Connecting to Physics file servers from OS X

The Physics file servers either run Windows or Apple operating systems depending on your sub department for Home and Group areas. Windows file servers can only be access via the SMB protocol, Apple file servers can be accessed via the AFP protocol from OS X. If you are not sure which file server your home area is on email itsupport [at] physics [dot] ox [dot] ac [dot] uk

To connect to the file servers remotely you will either need to create a VPN or SSH connection to the department first

How to connect to Windows (SMB) based file servers in OS X

How to connect via the Graphical Interface

  1. In Finder either click "Go" > "Connect To" from the menu bar or press "cmd + K"
  2. In the server address field of the window that appears type the name of the file server and the share

    e.g. smb://fileserver.physics.ox.ac.uk/subdepartment/username

  3. You will then be asked to enter your username and password.

to unmount the file server either drag the icon into the trash to eject it or highlight it and press "cmd +E"

How to connect via the Command Line

  1. Create a mount point where you want the file server mounted

    e.g. mkdir /Volumes/username

  2. Then mount the directory using the mount command:

    e.g. mount -t smbfs -o nodev,nosuid username [at] fileserver [dot] physics [dot] ox [dot] ac [dot] uk/subdepartment/username /Volumes/username

  3. You will then be asked to enter your password

To unmount the file server type umount and then the path to the mount point you created e.g.

umount /Volumes/username

How to connect to Apple (AFP) based file servers in OS X

How to connect via the Graphical Interface

  1. In Finder either click "Go" > "Connect To" from the menu bar or press "cmd + K"
  2. In the server address field of the window that appears type the name of the file server and the share

    e.g. afp://fileserver.physics.ox.ac.uk/username

  3. You will then be asked to enter your username and password.

to unmount the file server either drag the icon into the trash to eject it or highlight it and press "cmd +E"

How to connect via the Command Line

  1. Create a mount point where you want the file server mounted

    e.g. mkdir /Volumes/username

  2. Then mount the directory using the mount command:

    e.g. mount_afp -o nobrowse "afp://username [at] fileserver [dot] physics [dot] ox [dot] ac [dot] uk/username" /Volumes/username

  3. You will then be asked to enter your password

To unmount the file server type umount and then the path to the mount point you created e.g.

umount /Volumes/username

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