Mapping a Lab Drive to the Campus Shared Space - Windows

This document describes how to connect (map a drive) to the campus shared space.

Audience

Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Forest & Wildlife faculty, students, and staff; Hub staff

Windows 10 and Newer Instructions - Click to Open or Collapse

These Instructions Apply To

  • Windows computers ( Mac instructions )
  • Computers setup by Russell Labs IT for on-campus use
  • Users currently located on campus*

* For off-campus help, email help@russell.wisc.edu.

Prerequisites

  • You have activated your NetID ( NetID activation instructions )
  • You have permission to access the drive
  • You must know your PI’s NetID (Research Drive only)

Overview

Mapping a drive lets you use remote storage as though it were a local hard drive on your computer.

Labstorage is shared storage available to Russell Labs faculty, staff, and students. 

Research Drive is available to Russell Labs faculty, PI, and their teams. 

You can map a drive temporarily, or create a persistent connection that lives through reboots.

Steps

  1. Launch the GlobalProtect VPN software and login.  ( VPN Instructions )
  2. Open Windows File Explorer.
  3. Locate This PC in the left pane.
  4. Right-click This PC. A popup menu appears.
  5. Click Map network drive… from the popup menu:

    Map network drive… Selected on the Popup Menu
    Map network drive… Selected on the Popup Menu

  6. The Map Network Drive screen appears.
  7. Complete the options:
    The Map Network Drive Screen
    The Map Network Drive Screen

    Map Network Drive Screen Options
    Option Instructions
    Drive Change as desired.
    Folder copy and paste this text into the field:
    \\russell.drive.wisc.edu\russell\labstorage OR
    \\research.drive.wisc.edu\[PI NetID ]
    Reconnect at sign-in Temporary drive map: leave the box un-checked.
    Persistent drive map: check the box.
    Connect using different credentials Leave the box un-checked.
  8. Click Finish.
  9. A second Enter network credentials screen appears.

    How to Enter Your Credentials:

    How to Enter Your Credentials
    Cloud Storage Provider Syntax Example
    Labstorage User name: AD\Your NetID
    Password: your NetID password    		 NetID is: bbadger
    NetID password is: buckysrules!
    Enter:
    User name: AD\bbadger
    Password:   buckysrules!
    Research Drive User name: ad.wisc.edu\Your NetID
    Password: your NetID password    		 NetID is: bbadger
    NetID password is: buckysrules!
    Enter:
    User name:  ad.wisc.edu\bbadger
    Password:    buckysrules!

    Important: if your screen will not let you edit the username, only the password, email help@russell.wisc.edu.
    If desired, check the Remember my credentials box.
  10. Click OK.
  11. Windows will try to connect to the remote server and map the drive:
    Windows tries to connect to Labstorage.
    Windows tries to connect to Labstorage

  12. If successful, Windows will open the mapped drive:
    Mapped drive to Labstorage.
    Mapped Drive to Labstorage

Troubleshooting Tips

Make sure:

  • You’re connected to the Internet.
  • You’re running the VPN software (GlobalProtect).
  • You have permission to access to the drive.
  • Caps Lock isn’t turned on.
  • You’ve entered the folder names correctly.
  • You’ve entered your PI’s name correctly.
  • You’ve entered your NetID and password correctly (try logging into MyUW).

Still can’t connect?  Email help@russell.wisc.edu.

Windows 7 Instructions - Click to Open or Collapse

Are you OFF-campus 

        OR 

Using a Wireless Connection? 

Do these steps first: 

  1. Connect to the Internet. 
  2. Launch the GlobalProtect VPN software,* then follow the rest of these instructions. 

* for instructions on getting and installing WiscVPN software, visit this webpage: http://www.doit.wisc.edu/network/vpn/

Be mindful of how you login in to your Windows PC. If you login with NetID and Password you do not need to connect with different credentials. If you login with a different set of credentials you will need to log in with your NetID and password to access the Russell Labs fileserver. 

Open the Map Network Drive Screen via the Start Menu

Locate the Start button (in the toolbar at the bottom of the screen, lower left corner):

   Windows 7 Start Button
Start Button

Click Start. The Start menu appears.

Right-click Computer. A popup menu appears.

Click Map Network Drive. The Map Network Drive screen appears.

Complete the Map Network Drive Screen

Notes:

  • The circled numbers in the illustration correspond to the numbered steps. 
  • Re step 1 - it doesn't matter which drive letter you choose, as long as it is available.  

Map Network Drive Screen - Windows 10
Map Network Drive Screen

  1. Choose an available drive letter from the Drive drop-down menu.
  2. Copy the text below and paste it into the Folder box:
    \\russell.drive.wisc.edu\russell\labstorage
  3. Click the Reconnect at sign-in checkbox.
  4. If you signed in to your Windows PC without NetID and Password, click Connect using different credentials. If you signed in to your Windows PC with NetID and Password, do not click Connect using different credentials.
  5. Click Finish. The Map Network Drive popup closes, and a login screen appears labeled Enter network credentials.

Complete the Enter Network Credentials Screen

Note:  The circled numbers in the illustration correspond to the numbered steps. 

Enter Network Credentials
Enter Network Credentials Screen

  1. Click in the User name box and enter:
         <NetID>@ad.wisc.edu
  2. Click in the Password box and enter your NetID password.
  3. Click the Remember my credentials checkbox to make sure the drive mapping continues after your next computer restart.
  4. Click OK. Occasionally the Enter network credentials screen reappears. Click OK.

Navigate to Your Lab Folder

If the connection was successful, Windows Explorer will open the mapped network drive.

Successful Labstore Mapped Drives
Successfully Mapped Network Drive Screen

Open the folder for your department, then the labs folder, and then the folder for your lab.