Mapping a Network Drive
Problem:
I am working on a Windows machine and need access to a SAMBA share.Solution:
What is SAMBA?
Samba is a suite of Unix applications that speak the SMB (Server Message Block) protocol. Many operating systems, including Windows and OS/2, use SMB to perform client-server networking. By supporting this protocol, Samba allows Unix servers to get in on the action, communicating with the same networking protocol as Microsoft Windows products. Thus, a Samba-enabled Unix machine can masquerade as a server on your Microsoft network and offer the following services:
- Share one or more filesystems
- Share printers installed on both the server and its clients
- Assist clients with Network Neighborhood browsing
- Authenticate clients logging onto a Windows domain
- Provide or assist with WINS name server resolution
Specific to ISyE, UNIX account holders can use SAMBA to access their UNIX home directories and file shares from various Windows PCs on the ISyE network. Also, please note SAMBA is only available from within the ISyE network.
Mapping a UNIX-based directory to a Windows computer via SAMBA and Windows Explorer:
1. Open Windows Explorer on the local machine.
2. Select Tools->Map Network Drive
3. Enter \\[server name][share name]. Share name is the directory that you want to map to, server name is the name of the samba server. To map to your ISyE UNIX home directory, either use your UNIX account name or the word "homes".
e.g. \\samba.isye.gatech.edu\homes
4. Click Finish.
NOTE: If you used the same password on your PC that you use for your email, it will map the drive immediately. Otherwise, you will have to enter a password and then it will map the drive.
