Frequently Asked Questions about Network Drives
Introduction
Your data on your computer can be saved in multiple locations, but if it is saved on the network, the data can be accessible on multiple computers as well. The University of Alberta (UofA) provides access to network drives and Google drives, and recommends them instead of the local drives.
KBA Objective:
- This article contains definitions on network/local/google drives and it contains instructions on accessing these drives
Applicability
Target Audience:
- Anyone with access to UofA network and UofA computer
- Anyone who wants to access their drives that are approved for them
Non-applicable:
- UofA does not use OneDrive (Microsoft’s drive) because it has no administrative custody or control over the space
- You will have to create a ticket to request access for network drives (adding is only allowed after your account has access to them)
- Please contact IST by calling 780-492-8000 or via the portal at https://universityofalberta.freshservice.com/support/home
Procedure
Basic Information
Standard Process
Troubleshooting Tips
Appendix
Related Knowledge
Basic Information
Define Local Drive
Local drives are the physical drives that are only available on the single computer.
The data stored on Local drives cannot be shared through the network and the data is not accessible by any analyst unless they can work on the computer itself.
For this reason, IST analysts will always recommend storing files on either network drives or Google Drive.
Typically on Windows, the local drive is the C drive:
On MacOS, all the folders that are not in the Location section (screenshot below), are local files
Define Network Drive
Network drives store files/information on the UofA servers that are set up by IST. UofA analysts can provide access to these network drives through your computer’s Active Directory (AD) domain account.
- Currently, these instructions apply for domain accounts under the central domain but they should be similar for non-central domains
- The central domain for UofA is sts.ad.ualberta.ca
- Refer to KBA – FAQs about Domain Accounts for AD accounts and the list of departments under the central domain
“Adding network drives” is identical to “mapping network drives”:
- Mapping a drive in Windows is the association of a local drive letter with a shared storage area to another computer over a network to make connection quicker and easier
- Mapping drives also mean connecting to the UofA servers that contains the folders
- Drives can be manually mapped using the specific path to connect to the servers
On Windows:
- Users should have their drives automatically mapped, no matter when the computer was set up
- If the drives are not mapped automatically, follow instructions mentioned in Section 1.0 for Standard Process
On MacOS:
- Drives will not be mapped automatically
- Drives can only be mapped after using the drive path (obtainable from IST or from direct supervisor)
- If you have the drive path, follow instructions mentioned in Section 2.0 for Standard Process
Define Google Drive
Google Drive is a core UofA service that is included with ualberta Google and it is an effective workspace that enables intelligent and secure collaboration in the cloud network:
Google drives are available on the network, thus available on multiple computers
Google Drive for Desktop
- If you are using Google Drive for Desktop, ensure to stream instead of mirror
- Refer to KBA – Google Drive for Desktop for proper installation instructions and usage
Standard Process
1.0 Windows: Missing network drives
Solution:
- Check if your drives are hidden/collapsed within File Explorer as mentioned in Hidden network drives
- Confirm that you are connected to the UofA network
- If the drives are not hidden, resync the drives/printers as follows:
- Open File Explorer
- in enter the following path in the address bar in File Explorer: \\sts.ad.ualberta.ca\SYSVOL\sts.ad.ualberta.ca\scripts\slogic.bat
- Click on Run in the Security Warning window
- Wait for the Quest progress bar to complete
- Check your drives in This PC again to check if they are added properly
- Lastly, if syncing does not work, refresh the account information saved on your computer:
- Open File Explorer
- Double click Local Disk (C:)
- Locate the Desktop Authority folder and right click it to select Rename
- Rename the folder to Desktop Authority Old
- Restart your computer and login to the computer
- Check if the drives exist in This PC
- If unresolved, please contact IST
1.1 Windows: Remove network drives
- Open File Explorer by right-clicking on Start then select File Explorer
- Expand This PC (or Computer) on the left panel if it is not already expanded
- Right click the mapped drive you wish to remove and click Disconnect
- If there is a desktop shortcut, right click on the shortcut and click Delete
2.0 MacOS: Map network drives
These instructions will help you map the drives if you have the following prerequisites:
- The path of your network drive
- Your AD domain credentials (which can be different from your MacOS credentials)
- Connection to the UofA network
Please follow these instructions to map the drives manually on MacOS computers:
-
First, check if you are connected to the UofA network
- Now to connect to drives, in the Finder
on your Mac, choose Go then Connect to Server
- Click Connect after entering the path of the network drive as shown below
- Your drive may be already saved in the Favorite Servers
- If it’s not in Favorites, enter the path in the address field in the format smb://DNSname/sharename
- Type your domain username and password then click Connect
- After connecting, at the top nav bar of Finder
, click on Finder -> Preferences…
- Click General, then make sure the Connected servers checkbox is selected
- Click Sidebar, then make sure the Connected servers checkbox is selected
- Check if the drives exist in Finder
- If unresolved, please contact IST
2.1 MacOS: Remove network drives
Disconnect and remove server from Favorite Servers:
- Open Finder by clicking the Finder icon
on your dock
- In the Finder on your Mac, choose Go -> Connect to Server
- Select the server you wish to remove and click the - (minus) symbol
- Drag the icon from your desktop, if it exists, to the trash
Remove the server from Login Items
- There may or may not be a reference to the drive you are attempting to remove in Login Items
- Open System Preferences by choosing the Apple menu
-> System Preferences
- Open Users & Groups
- Click Login Items
- Select the drive / volume you wish to remove and click the - (minus) sign
Troubleshooting Tips
1.0 Windows: Hidden network drives
Cause: The drives may be hidden within File Explorer
Solution:
- Open File Explorer by right clicking the Start button and select File Explorer.
- Click This PC on the left pane
- Check if the section is hidden when the arrows look like this > like the screenshot below
- Once you click the arrows your screen should look something like this:
1.1 Windows: Onsite connect to network drives
This section only applies if you are onsite at your office, where you have access to an ethernet port
- If you have a laptop and you only have wi-fi access, move on to Section 1.2
These instructions describe how to connect properly to the ethernet:
- If the drive has a big red X next to it, double click and check if you can open the drive
- There are times when the red X can connect after retrying
- If you have a network error as shown below, first restart the computer
- Check if you can search anything on Google to test your internet connection
- If restarting does not resolve the solution, check if your internet connection is through ethernet
- the bottom right of your computer should show the ethernet icon
- Unplug, replug the ethernet cable from your laptop/desktop
- You should see two small lights flashing near the network cable as shown below
- If your computer plugs into your Cisco phone make sure your phone is working.
Look at the bottom of your phone. Make sure that one cable goes from the phone into the wall and that the other cable goes from the phone into the computer as marked in the image below. Try unplugging both cables from the bottom of the phone and plugging them in again.
- If basic troubleshooting has shown the ethernet icon, retry the drive
- If unresolved, refer to IST – IT Service Catalog to create a ticket to IST
1.2 Windows: UWS/Wifi connect to network drives
This section only applies to connecting wirelessly to the internet through your laptop. If you have no access to the ethernet cord at your UofA office, you will need Cisco VPN to access the UofA network and its drives:
- Click on the Start menu
and search through your applications for Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client
- If you do not have it installed, refer to KBA – Access the University of Alberta VPN for the download and setup instructions for Cisco VPN
- Make sure you connect using your CCID credentials as follows:
- If entering credentials shows Login failed error, create a ticket by refer to IST – IT Service Catalog for @uanet vpn access to map drives with _ ccid
-
- Once you can login, you should be able to open your drives
2.0 MacOS: Onsite connect to network drives
This section only applies if you are onsite at your office, where you have access to an ethernet port
- Macbooks do not have specific icons to show that you are connected to ethernet
- If you have a laptop and you only have wi-fi access, move on to Section 2.2
For Macbooks, the only way to check ethernet connection is through the System Preferences:
- Open System Preferences
- Click Network
- You should see another green connection besides Wi-Fi as shown below:
2.1 MacOS: UWS/Wifi connect to network drives
This section only applies to connecting wirelessly to the internet through your laptop. If you have no access to the ethernet cord at your UofA office, you will need Cisco VPN to access the UofA network and its drives:
- Search through your applications for Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client
- If you do not have it installed, refer to KBA – Access the University of Alberta VPN for the download and setup instructions for Cisco VPN
- Make sure you connect using your CCID credentials as follows:
- If entering credentials shows Login failed error, create a ticket for IST for @uanet vpn access to map drives with _ ccid
- Once you can login, you should be able to open your drives
Appendix
Related Knowledge
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