Mounting a Windows home directory and other Samba shares

Samba is an Open Source/Free Software software package that can be used to enable Windows clients to seamlessly interact with UNIX/Linux servers.

For Computer Science and Engineering (CS&E) Department accounts:

The "windows" directory found in a CS&E user's home directory is shared using Samba, which allows it to be automatically mounted as the 'Y:' drive for CS&E users on CS&E Windows computers. This is the place to store data you want to access using Windows. It is available from any CS&E computer and is backed up nightly.

For College of Science and Engineering (CSE) Labs accounts:

The "windows" directory found in a CSE Labs user's home directory is shared using Samba, which allows it to be automatically mounted as the 'Y:' drive for CSE Labs users on CSE Labs Windows computers. This is the place to store data you want to access using Windows. It is available from any CSE Labs computer and is backed up nightly.

Mounting your 'Y:' drive over a VPN connection

You may find it convenient to map your windows directory to a drive on a home computer or laptop running Windows. The following steps outline the procedure for mounting your 'Y:' drive over a VPN connection:

1. Make a VPN connection to the AnyConnect VPN server.
   See the Windows section of the AnyConnect VPN Connection help page.
   ***This is required! If you do not follow this step your network packets will be blocked***
2. Right click on My Computer.
3. Choose map network drive.
4. Choose Y: for a drive letter.

For a CS&E account, please follow the these remaining steps:

5. Use \\samba.cs.umn.edu\<your_cs_username> as the folder name.
6. Click "Connect using a different username" to set your username to be your CS&E username. When entering your username, be sure to put it in the format "CS\<your_username>". You will need to be sure to include the "CS\" for authentication purposes.
7. Enter your CS&E Windows password.
8. Choose OK.
9. Click Finish.

For a CSE Labs account, please follow these remaining steps:

5. Use \\dilbert.cselabs.umn.edu\<your_CSELabs_username> as the folder name.
6. Click "Connect using a different username" to set your username to be your CSE Labs username. When entering your username, be sure to put it in the format "CSELabs\<your_username>". You will need to be sure to include the "CSELabs\" for authentication purposes.
7. Enter your CSE Labs Windows password.
8. Choose OK.
9. Click Finish.

Mounting other drives over a VPN connection

Grades

Professors and TAs need to store grade information in a secure location. The place to do this is the grades directory on samba.cs for a CS&E account and dilbert.cselabs for a CSE Labs account . Contact the Systems Operator to have a grades directory set up for your class.

To access a class grades directory remotely from a Windows host, follow the steps outlined above for mounting a 'Y:' drive, with the following exceptions:

• Select a different drive letter in step 4.
• In step 5, use \\samba.cs.umn.edu\grades as the folder name for a CS&E account and \\dilbert.cselabs.umn.edu\grades as the folder name for a CSE Labs account.

Class web sites

Professors and TAs may find it useful to map the directories for class web sites. Contact the Systems Operator to have web space set up for your class.

To access a class web directory remotely from a Windows host, follow the steps for mounting a 'Y:' drive, with the following exceptions:

• Select a different drive letter in step 4.
• In step 5, use \\samba.cs.umn.edu\Classes as the folder name for a CS&E account and \\dilbert.cselabs.umn.edu\Classes as the folder name for a CSE Labs account.