  • Go to Start and Control Panel
  • Right click on your Network Connection (whichever you are using)
  • Select Properties from the menu which appears
  • Make sure the Client for Microsoft Networks is ticked:
    

[ top of page ]