Mapping network drives assigns a letter to a hard drive on another computer in the network, allowing access to files and applications. The process varies by operating system, but typically involves creating and sharing a network drive. Access may be granted individually or to all computers on the network. Different levels of permissions can be set for each drive.
The process used to map network drives varies depending on the operating system being used. The purpose of mapping a network drive is to assign a drive letter to a hard drive located on another computer within the network. Once this process is completed, the user can access files, programs and applications stored on the network drive in the same way as files located on their local computer.
The naming systems used to map network drives are very simple. The drive is always identified by a single letter. In general, the disk drive is known as A. This is the bootable drive, as many older programs are configured to examine this drive for any information needed to boot the system. C drive is commonly known as the primary hard drive on local computer. Duplication is not allowed, so the user is free to assign any letter to the network drive, as long as it is not in use elsewhere on the system.
On most systems, the process required to map network drives is fairly straightforward. There are two steps: create the drive on the network computer and give the local machine permission to access the drive. The actual steps required will differ, based on your operating system and network technology. In a managed desktop environment, the end user is unable to make changes. Instead, this work is completed by IT support staff.
To create a new drive on the networked computer, access the control panel. Using the tools provided, create and name a new network drive. It’s important to note that a network drive can also be an external hard drive or storage center. Once the drive is created, access the properties and allow the folder to be shared instead of private. The shared setting will allow it to be accessed by other computers on the network.
Depending on the size of the computer network and the management tools in place, access may be granted to all computers on the network immediately or it may be assigned individually. If access is granted individually, the system administrator will need to log into each workstation and manually add drive access to the system configuration.
For the typical user, once the job of mapping network drives is complete, the process is straightforward. To access programs or files stored on network drives, simply view all accessible drives and select the required network drive. Once you’ve made your selection, you can access your files. It’s important to note that each drive can have different levels of permissions, controlling the ability to add, edit, or delete files on the shared drive.
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