How do I put my shared folder as a standard network drive, visible to windows client?

MarvinU · 10-29-2012, 08:07 AM

Hi everyone, I am doing a project for college and I need your guys help.
I've been looking everywhere and I am seeing multiple scripts and commands.
However, everything I see on internet doesn't show me where to put it in so I am still having questions!

I need to connect my shared folder named "Home" (homedirectory)to a standard drive letter visible to client windows xp connected to the username.

Right now my smb.conf is configured as followed:
[Home]
comment = Home Directories
path = /home/%u/
browseable = no
writable = yes

So if user test would log in, the path would be /home/test/
I would like to map the share to the H: drive letter..

How do I do this?
Help would really be appreciated!

thanks!

shivaa · 10-29-2012, 09:49 AM

First make a try to access the network drive from Windows run prompt as follow:

Quote:

Start > Run > \\<full-hostname-of-Unix-system>\<dir> > OK
For example, the netwrok path should be like this:
\\myhost.mydomain.myorg.com\test

Or, if other system is in different domain then use a tilde symbol before <dir> as:

Quote:

\\myhost.mydomain.myorg.com\~test

It will open the directory i.e user's home directory which he want to access through Windows. If it works, then be assured that samba mapping is OK. So then just open My computer (or right click on My computer icon on desktop) > Select "Map network drive" option > Then in "Drive" option select letter you want to assign to it i.e. X, Y, Z, H.. anything, and in "Folder" option enter the full path of mapped directory (that is, \\myhost.mydomain.myorg.com\test) and click OK. After doing this you will find a network drive mapped inside your My computer with other C, D drives.
So just try it let's know if it help you! Good luck..

Habitual · 10-29-2012, 09:49 AM

My Computer > right click > map network drive> \\net\sharename

MarvinU · 10-29-2012, 10:18 AM

Shivaa & Habitual:
I just tried this, and it worked, i got a username's homefolder linked to the H: drive.
The only problem is that if I need this to be done, I need every user to log in and do the same thing because the home folders are scripted as /home/(username) right?
I need a logon script for the windows client I think.

The method you described, is that permanent and for every user using the folder shown? or is this per user?

Many thanks for the response

shivaa · 10-29-2012, 10:40 AM

Thanks. I think there's no any script needed.
In order to access every home directory on a single PC, or on different PCs, you (or user itself) will need to map it seperately.
It's not a big task, as you just need to change the directory name for every user in the network drive path, assign a letter (user different drive letter on a same PC obviously) to it and... that's it! You'll get a new network drive mapped in your My computer.
Second, yes it will be permanant, until you choose to right click on the drive (G or H whatever it is) and select "Disconnect" it.