Connecting to Windows File shares externally or from a BYOD including departmental managed laptops please refer to the relevant Remote access knowledge articles the knowledge article is for Physics managed devices within the Physics network.

DFS

Windows DFS (Distributed File System) simplifies file access by grouping shared folders from multiple servers into a single unified virtual folder structure. This is the preferred method to access the shared folders on Physics file servers, over time the file server name or shared folder location may move as we upgrade hardware or provide additional storage space. The DFS shared location in the DFS structure will not change

• DAQ data storage is located \\physics.ox.ac.uk\dfs\DAQ
• Home folder storage is located \\physics.ox.ac.uk\dfs\Home
• Linux Home folder storage is located \\physics.ox.ac.uk\dfs\LinuxUsers\home
• Group storage is located \\physics.ox.ac.uk\dfs\Group

With additional folders for other network shares such as applications, LinuxUsers etc.

Accessing network file shares from a shared local account 

Please contact Physics IT support to help arrange the access required, using another users credentials to access a network file share is a serious breach a number of University policies.

How To Connect To The Physics file share from Windows

For departmental managed Windows desktop the Y: drive is mapped to the dfs share \\physics.ox.ac.uk\dfs by default for all physics AD accounts. But should this be missing you need to do the following:

Using File explorer

1. Open File Explorer on your computer, and Right Click on "This PC"
2. Select Map network drive... from the drop-down menu
3. Select a drive letter from the drop-down Drive list. For example for DFS share select Y:
4. In the Folder textbox enter the path to the share for example \\physics.ox.ac.uk\dfs
5. Tick "Reconnect at sign-in"
6. Click Finish

To view file shares

• Open File Explorer on your computer
• In the Address textbox located near the top middle enter the file server \\hostname for example \\cmdaq3.physics.ox.ac.uk
• Press return
• Select the share required from the list or map the share folder to drive

Using command line

Alternatively open a command line and enter the following command to map the DFS share. For alternative shares

Net Use Y: \\physics.ox.ac.uk\dfs

To view shares on a file server net view \\servername for example net view \\cmdaq3.physics.ox.ac.uk

How to connect to the Physics file share from macOS

If you need to connect to the Physics Distributed file System (DFS) shared areas which are mapped as the Y drive on Windows systems you need to do the following:

1. In Finder either click "Go" > "Connect To" from the menu bar or press "cmd + K"
2. In the server address field of the window that appears type following smb://physics.ox.ac.uk/dfs
3. You will then be asked to enter your username and password.

How to connect to the Physics file share from Linux

See https://itsupport.physics.ox.ac.uk/front/helpdesk.faq.php?id=1253