Technical Notes

Navigating the NFS Client
Technical Note 1081
Last Reviewed 07-Jul-2005
Applies To
Reflection NFS Client version 10.0 or higher
Summary

This technical note explains how to perform basic operations with the Reflection NFS Client.

Note the following:

• The Reflection NFS Client standalone product is also included as a component of several Reflection products. For details, refer to Technical Note 3000.
• For information about which versions of Reflection NFS are supported on each Microsoft Windows platform, see Technical Note 1866.

Introduction

The Reflection NFS Client is fully integrated with the operating system environment, and therefore uses the Windows interfaces to perform a variety of NFS-related tasks.

The following basic operations are explained below:

• Logon (authentication)
• Connecting to NFS server files (non-mapped or mapped connections)
• Viewing current connections
• Customizing settings

Logging On to an NFS Server

By default, a Reflection NFS logon dialog box appears when Windows is started.

If NFS Password Caching was enabled during the deployment process, the server name, user name, and password are saved the first time you logon (with the password saved in encrypted format). Thereafter, NFS logon will occur automatically and silently at Windows startup.

You will be prompted for a new password at startup if the server name or user name is changed in Reflection NFS client properties, or if the password is no longer accepted by the NFS server.

If you do not log on at startup, you will be prompted for logon information when you attempt to connect to an NFS server. Note: It is recommended that you always log on at Windows startup.

The Reflection NFS Client allows multiple concurrent NFS logons for users who have several different NFS servers that do not have coordinated user IDs and group IDs. For information on using this feature, please see Technical Note 1082.

Connecting to an NFS File System

You can access files on an NFS server by either using a non-mapped connection or by mapping a drive letter. These two connection types are explained below.

Non-Mapped Connections

In many cases, it is not necessary to map a drive to an NFS server letter in order to have access to it. In the Windows environment, a remote file can be accessed by one of several non-mapped methods:

• Browse My Network Places or Network Neighborhood for NFS Networks:

• Use the Windows Find or Search feature to locate an NFS server and browse its file system:

• Enter a UNC path to an NFS resource. UNC can be entered in either of two ways:
  • Click Start > Run > and then enter the UNC path.
  • Choose Open from the File menu in an application and then enter the UNC path in the Open dialog box.

Mapping a Network Drive

When you map a network drive, you associate a remote NFS server directory with a local drive letter. There are several reasons you may want to do this:

• To make it easier to frequently access the same NFS server directory
• To open files within an application without using a full UNC path
• To use familiar DOS prompt commands
• To work around the inability to find the desired NFS server in Network Neighborhood
• To access NFS server files in My Computer
• To view the connection in the Reflection NFS Utility
• To customize settings for a particular NFS connection

Mapping a Network Drive by Browsing

Follow the steps below to map a network drive by browsing:

1. Find the desired NFS server host by either browsing My Network Places or Network Neighborhood, or by using the Windows find/search methods (both methods are described in the Non-Mapped Connections section above).
2. Right-click the NFS server and click NFS Logon. Enter the appropriate logon information for your NFS server. If no error is received, the logon was successful.
3. Double-click the NFS server. Continue to open folders that are beneath this level until you reach the desired directory.
4. Right-click the folder that represents the remote directory you want to map, and then click Map Network Drive. (This option is not available if you did not properly select a file system.)
5. Select the desired drive letter. (The first available drive letter is selected by default.)
6. To temporarily map a network drive, clear the Reconnect at Logon check box. Select this check box if you want the drive to be mapped automatically the next time you start Windows.

Mapping a Network Drive using UNC in Explorer

To map a network drive using UNC in Explorer, follow these steps:

1. Open Windows Explorer or My Computer.
2. On the Tools menu, click Map Network Drive.
3. Select the desired drive letter. (The first available drive letter is selected by default.)
4. Enter the full UNC path name using the syntax below:

5. To temporarily map a network drive, clear the Reconnect at Logon check box. Select this check box if you want the drive to be mapped automatically the next time you start Windows.

Windows offers several alternate methods to accomplish the same tasks in Windows Explorer, My Computer, Network Neighborhood, or My Network Places. Please consult the Windows online help for additional information.

Viewing Current NFS Connections

To view your existing NFS connections and authentications, follow these steps:

1. Open the NFS Utility from the Reflection Utilities menu.
2. On the Help menu in the NFS Utility, click About Reflection NFS.

You will see the following information listed for NFS connections:

• Full network path for each connection
• A folder icon for non-mapped file connections, a printer icon for NFS printers, and a PC drive icon for connections associated with a mapped network drive
• Authentication logon used to establish each connection
• Current authentication (used for browsing and as the default authentication for any subsequent NFS connections)

For more information on multiple authentications, see Technical Note 1082.

Customizing NFS Connection Settings

Global settings are used for deviceless connections, such as browsing, and are used as default settings for subsequent mapped NFS drives. You can also configure settings for each individually mapped drive.

Changing Global Settings

Follow the steps below to change the global NFS settings (refer to the online help for detailed information on NFS settings). In Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows NT, these settings can only be accessed if your Windows login account is a member of the Windows Administrators group.

Reflection NFS Client Version 12.0 through 13.x:

Start the Reflection NFS Utility from the Reflection > Utilities folder.

Reflection NFS Client Version 11.x or Earlier:

Follow the steps below for your operating system.

1. Click Start > right-click My Network Places > Properties.
2. Right-click Local Area Connection > Properties.
3. Select the Reflection NFS Client and click Properties.

1. Click Start > Settings > Network and Dial-up Connections.
2. Right-click Local Area Connections > Properties > select Reflection NFS Client > Properties.

1. Open the Network Control Panel. (Start > Settings > Control Panel > Network.)
2. Select the Reflection NFS Client (from the Services tab in Windows NT) and click Properties.

After making changes to global NFS settings, you will be asked if you want to change all current NFS connections using the new configuration information.

Changing Settings for Each Mapped NFS Drive

Follow the steps below to change settings for one particular connection (refer to the online help for detailed information about NFS settings):

1. Right-click the mapped NFS drive in My Computer or Windows Explorer.
2. Choose Properties on the shortcut menu.

Changes made on the NFS Network Settings and NFS File Settings tabs take effect immediately.

Related Technical Notes

1082	Using Multiple NFS Logons in Versions 10.0 through 12.x
1421	Reflection NFS Client: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
5008	Technical Notes for Reflection NFS Products