An Introduction to Unix

6.2. Transferring Files Across the ODU Local Network: Samba

If you are sitting at a Windows PC that is part of either the CS Dept's own local network (e.g., in the CS Dept. labs) or part of the ODU OCCS local network (most ODU computer labs on the Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Peninsula Graduate Center campuses)34

I'm not sure about other ODU remote locations. If anyone is able to try this at other locations, let me know if it works there.

, then you can access your Unix account directories directly from within Windows. This is because the CS Dept. Unix file servers run a service called “Samba” , a program that mediates file access between UNIX and other systems.

Again, let me emphasize that Samba only works on a local network. If you are connecting to the campus via the Internet, forget Samba.

To use Samba, use the Windows “Start->Run” button to run

\\stusmb.cs.odu.edu\your-login-name

In the above command, stusmb.cs.odu.edu is the name of the CS Dept's Samba server. If your machine is on the CS Dept. local network, you can abbreviate this as simply stusmb.

You may be prompted for a password, or a login name and password. Supply your CS Unix login/password and, if all is well, a Windows Explorer window should open displaying the contents of your Unix home directory. You can now manipulate files in this Window just as you would in any Windows directory/folder, but the changes are occurring in your Unix directory.

Now that we know that it works, we can make this whole process more convenient by mapping a Windows drive letter to your Unix account, giving you a “fake” disk drive that actually accesses your Unix files. From inside any Windows Explorer or “My Computer” window, select “Tools” (or right-click on the “My Computer” icon on the desktop) and select “Map Network Drive…” . Select an unused drive letter, and enter that same address/command string as in the last step for the “Folder” . Make sure the “Reconnect at logon” box is checked. Finally, if your login name for logging into the PC is different from your CS Unix login name, look for a “Connect using a different user name” link, click on that and supply your Unix login information. Click on OK/Finish and within a few seconds, you should have a new drive available that actually maps onto your Unix account.

Two things to keep in mind when using Samba to access your Unix files from Windows:

Watch your file permissions! Samba tries to set reasonable permission levels to Unix-hosted files that you create or modify from a Windows program, but it may not always do what you wanted. Be prepared to use chmod on any files you transfer in this way to set the permissions what you really wanted.
Samba will do all the transfers in binary mode. If that's not what you want, you will need to repair your text files as described in Section 6.4: Problems and Inconsistencies.

34. I'm not sure about other ODU remote locations. If anyone is able to try this at other locations, let me know if it works there. (back)