How To Access Staff Windows Home File Store

Staff Windows Home File Store Access

The staff windows home file store is the storage space that you would save files to when using any iSolutions built UDE managed computer in an office on campus. Usually these machines are used by staff or post grad's only. Students on the other hand are more likely to use public workstations file store which is different and known as Samba (See related link on 'How to Access Samba Home File Store' if you are looking for student file store).  

Note also that there is a separate file store area used for departmental/school related files. This is often referred to as the "J:\ Drive" or the "Resource Drive" and contains separate folders for each of the schools or professional services departments. (See the 'What's Related' link on 'How to Access Departmental Resource Drive File Store' for more information).

The staff windows home file store can be accessed from off campus if needed (e.g. from home, other internet connections, or even personal computers on campus) using either the VPN Service to connect to the SOTON domain university network (see 'What's Related' Links) or a network connection or wireless connection on campus.

How To Connect (From Windows XP / Vista)

Note that the VPN Service can be used from most off-campus and on-campus locations but not from 'iSolutions Self-Service Ethernet' or 'iSolutions Self-Service Wireless' (see 'What's Related' links for more info on these services).

From the Self-service Ethernet points you do not need the VPN, and from Self-Service Wireless you need to use the alternative Wireless VPN login method address (See setup guides) instead of the standard VPN service address.

  1. Setup a VPN connection using the relevant setup guide for your operating system on the 'VPN Service' web page (See related links 'VPN Service (Virtual Private Network Connection)'). 
  2. Connect to the VPN Service and login with your university username and password (if you haven't already). It at the login prompt, depending on your version of Windows, if there is an option to specify a 'Domain' then enter the word: SOTON
    - Vista Users: Specifying the SOTON Domain is especially important.
  3. Then once successfully connected the university SOTON domain or university network you can enter the following address into either the 'Start' -> 'Run..' window (Windows XP), or in Vista open the 'Start' menu and type the address into the "Start Search" box (Alternatively you could type the address into any folder address bar or even create a shortcut icon or 'Map Network Drive' link using the following address):

    \\soton.ac.uk\home\windows\username\ 
      (replace 'username' with your own university computing account username) 

    E.g. \\soton.ac.uk\home\windows\ntb908\ 
  4. This should then either open the folder, or give you another login prompt depending on which operating system you are using and where you are connecting from.
    • If you do get another login prompt, then enter your username and password again, however this particular login prompt may not have the option to specify the SOTON domain so type your username like:

      SOTON\username          (e.g. SOTON\ntb908 )
         (again replace 'username' with your own username).
  5. If login is successful then after a few seconds a folder window should open that contains folders and files you would find on a UDE staff office computer, for example the 'mydocuments' folder and 'Desktop' folder. 

    It may take up to or around 30 seconds to open the login prompt or folder window, if you get an error message then recheck your folder address, check the VPN is still connected and the Internet is accessible, be sure to specify the SOTON domain at login prompts and try again.

 

How To Connect (From Macintosh 10.4 or 10.5)

  1. Click the 'Finder' icon in the Dock.
  2. Choose 'Connect to Server' from the 'Go' menu.
  3. In the address field of the 'Connect to Server' dialog, enter the following URL  smb://personalfiles.soton.ac.uk/users/yourusername where 'yourusername' is your iSolutions username.
  4. Click 'Connect' and enter your username, password and enter domain as SOTON.

Further details on how connect to Windows shares on Mac OS X 10.x can be found at http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1568

Note that accessing files over the encrypted VPN connection can be slow so be patient when opening or copying files. It can be safer to copy files to your local machine first if you plan to edit them, and them copy them back when finished. The VPN service was not designed for this type if usage so support for this is limited.

Please note: Do not copy files or sensitive documents to publicly accessible computers, and remember you are accessing the university domain and subject to University Regulations.