Answer
If you want to do a Windows share from Mac OS X you need to know a few pieces of information first:
- The name of the server.
- The name of the share.
- The name of the Network or Domain where the server lives.
- Your user name on the server.
- Your password on the server.
- As there is no browsing feature when connecting to Windows shares, choose Connect To from the Go menu in the Finder.
- Enter 'smb://your_server_name/your_share_name' (sans quotes)
Note: You must replace 'your_server_name' and 'your_share_name' with your appropriate information for this to work. - A dialog box then prompts you to authenticate yourself: Enter the name of the workgroup in which the server resides, your user name on the server, and your password in the appropriate fields.
- The share will appear in the Computer area in a Finder window and on your desktop (if you have selected the Finder preference to show mounted shares on your desktop)
If you enter the fully qualified hostname of your Windows server (eg: your_server_name.mit.edu), the dialog box will appear with the appropriate workgroup name already entered.
Further notes from Apple's Knowledge Base.
Mac Pro Server
Make Your Regular Mac a NetBoot Server!: In this instructable, I'm going to demonstrate to you how to setup your Mac to allow any other Macs on your network to boot from it. Apple actually put all the pieces into the operating system to do this! All you really need to do is set it up.
You can find the entire article here.
MacOS Server brings even more power to your business, home office, or school. Designed to work with macOS and iOS, macOS Server makes it easy to configure Mac and iOS devices. It's also remarkably simple to install, set up, and manage. Add macOS Server to your Mac from the Mac. On your Mac, choose Apple menu System Preferences, click Users & Groups, then click Login Options. Open the Login Options pane for me. Click the lock icon to unlock it. Enter an administrator name and password). Click the button next to Network Account Server.
What this means, practically speaking, is that instead of making all the Mac and iOS devices in your network run out over the Internet to download and update content from Apple's servers, you can. Network-attached storage options are more abundant than ever, but jumping into the copious bush of NAS can be quite a task, especially if you want a system that plays nice with both PC and Mac.
- 'ServerName' may be an IP address or DNS name.
- The name of the 'share' (the shared disk, volume, or directory) must be specified. You will not be prompted for it.
- You cannot type spaces as part of the share name when connecting. In place of any space in the share name, type: %20
- You cannot connect to a share with a name that contains a hyphen. Resolve the issue by giving the share a name that does not contain a hyphen.
- Connecting to (mounting) two or more SMB volumes simultaneously may cause a kernel panic. Drag one volume to the Trash to eject it before connecting to another.
- The only alert message that Mac OS X displays for SMB login difficulties is 'There's no file service available at the URL .' This is sometimes correct and sometimes incorrect. This is the message that would appear if you mistyped your password, for example.
- Mac OS X connects to SMB via the TCP/IP protocol, not via the NetBIOS protocol.
- When troubleshooting a connection failure, you can ping the IP address of the Windows computer using the Mac OS X Network Utility to verify a TCP/IP connection between the two computers.
- Check Microsoft support resources for information on setting up file sharing on your Microsoft Windows-based computer. These may include Help files installed on your computer or the Microsoft online Knowledge Base https://support.microsoft.com/en-us. For an example, see article Q304040: 'Description of File Sharing and Permissions in Windows XP'
Note: These instructions assume you are using Mac OS version 10.1.2. Locations, labels, and behaviors may differ in other versions of the OS.
See Also
Best FTP client for MacA network drive, also known as a NAS (network attached storage) drive, is a storage device that connects to a home or office network instead of your computer. Some of the advantages of this are obvious: for example, you can get access files from a smartphone, tablet, or computer without having to plug the drive in.
Other, perhaps less obvious, positives of NAS include things like automated backups and the ability to mirror data on two drives. In other words, NAS offers a flexible and protected way to manage Mac storage that's far beyond that of standard external hard drives. Read along to learn how to map a network drive and avoid some common NAS mistakes.
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Mac Server Software
What is a network drive used for?
Whether it's populated or diskless, has one bay or more than five, a network drive is typically used as an alternative to cloud storage. It may be easy to drag and drop files to something like Google Drive or Dropbox, but just a bit of drive mapping can make using a network drive a fantastic cloud alternative.
Some of network drive's key advantages include:
- Better control over your files
- More security features than cloud services
- Flexibility without compromising on privacy
- Being used by multiple users across multiple devices
Map network drive on macOS (one-time)
Nowadays, most NAS devices are seriously easy to map. Let's say that you've been working on a document in your home office but have just remembered a key fact that you want to include. Time to make a quick edit from your wife's laptop before you forget about it!
Network drive access can be obtained in three simple steps, provided you don't mind having to repeat those steps if the connection drops, you restart your Mac, or the device is disconnected:
- In Finder, either hit Command+K to bring up 'Connect to Server' or click Go > Connect to Server
- Enter the path of the network drive you're trying to map (e.g. smb://192.168.1.300/shared/Files) and click Connect
- Enter your login details and password then click OK to mount the network drive
You can now access the relevant drive either via your desktop or the sidebar in Finder windows.
Map network drive on macOS (remount after reboot)
Maybe you have a server in your office with a connected network drive and want all your employees to be able to connect to it so they can collaborate on shared documents. If you want to keep a Mac connected to a network drive, even after restarting, the easiest way to do this is to follow the three steps above then add these:
- Hit the Apple menu, then System Preferences > Users & Groups
- From here, select Login Items and click + to add a new item
- Find your network drive and click Add, then close the window
Now, your network drive will be mapped and automatically remounted when you reboot your Mac. Network drives won't, however, connect automatically if you're using a different WiFi network.
Make a network drive accessible from Mac desktop
Depending on your settings, mounted drives may not always appear on your desktop. That's not necessarily a problem if you don't mind only being able to see connected servers in Finder window sidebars and open/save dialogues.
Download Mac App Store now from Softonic: 100% safe and virus free. More than 612 downloads this month. Download Mac App Store latest version 2020. Free download @AppStore @AppStore for Mac OS X. @AppStore - Now you can follow the official Mac App Store tweet right from your Mac OS X Dashboard. Mac App Store is the simplest way to find and download apps for your Mac. To download apps from the Mac App Store, you need a Mac with OS X 10.6.6 or later. A Mac computer with an Intel processor. Mac OS X v10.6.6 or later. Internet access. An iTunes or iCloud account. Once your update has been installed, you can view apps in the Mac App Store, where you can browser categories such as; top sales, top free, top grossing. App store for ipad and iphone. Browse and download thousands of apps for your Mac — from your Mac. Learn more about the Mac App Store. Learn how to submit apps. ITunes is the easiest way to organize and enjoy the music, movies, TV shows, apps, and books you already have — and shop for the ones you want to get. You can even listen to free streaming radio stations with.
If, however, you want your NAS device to always be just one double-click away (in the same way that most people have Macintosh HD as a visible item on their desktop) just follow these steps:
- Open Finder > Preferences or click Command + to open Finder Preferences
- Click the General tab, then tick the box next to Connected servers
- Close Finder Preferences
Remount a mapped network drive with one click
Managing, or working across, multiple departments that each have their own network drive? In that case, it can be handy to create aliases of mapped network drive(s):
- Right click on any mapped NAS device on your desktop.
- Select Make Alias
This might not sound like anything all that significant but, as the subheading suggests, you can use this alias to reconnect to a network drive with one click. That can be very helpful if you need to keep jumping between different shared drives.
How to manage files with network-attached storage
In most cases, macOS's default tools are sufficient for viewing, editing, and deleting files. That might change, however, if you're using a NAS device. For example, it's very easy to end up with a ton of duplicate files on your network drive where it's likely you'll be less concerned about making the most of your storage as you might be with a built in hard drive.
Gemini is a great tool for digging out any duplicate content on your drives, so you can ditch everything you no longer need while hanging onto backup documents, photos, etc.
- Open up the app and hit the giant + or drag your folder of choice into the window
- Choose from recommended locations or select a custom folder
- Push the green Scan for Duplicates button to get started
- Delete duplicate files manually or use Smart Cleanup to automate the process
For a more granular approach to file management, you might want to consider something like DCommander or Forklift. These apps both offer dual-pane file management, as well as features like batch renaming, copying, and deletion, in a more seamless way than your default Finder.
Download microsoft for mac word free. Although Forklift was designed with FTP management in mind, it's become a favorite of network drive users because of how closely it resembles macOS. Billed as a Finder replacement app in parts of its marketing material, you won't find an app much more native unless it comes out of Cupertino.
Plus, actually getting started with the app is incredibly simple:
- Open up the Forklift app
- Use the left-hand panel to find the file(s) you want to move across
- Select the right-hand panel then, using the sidebar, click on your network drive
- Start moving, renaming and archiving files
If Forklift isn't for you then you might prefer to take a look at DCommander, an approved Mac alternative of Total Commander for Windows. In addition to two side-by-side file panels that look very similar to those of Forklift, DCommander puts a wider range of commands and features (including quick file viewing, selective file unpacking, navigation history, and a great looking Dark Mode) at your fingertips without the need to leave the dual-panel display.
Both apps let you do things like mark certain drives as favorites, create and browse archives, and get previews of items. In short, they're much like macOS's Finder … only better. It's difficult to overstate how much easier it becomes to manage Mac storage with dual-pane browsing until you try to organize your network drive without it!
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Effectively manage Mac storage day-to-day
Thanks to macOS, network drive mapping is a pretty simple process even if you're not particularly tech-savvy. You might be out of luck if you're hoping to access a NAS device from another network using standard macOS tools but, at present, that's pretty much the only thing keeping network drives from competing with the cloud at the mainstream level.
If remote access isn't such a concern for you and you're using NAS as an alternative to cloud, then it's definitely worth taking a look at programs like Forklift or DCommander to make file management easier once you're done drive mapping, as well as Gemini to ensure that your NAS device isn't filling up with duplicate files you don't need.
Best of all, the software mentioned above is available for a free trial through Setapp, a collection of over 150 high-quality macOS applications from the best developers around. Manage your Mac effectively today!
Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.
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- In Finder, either hit Command+K to bring up 'Connect to Server' or click Go > Connect to Server
- Enter the path of the network drive you're trying to map (e.g. smb://192.168.1.300/shared/Files) and click Connect
- Enter your login details and password then click OK to mount the network drive
You can now access the relevant drive either via your desktop or the sidebar in Finder windows.
Map network drive on macOS (remount after reboot)
Maybe you have a server in your office with a connected network drive and want all your employees to be able to connect to it so they can collaborate on shared documents. If you want to keep a Mac connected to a network drive, even after restarting, the easiest way to do this is to follow the three steps above then add these:
- Hit the Apple menu, then System Preferences > Users & Groups
- From here, select Login Items and click + to add a new item
- Find your network drive and click Add, then close the window
Now, your network drive will be mapped and automatically remounted when you reboot your Mac. Network drives won't, however, connect automatically if you're using a different WiFi network.
Make a network drive accessible from Mac desktop
Depending on your settings, mounted drives may not always appear on your desktop. That's not necessarily a problem if you don't mind only being able to see connected servers in Finder window sidebars and open/save dialogues.
Download Mac App Store now from Softonic: 100% safe and virus free. More than 612 downloads this month. Download Mac App Store latest version 2020. Free download @AppStore @AppStore for Mac OS X. @AppStore - Now you can follow the official Mac App Store tweet right from your Mac OS X Dashboard. Mac App Store is the simplest way to find and download apps for your Mac. To download apps from the Mac App Store, you need a Mac with OS X 10.6.6 or later. A Mac computer with an Intel processor. Mac OS X v10.6.6 or later. Internet access. An iTunes or iCloud account. Once your update has been installed, you can view apps in the Mac App Store, where you can browser categories such as; top sales, top free, top grossing. App store for ipad and iphone. Browse and download thousands of apps for your Mac — from your Mac. Learn more about the Mac App Store. Learn how to submit apps. ITunes is the easiest way to organize and enjoy the music, movies, TV shows, apps, and books you already have — and shop for the ones you want to get. You can even listen to free streaming radio stations with.
If, however, you want your NAS device to always be just one double-click away (in the same way that most people have Macintosh HD as a visible item on their desktop) just follow these steps:
- Open Finder > Preferences or click Command + to open Finder Preferences
- Click the General tab, then tick the box next to Connected servers
- Close Finder Preferences
Remount a mapped network drive with one click
Managing, or working across, multiple departments that each have their own network drive? In that case, it can be handy to create aliases of mapped network drive(s):
- Right click on any mapped NAS device on your desktop.
- Select Make Alias
This might not sound like anything all that significant but, as the subheading suggests, you can use this alias to reconnect to a network drive with one click. That can be very helpful if you need to keep jumping between different shared drives.
How to manage files with network-attached storage
In most cases, macOS's default tools are sufficient for viewing, editing, and deleting files. That might change, however, if you're using a NAS device. For example, it's very easy to end up with a ton of duplicate files on your network drive where it's likely you'll be less concerned about making the most of your storage as you might be with a built in hard drive.
Gemini is a great tool for digging out any duplicate content on your drives, so you can ditch everything you no longer need while hanging onto backup documents, photos, etc.
- Open up the app and hit the giant + or drag your folder of choice into the window
- Choose from recommended locations or select a custom folder
- Push the green Scan for Duplicates button to get started
- Delete duplicate files manually or use Smart Cleanup to automate the process
For a more granular approach to file management, you might want to consider something like DCommander or Forklift. These apps both offer dual-pane file management, as well as features like batch renaming, copying, and deletion, in a more seamless way than your default Finder.
Download microsoft for mac word free. Although Forklift was designed with FTP management in mind, it's become a favorite of network drive users because of how closely it resembles macOS. Billed as a Finder replacement app in parts of its marketing material, you won't find an app much more native unless it comes out of Cupertino.
Plus, actually getting started with the app is incredibly simple:
- Open up the Forklift app
- Use the left-hand panel to find the file(s) you want to move across
- Select the right-hand panel then, using the sidebar, click on your network drive
- Start moving, renaming and archiving files
If Forklift isn't for you then you might prefer to take a look at DCommander, an approved Mac alternative of Total Commander for Windows. In addition to two side-by-side file panels that look very similar to those of Forklift, DCommander puts a wider range of commands and features (including quick file viewing, selective file unpacking, navigation history, and a great looking Dark Mode) at your fingertips without the need to leave the dual-panel display.
Both apps let you do things like mark certain drives as favorites, create and browse archives, and get previews of items. In short, they're much like macOS's Finder … only better. It's difficult to overstate how much easier it becomes to manage Mac storage with dual-pane browsing until you try to organize your network drive without it!
Unlock the full pack of Mac problem solvers
Get Setapp, a huge set of top apps for keeping your Mac in shape. Best utilities in one pack, give it a go!
Effectively manage Mac storage day-to-day
Thanks to macOS, network drive mapping is a pretty simple process even if you're not particularly tech-savvy. You might be out of luck if you're hoping to access a NAS device from another network using standard macOS tools but, at present, that's pretty much the only thing keeping network drives from competing with the cloud at the mainstream level.
If remote access isn't such a concern for you and you're using NAS as an alternative to cloud, then it's definitely worth taking a look at programs like Forklift or DCommander to make file management easier once you're done drive mapping, as well as Gemini to ensure that your NAS device isn't filling up with duplicate files you don't need.
Best of all, the software mentioned above is available for a free trial through Setapp, a collection of over 150 high-quality macOS applications from the best developers around. Manage your Mac effectively today!
Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.
Read onSign Up
