Accessing Network Files

Filer Server, User Share, Network Drive, Linux, Mac, Windows,

Filer Share Locations

The Filer Servers provide backed-up network storage for user files, called "filer shares." Please be selective when saving to the Filer Servers in order to avoid quotas.

Location	Mac User Share Pathway	Windows User Share Location	Unix User Directory Location
AOC	smb://filehost.aoc.nrao.edu/home/username	\\filehost\username	/users/username
CV	smb://cvfiler.cv.nrao.edu/username	\\cvfiler\username	/users/username
GB	smb://gbfiler.gb.nrao.edu/username	\\gbfiler\username or \\gbfiler\home\username (this is the user "scratch area" and is not backed-up)	/users/username

Linux Network Filesystems

Desktop Computers

Unlike Mac and Windows, mapping a network drive is not necessary in Linux because your filer share is the home directory when you log in. This is implemented via the automounter.

Notebook Computers

CAUTION: the "home site" and "offsite" options in booting have been discontinued for newer laptop installs.

Identical to desktops if they are booted with the Home Site option. However, if you booted with the Off Site option (utilized when you intend to move the laptop to another location while on site or when physically off-site), you will need to use AnyConnect (preferably) or SSH (or sshfs) to remotely login to a desktop in order to access your filer share.

macOS Network Drives

Access the Finder menu by clicking the Finder icon in the dock or any open Finder window. From the Go menu, select Connect to Server... In the Server Address: field, enter: "smb:Mac User Share Pathway" (from the table above). For example, a user in CV named John Doe would enter: "smb://cvfiler/jdoe"

You can also use the keyboard shortcut command: cmd+k to access the "Connect to Server..." menu.

Windows Network Drives

Warning: Having "drive letter" mapping for remote shares WILL PUT YOU AT GREATER RISK for "ransomware" attacks (where a virus will encrypt your files and demand a ransom be paid). Most known samples of malware in this category routinely check for all "mounted" drive letters and will try to do their damage thereon as well.

Less common is for such malware to follow shortcuts, e.g., to \\cvfiler\pmurphy\ and as a result, CIS recommends use of shortcuts over mapping a network drive.

Create a "network location"

Open File Explorer by holding down the "Windows" key and hitting the letter "e"

In File Explorer, click on "This PC", then right click. You will see two options related to network drives; "Map Network Drive", and "Add a Network Location"

Choose the latter whenever possible for increased protection against "ransomware" file encryption attacks.

Click "Next" twice more to proceed through the wizard.

Type the Windows share location into the blank as per the example below and click "Next"

Type in a friendly name for the share, click "Next", then "Finish"

In MS Office applications, when you go to open a file, click "Browse", then "This PC", and you will see the network location.

In most other applications; just click "This PC".

Collaborating with Shared Files

By default, all users can read the files you store on your network share location. To create a collaborative group to author and edit files, please contact the Help Desk due to complexity and various site differences

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