Accessing Lafayette SMB File Shares

Google Drive is Lafayette’s primary location for online storage of files, documents, and other content.  For information about Google Drive, please go to https://help.lafayette.edu/google-drive/.  However, Google drive is not the same as Server Message Block or ‘SMB’. SMB is used at the College only under special circumstances where it is necessary. For example, Xerox network scanner directories cannot employ Google Drive; such directories must use SMB.

Before connecting to a file share, keep in mind that the way in which you do so may differ depending on the device you’re attempting to access it from and whether you are on campus or not. To access a files share from off campus on a Windows or macOS device, you must first be connected to VPN.

Network Shares: There is a network share that nearly everyone at the College will have access to, but with differing levels of privilege; e.g. only people in the Athletics department may have access to the Athletics Xerox scanner directory.  Users will be notified when access to this share will be turned on for them. The address for this share is:

  • \\fs0.ad.lafayette.edu\shared for Windows computers
  • smb://fs0.ad.lafayette.edu/shared for macOS computers

Accessing your file shares while on Campus

From a College-provided PC

Most College-provided PCs are preconfigured to connect to your file shares each time you login. Simply open the [File Explorer] and you can find them under [This PC], there should be a folder called [Network Shares]. If your shares are missing, we recommend you logoff and log back in, or simply reboot.

If the shares do not reconnect automatically after you’ve logged in, contact the Help Desk for assistance.

From any Mac

  1. Open Finder.
  2. On the toolbar, click [Go] and then click [Connect to Server…].
  3. In the Server address box, enter smb://fs0.ad.lafayette.edu/shared
  4. Click [Connect] when prompted to connect to the server.
  5. On the next prompt, enter your NetID for the  Name box and your password for the password box and then click [Connect].
  6. You will then see the shares in the Finder window.

Note: When the computer goes to sleep, you will need to reconnect to the share using the above instructions.

To access file shares from off campus on a Windows or macOS device, you must first be connected to the VPN.

Accessing your file shares while off Campus

From a College-provided PC

Unlike when you’re on campus, Lafayette file shares need to be manually connected while off campus. Once you are connected to the VPN, please follow the instructions below to connect to your shares.

  1. Open Windows File Explorer and Select [This PC]
  2. Click the folder called [Network Shares] 

From a Personal PC

Lafayette file shares need to be manually connected while off campus. Once you are connected to the VPN, please follow the instructions below to connect to your shares.

Note that these instructions apply to Windows 10/11, but can be followed for earlier versions of Windows

  1. Open Windows File Explorer and Select [This PC]
  2. Click the [Map network drive button] in the ribbon menu at the top, then select [Map network drive]. (This is under the Computer tab, which should open automatically when you go to This PC.)
  3. Enter the following: (Note that the choice of drive letter is not important; however we use the letter ‘K’ for the sake of consistency.)
    • Drive Letter: K:
    • Folder: \\fs0.ad.lafayette.edu\shared
  4. Keep [Reconnect at Login] checked.
  5. Make sure [Connect using different credentials] is check and then click [Finish].
  6. Enter your Lafayette NetID and password and click [OK].

Once connected a window displaying your shares should appear. Open the [File Explorer] and you can find them under [This PC].

From any Mac

Lafayette file shares need to be manually connected while off campus. Once you are connected to the VPN, please follow the instructions below to connect to your shares.

  1. Open Finder.
  2. On the toolbar, click [Go] and then click [Connect to Server…].
  3. In the Server address box, enter smb://fs0.ad.lafayette.edu/shared
  4. Click [Connect] when prompted to connect to the server.
  5. On the next prompt, enter your NetID for the  Name box and your password for the password box and then click [Connect].
  6. You will then see the shares in the Finder window.

Note: When the computer goes to sleep, you will need to reconnect to the share using the above instructions.

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