Windows 2000 Deep Mapping

When defining a Windows 95/98/ME/NT4/2000 network shared resource
("a Share"), it can be accessed via the "Network Neighborhood" /
"My Network Places" and you can create a virtual disk-drive via
Network drive mapping
.

In previous version of Windows (95/98/ME/NT4), a shared network
resource can only be mapped at the share-point, not at a position
deeper in the directory structure inside the shared section of the disk.
Windows 2000 mapping supports now deep Mapping.

Standard mapping:

There are several possibilities to create a
network drive mapping:

-select fist the object, then request the action
Browse the "Network Neighborhood", select
the system on the network, select the shared
resource and then via a right-click define to
map this shared resource as a network drive.



or
- select request first the action, then select
the object


Right-click on "Network Neighborhood" or
on "My Network Places" and select to
"Map Network Drive"

On Windows 95/98, you can just select the
drive character to be used and enter the
network path as UNC:
\\<computername>\<shared resource name>
Windows NT4 allows via a browser to
locate the shared resource and creates the
UNC network path based on your selection
or
- Command prompt via NET USE

When systems are connected to Windows
NT-servers, network drivers are often
created via the "NET USE" command,
which is defined in a logon-script executed
during the network logon:
NET USE <drive:> <UNC>

When attempting to map a network drive
at a directory inside the network share:
NET USE <drive:> <UNC>/<path>
then Windows 95/98 (on the left) and
Windows NT4 (below) display error
messages, since this feature is not supported.



Similar to the mapping support on Novell Netware servers, Windows 2000 supports
"Deep Mapping": to define as map-point any directory inside the network share:

Make a right-click on
"My Network Places"
and select :
"Map Network Drive.."
You can enter the UNC of the
folder to be mapped or
(much easier) use the
button "Browse" to locate/
select the folder.
You are able on Windows2000
to select a directory / folder
(not just a Share-name)
The UNC is now:
\\<computername>
\<sharename>\<path>
This extended UNC can also be used
with the NET USE - command on
Windows 2000 systems in a
Command-Prompt Window:
NET USE <drive>: \\<server>\<share>\<path>

About Johannes Helmig

Dr.Johannes Helmig is working as Director, Technical Knowledge Management in the Belgium office of Gerber Technology where he is involved in Customer Service and internal training, with special interest in Networking.

Click here for Johannes Helmig's section.

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