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Network File Storage FAQs

1. What benefits are provided with network file storage? 
   • Save and store files in a user folder on the network accessible only by you
   • Save, store, and share files in departmental or common folders with co-workers in your department
   • Save, store, and share files in folders accessible across departments
   • Nightly automatic backup of your network folders and files
   • Restoration of deleted files
   • Share files between faculty and students in a general lab
2. How do I obtain access to store my files on the network?

   Supervisors or Department Heads must submit the Network File Storage Access request form to request the following:

   • Network file storage access for new employees
   • Access to departmental or specialized folders
   • Shared folders across departments
   • Changes to existing access
   • Removal of access
3. I changed departments; how do I get access to my new departmental shared folders?  

   Your new supervisor must complete a Network File Storage Access request form and indicate that you're in a new department. Also, your supervisor will need to indicate what special access you might need to various folders. It may be easier for your supervisor to indicate another employee that has the same access rights that you need.   Have your former supervisor submit a removal of access if you no longer need access to that department's folder.

4. How do I access my files on the network?  

   Your computer should fit into one of the three categories below.

   On-campus, JMU-owned computers joined to the Domain (JMUAD) will receive automatic drive mapping.  This only applies to users logging into their domain (e-ID) account on a Windows-based computer. This will not work for generic accounts, or any other local account (e.g. administrator accounts).  Those accounts will need to map the drives using the instructions below.

   On-campus, JMU-owned (or personally-owned) computers not joined to the domain and all Macs will need to manually map drives using the instructions below:

   Windows 8
   Windows 7
   Windows XP
   Windows Vista
   Macintosh

   Off-campus computers connect and access files through JMU's SSL VPN service.

5. Which network drives (Windows) and servers (Mac and Windows) hold my departmental and personal folders of data?
   

   A Network File Storage Environment list is provided to determine on which network drive (Windows) and server (Mac and Windows) your current departmental and personal user folders reside. This information is provided in an Adobe Acrobat readable.pdf file that requires authentication with your JMU e-ID and password to view.

6. How do I access my files in a General Computing lab or technology classroom?
   

   See Accessing Your Network Files in the General Labs and Technology classrooms.  

7. Can I access my network folders and files from JMU’s on-campus wireless network or from off-campus?
   

   Yes, wireless network access and off-campus access to network file storage is available on Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8 and Mac OS 10.4 or newer computers (see "How do I access my files on the Network" listed above).   Off-campus access requires the use of the JMU SSL VPN.

8. Where do I save files on the network file storage that only I can access?

    To save files that only you can access:

   • Your department head/supervisor would request a user or personal folder for you (typically done for a new employee when network file storage access is requested - see question 2).
   • You would save your files to your personal user folder identified by your e-ID and found under an alphabetical grouped Users' folder named UserA-F, UserG-L, UserM-R or UserS-Z.  For instance, the e-ID fuddex would be found under the folder UserA-F.
   • Personal folders are separate from departmental folders. 
   • Mac users will most likely need to mount multiple volumes/servers to access both their personal user folder and their departmental folder (see JMU-owned, non-domain joined computers, all Macs and personally owned PC’s in question 4 above).
9. I accidentally deleted an important file from my network drive (N:), what can I do?

   As long as the file was not created the same day it was deleted, typically a file can be restored from a network file backup.  Newly created files that are deleted (or corrupted) during the same workday before a nightly backup has been run cannot be restored. 

   If a file (created on a previous day) is missing, first try to search for the file because sometimes the file has just been moved to another folder. If you are not successful finding the file, please request a file restore by filling out the File Restoration Request form or by contacting the Information Technology Help Desk.  You will need to provide the following information to assist with the recovery:

   • Complete name of the deleted file(s) to be restored
   • Complete network drive path or folder names where the file(s) was stored (e.g. N: \Division\Department\e-ID\foldername\filename)
   • Approximate date the file last existed
   • Urgency of the request, based on business need

   Information Technology strives to contact you within two business days concerning the status of your file restoration request.

10. Our department keeps getting messages that a drive is out of space, can we get more file storage space? 

    First, review your storage space for outdated files and information that can be deleted.  After performing clean-up, if you or your department needs additional space for business related storage, please send a request for additional space to helpdesk@jmu.edu. Requests will be evaluated before additional space is granted.

    Information Technology strives to contact the requestor about his file storage needs within two business days.

11. Why can I see some files on my Mac but not on my PC?

    This issue is caused by including special characters in a file name that you saved on your Mac.  Go to the file directory using the Mac, search, change and save any file name containing a special character.