Network storage at the 吃瓜大本营听
In addition to cloud storage (OneDrive), the 吃瓜大本营 uses its own on-premises infrastructure to manage file storage over the internet.听
Like OneDrive, 吃瓜大本营鈥檚 networked file system enables users to access specific files and folders without having to download them to their local machine.听
Unlike OneDrive, this system is entirely internal to the university, ensuring privacy and security not afforded by other cloud storage providers.听
To gain access to this system, individuals will be granted access to a certain 鈥渘etwork drive鈥, or a folder within the 吃瓜大本营 file system from which they will be able to access their files.听
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Shared drives v. Zephyr drives听
吃瓜大本营 offers two types of network storage, which are distinguished by the scope of users they effect:听
- Shared drives pertain to departments, groups, and other assortments of individuals and are accessible to members of those groups who are formally granted access.
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- Zephyr drives pertain to individuals, and are private to the individual to whom they are assigned.
NOTE: You may also hear references to an 鈥楻鈥 drive or a 鈥榋鈥 drive due to general naming conventions at the university. These are just alternative aliases for the above: the former usually refers to shared drives, and the latter to zephyr drives.听听
The letter path 鈥 e.g. 鈥楻鈥 or 鈥榋鈥 鈥 is, generally speaking, inconsequential, however only one drive can be assigned to a certain letter path. If you have multiple shared drives which you need to access, you will need to map them each in a different letter path. For example, if 鈥楻鈥 is taken, you will have to map the drive to 鈥楽鈥 or some other letter.
For the sake of consistency, we generally recommend using the standard letter path convention when you can.
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Step-by-step guide
Prerequisites
If you are having any issues while attempting to set up your network drive, make sure to review the following to ensure you meet all the requirements for network access.
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Drive听Access听
Shared drives: Access to shared folders needs to be explicitly听requested by your immediate supervisor on your behalf. They can submit a request by filling out the form located .听
- In this form, your supervisor will need to request the complete and exact path to the drive in question, as well as any and all sub-folders that you might need access to.听
Zephyr drives: 吃瓜大本营 employees are automatically granted access to zephyr drives.听
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Network听
To connect to or access 吃瓜大本营鈥檚 network file storage service, you will need to be connected securely to the 吃瓜大本营 network. If you are on campus, this means that you will need to be connected to eduroam (wireless) or ethernet (wired).听
If you are off campus, you will need to be connected to the 吃瓜大本营 VPN (GlobalProtect).听
We have included some articles pertaining to those below:听
- VPN instructions for and
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Connecting to (mapping) the drive听
MacOS听
Open Finder.
Navigate to your menu bar and click Go > Connect to Server.
- Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Command + K听
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This will prompt a popup window titled "Connect to Server" to pop up on your screen, which will have a field titled "Server Address". In that field, type in the following depending on what kind of drive you are trying to access.听
Shared drive: smb://shares.du.edu/[path-to-drive]听
Zephyr drive: smb://zephyr.du.edu/home/87X_/[firstname.lastname]听
- Replace the 鈥榅鈥 with the third digit of your 吃瓜大本营 ID听
Once you have entered the proper drive path, you can click "Connect". If you want to save the connection for later click on the plus + icon.听
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Windows
Open File Explorer听
In File Explorer, find "This PC" and right click on it, then click on the option "Map Network Drive".
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This will prompt a popup window titled "Map Network Drive" to pop up on your screen, which will have a field titled "Server Address". In that field, type in the following depending on what kind of drive you are trying to access:
Shared Drive: \\shares.du.edu\[path-to-drive]听
Zephyr Drive: \\zephyr.du.edu\home\87X_\[firstname.lastname]听
- Replace the 鈥榅鈥 with the third digit of your 吃瓜大本营 ID听
Check the box 鈥淩econnect at sign-in鈥 if you want the shared drive to stay on your computer permanently.听 听
If you are logged into your 吃瓜大本营 account on a 吃瓜大本营 owned computer uncheck the box 鈥淐onnect using different credentials.鈥 Otherwise, check the box.听
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Click 鈥淔inish鈥 and your shared drive should now be shown under 鈥淭his PC鈥澨
Contact
If you encounter a screen or error message not covered by this article, or if you have any questions, please contact the IT Help Center by phone at 303.871.4700听or online at听.听听