MSB Technology Center

 

MSB-HELP@msb.edu
(202) 687-4721
(202) 687-7022 (Fax)

MSB Network File Access

MSB provides personal and shared file network files storage in two ways. 

The first, MS Sharepoint, is a service that is being provided to select groups and is not yet available to all users.  This FAQ does not cover SharePoint services.

The service that is provided to all users is Novell ”Mapped” Drives.  A mapped drive shows up on your computer as a lettered drive.  For example you computer hard drive is “mapped” to C:.  Your computer CD ROM is normally “mapped” to D:.  MSB Network storage shows up as drives mapped to:

   P: - which is your personal storage and is not visible to anyone but you.  If you put data on this drive it is private.  It will stay there until you erase it or until you leave MSB.

   S: - which is shared storage and can be seen by any member of your MSB user community (example user communities are, faculty, staff, MBA, and undergrad students).  If you put data on this drive your peers can see or change it.  The S: Drive is appropriate for temporarily sharing data.  It is erased at the end of each semester

  H: - These are department drives used by the various MSB admin departments.

  J:  - These are specialized drives individually assigned for database projects

  W: - This is your MSB web page.  If you place files on this drive they will be automatically associated with your MSB web page.


There are limits as to the type and amount of data you can store on your personal and shared drives.  They are to be used for MSB academic related work.  Storing music and personal photos is not allowed.  Please do not use your network drives to back up your computer hard drive.

The MSB network drives are backed up by the MSB Tech Center each night.  This means that if you have written a file to your personal or shared drive, it is very secure and protected against inadvertent or even deliberate deletion.  MSBTC backup service alone is an excellent reason to become familiar with MSB Network file storage.

Access
There are three primary ways to access your MSB Mapped Network drives.  You can do any, or all.

- NetStorage.  This is the simplest way to see your files.  It is just a web page,
                               https://storage.msb.edu/NetStorage . 
Go to the NetStorage link, log on with your NetID and MSB password, and you will have access to all your files.  Since this system uses a web browser there are some annoying issues.  The biggest problem is you can upload or download only one file at a time.  However, because you can get to NetStorage from any computer connected to the Internet, anywhere in the world, it is a valuable service.

- WebDAV.  WebDAV is the geek name for “My Network Places”.  MSB WebDAV services work with Windows XP and are not yet available for Windows Vista users.  When you set up a “Network Place” for your MSB mapped drives, Windows XP will automatically connect you anytime you are connected to the Internet.  Your MSB drive will appear just by opening My Network Places.  You can drag and drop files just as if your network drives were on the C: Drive of your computer.  To create a MSB Network Place open My Network Places and “Add a Network Place”. 

The network location of your MSB drive is
                           https://storage.msb.edu/oneNet/NetStorage
Capitalization is important!  You will also need your NetID and MSB password to complete the setup.

Here are step-by-step instructions on how to set up a MSB WebDAV drive.

Novell Client. 

The Novell Client is the most secure and transparent way to connect to your MSB mapped drives.  It is also the most complicated to set up.  The Novell client is a software program that replaces or augments many parts of your Windows operating system.  It works with both Vista and Windows XP.  Once it is installed your mapped drives automatically appear exactly as your physically attached drives.  The files on your mapped drives are managed exactly as you would copy, cut, or paste any file on your C: Drive.  You can save directly to a Novell mapped drive from any Windows application.  The Novell client will with any computer connected to the internet.

Because the Novell Client setup is tricky we recommend you contact the MSB Tech Center and have us install this.  The service and software is free but we feel an on-site installation is important to avoid problems.  Un-installation of the Novell Client on graduation on the other hand is easy and takes only a few steps.

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