When off-campus, you have to be connected to the Internet and then initiate a VPN connection the the Cisco AnyConnect software. If you did not identify the shares you need prior to leaving campus, you can try identifying the drive path from this list of drive paths. If you are not able to find a drive path you need, contact us.

Video Instructions: How to Connect to a Network Drive (Mac)

Connecting to a “network drive” or “shared drive” or “shared folder” from a Macintosh computer:

1. 1. First make sure that you are either on the wired campus network, IllinoisNet wireless on campus, or using the Cisco AnyConnect VPN from an off-campus location.
   2. Click the Finder icon in your dock (it is the smiley face Mac icon).
   3. Click the Go menu, and then select Connect to Server.
   4. Enter in the Server Address box the full drive path.
      • For example, to connect to the Channell Lab share enter smb://ad.uillinois.edu/ahs/shs-lab-channell
      • Click the “+” button to add it to the Favorite Servers list. After adding to the Favorite Servers list you may just double click it to access it.
   5. Click the Connect button.
   6. Enter your NetID in the Name box and your password in the Password box.

You now have access to your network share. Note: you will need to access it in the Finder from the top level of your Macintosh (Device level) in the sidebar or from the desktop. If you do not see the device level in the sidebar or the network share on the desktop follow the directions below:

1. 1. Click the Finder icon in your dock (it is the smiley face Mac icon).
   2. Click the Finder application menu in the upper left of the menu bar. It will be right next to the Apple menu.
   3. Select Preferences.
   4. Click the General tab.
   5. Under “Show these items on the desktop” check the box next to Connected Servers.
   6. Click the Sidebar tab.
   7. Under “Devices” click the name of your computer. The name will be something similar to “SHS-[NetID]-17″ where [NetID] is your NetID.