Windows AD Share Drives and U:

  • Faculty & Staff

Windows Active Directory (AD) (also known as Domain account) shares are accessible on campus or off campus while using our Virtual Private Network (VPN).  Our instructions for mapping to your drives are below, contact your Local Support Provider (LSP) with any further questions.

Table of Contents

 

Requesting a Windows Active Directory (AD) Account

If you log into your office machine with a Windows AD or domain account, or access your Share Drive(s) or U: on campus, then you already have this account and won't need to do this step.  Skip to the VPN information below.

A Windows AD account is required to access your organizations share drives and U:.  If you do not already have a Windows AD account, please click here and fill out the Windows AD Account Survey.

 

Resetting a Windows Active Directory (AD) Account password

Follow these instructions at the link below:

  • Scroll down until you see the School and Center Active Directories section
  • Click the SAS button
  • Log-in with your Pennkey and Password

To reset your Windows Active Directory (AD) password, please click here.

If you get an error, or your account does not work properly after resetting the password, please contact your Local Support Provider (LSP) here.

 

Virtual Private Network (VPN) information

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) Client is necessary for AD Share access, Remote Desktop, or when connecting to other Penn resources from off-campus or on WiFi.  GlobalProtect is the software SAS uses.  Please click here for information about our VPN, including how to request your account and install GlobalProtect.  For instructions on connecting to GlobalProtect, click here for PC or here for Mac.

 

Connecting to GlobalProtect (VPN Client)

To connect to GlobalProtect on your PC please see this page for detailed instructions.

To connect to GlobalProtect on your Mac please see this page for detailed instructions.

 

Mapping a Share Drive or U: for PC

First time connecting to your Share Drive or U:

  1. Connect to GlobalProtect (click here for instructions)
  2. Open File Explorer, either by clicking the folder on your taskbar or clicking Start then typing 'File Explorer' without the quotes, then hit enter
  3. In the Address Bar at the top, enter the path(s) that were given to you by your LSP

  4. Enter your Windows AD account name and password, then click OK
  5. If you would like to create a shortcut to easily access this Share Drive in the future, follow these instructions:
    1. Right-click on the Share Folder and click Create shortcut
    2. A message will pop up telling you 'Windows can't create a shortcut here.  Do you want the shortcut to be placed on the desktop instead?'  Click Yes
    3. Check your Desktop, you should see a shortcut to your Share Drive

Re-connecting to your Share Drive or U:

  1. Connect to GlobalProtect (click here for instructions)
  2. Double-click the shortcut you created previously
  3. Enter your Windows AD account name and password
  4. Your Share Drive/U: will open and be accessible in the left-hand column within File Explorer

Disconnecting from your Share Drive or U:

  1. Once you are done accessing your Share Drive or U:, please make sure to disconnect
  2. Open File Explorer and find the Share Drive or U: under This PC on the left hand column
  3. Right click your Share Drive or U:, then click Disconnect

 

Mapping a Share Drive or U: for Mac

First time connecting to your Share Drive or U:

  1. Connect to GlobalProtect (click here for instructions)
  2. Click the Finder app in the bottom Dock (Blue smiley face), click Go at the top toolbar, then Connect to Server
  3. Enter the path(s) that were given to you by your LSP

  4. Click the + sign to add the server to your Favorite Servers
  5. Click Connect
  6. Enter your Windows AD Account name and password when prompted.  You can click 'Remember this password in my keychain' if you don't want to enter this every time you connect
  7. Click Finder in the top toolbar, then Preferences
  8. In the General tab, make sure Connected Servers check box is activated.  Then close this window.
  9. You should now see your connected share on your desktop
  10. If you would like to create a shortcut to easily access this Share Drive in the future, follow these instructions:
    1. Right click or Control+Left click the share icon on your desktop
    2. Click Make Alias
    3. A new Alias icon should appear on your desktop

Re-connecting to your Share Drive or U: using Alias shortcut

  1. Connect to GlobalProtect (click here for instructions)
  2. Double-click the alias you previously created
  3. Enter your Windows AD account name and password if prompted

Re-connecting to your Share Drive or U: using Connect to Server favorites

  1. Connect to GlobalProtect (click here for instructions)
  2. Click the Finder app in the bottom Dock (Blue smiley face), click Go at the top toolbar, then Connect to Server
  3. Double-click on your Favorited Server
  4. Enter your Windows AD account name and password if prompted

Disconnecting from your Share Drive or U:

  1. Once you are done accessing your Share Drive or U:, please make sure to disconnect
  2. Click the Finder app in the bottom Dock (Blue smiley face) and find your Share Drive/U: in the left hand column
  3. Click the Eject button on the right hand side of your Share Drive or U: