HowTos:Access your files on Math/PACM file server via cifs/samba
From CompudocWiki
In order to directly access files in your Math/PACM account, e.g. on your Windows or Mac laptop, you can access the file server through windows file sharing (also called cifs/samba). The file server can be accessed in this fashion only on Princeton campus or after connecting through VPN to Princeton University.
Please read the note about passwords and then proceed to follow instructions for your operating system.
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Password notes
When attempting to access the file server you will be prompted for your (usual) username and windows/cifs Math/PACM account password. We strive to keep this, windows, password and your regular password the same and they can both be changed and set to be equal through the Math/PACM webmail.
If all of the following are correct:
- you have never before accessed your files in this fashion and
- your account was created before September of 2005 and
- you have never changed your password through the web webmail interface
then you should change your account password before proceeding.
If you still denied access then please ask for help from Math/PACM computing staff. The file server may have locked you out because of too many attempts to connect with an invalid or missing password.
Short summary for advanced users
If you are already familiar with windows file sharing on your computer then this is the basic information you will require:
- File server name: "fs" or "fs.math.princeton.edu"
- Home directory share: use either your username or home\username, e.g. "\\fs\myusername" or "\\fs\home\myusername"
- Public HTML directory: "\\fs\home\public_html\myusername"
Windows Instructions
Start-Run
In order to connect to our file server on a windows machine click on "Start" button (1) and then on "Run" (2):
A new windows, called "Run" will appear, there in the field called "Open" type \\fs\mathusername (1) where, of course, replace mathusername with your own username, and then click on "OK" (2):
If your machine cannot reach the file server by using its short name (fs) then you can use the full name (fs.math.princeton.edu), e.g. \\fs.math.princeton.edu\mathusername (sample entry). You can also reach your home directory with \\fs\HOME\mathusername (sample entry). This is particularly useful if you are collaborating with someone else in Math/PACM and they have opened their directory for you to open/use so you use something like \\fs\HOME\mycollaborator.
Finally, if you want to reach your public_html directory then you should type \\fs\HOME\public_html\mathusername, as in (1), followed by "OK" (2):
Username and password prompt
At this point, if you have successfully contacted the FS file server, you will be asked for your Math/PACM username (1) and password (2). You can also tell the computer to remember your username and password (3). While you should consider remembering this on your own laptop or desktop it is not wise to do so on machines you share with others. Click on "OK" (4) to proceed:
Connected
If you have entered the correct username and password you will be shown your home directory (which might look like this image).
Map the network drive
You might find it convenient to assign a network drive to your home directory on the Math/PACM file server. For example, you could assign it to the drive W: or similar. Then you could easily open documents on the file server just by referring to drive W:, rather then having to type the full address (\\fs\....). To do this select in windows explorer menu "Tools"->"Map Network Drive" (1). This is best done in the window showing your home directory (i.e. the window obtained in previous step after typing your username and password):
You will be presented with a new window allowing you to choose which "Drive" to assign, what "Folder" (on the file server) to map, as in (1) below. For the folder you should enter the address that you used in above steps (e.g. \\fs\mathusername). By selecting "Reconnect at logon" (2) you can make sure the same drive mapping is done every time you login to your machine. Finally click on "Finish" (3):
Mac OS X Instructions
Connect to server
In "Finder" select the "Go" menu (1) and then "Connect to Server" (2):
This will bring up the "Connect to Server" window where for the server address you should type "cifs://mathusername@fs.math.princeton.edu/mathusername" (1) (or "cifs://mathusername@fs.math.princeton.edu/home/mathusername/public_html" for your public_html directory) - of course, replace mathusername with your user name. Proceed by clicking on "Connect":
Authenticate
In the authentication window you will be asked for "Workgroup/Domain" (1) which should be prefilled with "FINEHALLNT", your username (2) which again should be prefilled correctly (case does not matter for username) and your password (3). If you are connecting from your own Mac OS X desktop/laptop then you can consider letting the computer remember your password (4). Finally, click on "OK" (5):
That's it
If you have entered the correct username and password a new window with contents of your home directory on Math/PACM machines will appear:
If you share your computer with others please do remember to unmount/eject your Math/PACM home directory - either by clicking on the eject icon next in finder or by dragging your home directory (in our example "MATHUSERNAME") to trash.
Linux instructions
We provide here only a few generic directions that should be applicable to most Linux distributions. For precise guidance you may have to also refer to your distribution's documentation.
