On Windows computers, you can connect to any shared folder on the Nicholas School network via the server nicknet.nicholas.duke.edu. This server is really just a collection of links or shortcuts that redirect your computer to other servers. While OS X can connect to Windows networking shares, it can't read these links. So to map a drive to these locations, you'll need to determine the actual name of the server.

Determining the real location of your folder

Nicknet is a Windows-only convention, so, to locate your home directory on the server, login from a Windows machine in one of the Nicholas School labs or offices, or from any computer on the Duke network.

1. Open a Windows Explorer window (clicking on the My Computer icon will do this)

2. in the address bar of the window, enter the server name \\nicknet.nicholas.duke.edu\network 

3. Click to the folder you want to reach with your Mac (i.e. \\nicknet.nicholas.duke.edu\network\class\spring-2007\)

4. Right click on the folder, choose Properties.

5. On the properties window that opens up, choose the tab Dfs. The Referral List part of the window will give you the real server address of the data. You may have to play with the Path heading a bit to see the full address. For this folder, we see that the address is \\martha.env.duke.edu\class-spring07\environ255. That's the info you need.

On your Mac

1. Click on your Finder, to bring up the Finder menu.
2. On the Finder Menu bar, choose the Go menu, choose Connect to Server
   
3. At Server Address enter the address in the form cifs://[servername]/[foldername] (note that our server names can be reached with either the nicholas.duke.edu or the env.duke.edu domains).ie: cifs://adams.nicholas.duke.edu/archive

Click on the plus sign to add it to your list of Favorite Servers.

Click the Connect button.

An authentication screen comes up

• set the Workgroup or Domain to NICHOLAS

• for the Username and Password, put the credentials you use on our Windows computers.

• Put a check in the Remember this password in my keychain so you can connect quickly next time. Click OK to finish the connection.
  

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• A window will pop open showing you the folder. Depending on how you've got your Mac set up, it will also appear in your Finder windows as a disk, and on your desktop.

Troubleshooting

• Just like with a Windows computer, you need to be on a Duke connection to map a drive. If you are off campus, you will need to run the Duke VPN connection.
• If you are off campus, or cannot get a windows computer to determine the real location of your folder, contact it@nicholas.duke.edu.
• You can also get to your home folder using an sftp client program.
• some research and class folders are available over sftp. Once connected, change to the /nfs folder and browse nickdept1 for class and department folders. research folders are at the top level.
  
• if you need access to a folder not available in /nfs, let us know.