How do i map a network drive?

[Keebler]

If i try to use my Mac in my office i would need to access my server because that is where we save everything. I know on a PC you can map the network drive so you can access it. For instance we use the "F" drive as our server in the office. How do i access the server in the office if its listed as a different drive? Im new at this stuff, any help i would appreciate.

Thanks.

[cnroberts]

You certainly don't map a drive to a network share in the same way that you would in legacy Windows networks. To be honest, drive mappings are old-school and I always steer my clients away from using them. Still drive mappings persist. In Mac OS, you'll connect to the file server a little more directly.

So far, I've found two ways to connect. One way is to access the share on the server using the URL (ie: cifs://server_name/share_name) in the "Connect to Server" window under the Go menu.

The second, (new to me since I recently upgraded from Tiger to Leopard) is a little more user-friendly. In a Finder window, all my servers and Win/Mac computers show up in the left-hand pane. I just select my server, then double-click on the share. You'll probably have to click on the Connect As button and provide your Windows server login.

[Keebler]

You certainly don't map a drive to a network share in the same way that you would in legacy Windows networks. To be honest, drive mappings are old-school and I always steer my clients away from using them. Still drive mappings persist. In Mac OS, you'll connect to the file server a little more directly.

So far, I've found two ways to connect. One way is to access the share on the server using the URL (ie: cifs://server_name/share_name) in the "Connect to Server" window under the Go menu.

The second, (new to me since I recently upgraded from Tiger to Leopard) is a little more user-friendly. In a Finder window, all my servers and Win/Mac computers show up in the left-hand pane. I just select my server, then double-click on the share. You'll probably have to click on the Connect As button and provide your Windows server login.

Sorry to bring up such an old school way of connecting, lol. Thats the only thing i knew. I guess a better question would be "when i plug my ethernet cable into my computer at my office how do i connect to my companies server?"

[cnroberts]

I didn't mean any offense in describing drive mappings as old-school. Just noting that times have changed. My Windows users are encouraged to use standard paths like \\server_name\share_name instead of mappings, given that we didn't standardize on any drive letters. I find the paths lead to a better understanding of where on the network certain things are.

In any case, use the above notes as a way to get to the file shares on your Windows server. The only hang-up you might have is in authenticating to the server. Be sure to put in your Windows domain if you have one. You might need to ask your sys admin for it.

Good luck! I use my Mac in a few Windows networks pretty comfortably.