Remote Access to Network File Shares

Staff and faculty using the Remote Access VPN and Viscosity can access files stored on the UAD or USM file shares.  Automated mapped Drive letters may not be available remotely, but you can access the shares via their DFS names or create your own mapped drives.

If the drive had previously been mapped using its UNC path to a drive letter on the computer, that mapping should continue to work over the Remote Access VPN. You can follow the instructions below if for some reason the mapping is no longer working.

Instructions 

Access Files off-Campus

1. Connect to the Remote Access VPN,
   • See How to Connect Remotely using the Remote Access VPN.
2. Open Windows File explorer and type in the UNC name of the folder you wish to access in the address bar.
   1. Hold down the and tap E to open Windows File Explorer, or go to the Start Menu and type in File Explorer
      • UAD File shares from off-campus may need to be accessed using the full share name, \\uad.maine.edu\files instead of \\uad\files
   2. USM specific file shares can be found under \\uad\files\usm but if there is a reason that path does not work, you could use the following server paths: Most department's N: drives appear in W,X,Y, or Z
      • \\fs01.ad.usm.maine.edu\data1   
        • ( at USM this was the W: Drive, open until you find your files)
      • \\fs02.ad.usm.maine.edu\data2   
        • ( at USM this was the X: Drive, open until you find your files)
      • \\fs03.ad.usm.maine.edu\data3   (
        • at USM this was the Y: Drive, open until you find your files)
      • \fs04.ad.usm.maine.edu\data4  
        • ( at USM this was the Z: Drive, open until you find your files)
      • \\fs05.ad.usm.maine.edu\data5  
        • ( at USM this was the M: Drive, open until you find your files)
      • \fs06.ad.usm.maine.edu\home   
        • ( at USM this was the U: Drive, open until you find your files)
   3. UAD compliant shares would use \\uad.maine.edu\compliant\xxx (where xxx would be the campus the share you are interested would be located.
      • On Campus users only need \\uad\compliant\xxx
   4. UMS (SWS) network shares are available through manual mapping only.
      • UMS/SWS shares have not yet been migrated to UAD file shares yet.  Users will need to map them manually with the following URL.  When prompted, use your UAD username and password.
      • \\WV-O-FS-SWS1.sws.ad.maine.edu\xxx (where xxx is the share name)
      • \\WV-O-UMS-FS01.sws.ad.maine.edu\xxx (where xxx is the share name)
3. You can then open any folder you have rights to by double-clicking on it. 

You can create shortcuts to a particular folder and then drag it to your desktop.  Simply right-click on the folder and select Create shortcut.

Mapping a UAD network share to a Drive Letter

Map a network drive to get to it from File Explorer in Windows without having to look for it or type its network address each time.

1. Open File Explorer from the taskbar or the Start menu, or press the  + E.
2. Select This PC from the left pane. Then, on the Computer tab, select Map network drive. 
3. In the Drive list, select a drive letter. (Any available letter will do.)
4. In the Folder box, type the path of the folder or computer, or select Browse to find the folder or computer.
   • To connect every time you log on to your PC, select the Reconnect at sign-in check box.
5. Select Finish

Environment

• Windows