File server addresses
To Connect to a file server, you can use the following kinds of URLs. Most of the URLs below will work best if you Connect to a file server with Mac OS X.
Where "server.rit.edu" is listed, substitute the host and domain names of the file server you want to reach. In most cases you can use either an IP address or a host/domain name. Where "sharepoint" is listed, insert the name of the share point or volume you want to reach on the file server.
Some of these addresses can also be used to Connect to a file server with Mac OS 9, using either the Chooser or Network Browser.
The URLs may also be applicable to AppleScript, depending on what version of Mac OS you are using -- and what its scripting capabilities are.
AppleShare file servers over TCP/IP
AppleShare IP, Mac OS 9's personal File Sharing, Mac OS X's file sharing, or other compatible software is required on the file server to connect over TCP/IP. If you have Mac OS 8, you will need version 3.7 or later of the AppleShare client software to use AFP over IP.
afp://server.rit.edu/sharepoint
You may also generate AFP URLs with Open Door Network's AFP URL Generator.
AppleShare file server over AppleTalk
AppleTalk access requires Mac OS X 10.1 or later. You can connect to many traditional kinds of Mac-compatible file servers, including those running AppleShare, AppleShare IP, and Microsoft Windows NT/2000, and so on.
Note: AppleTalk routing is no longer available on the RIT campus network as of July 24, 2006. This could affect connections to file servers, network printers, and inter-application communication. While RIT’s network does not disable or prevent the use of the AppleTalk protocol itself, the lack of AppleTalk routing does prevent that traffic from:
- going across network segment boundaries (or subnets)
- traversing the RIT backbone.
Because of this ITS will not be able to support or troubleshoot AppleTalk related problems. For more information, see our AppleTalk support statement page.
The format is:
afp:/at/server:zone/sharepoint
The "server" and "zone" are the AppleTalk names that allow you to navigate the network to find resources like servers. To see zones, you must be connected to an RIT network that has AppleTalk routing enabled. (See AppleTalk support statement.)
Notice that there is only one slash (/) after the "afp" text, before the "at" text, which is unusual for URLs.
You may also generate AFP URLs with Open Door Network's AFP URL Generator.
WebDAV
Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning, or WebDAV, is a convenient new method of connecting to Web servers and using them as if they are file servers. WebDAV can be used to make changes to Web sites, or connect to traditional file servers.
http://server.rit.edu/sharepoint
SMB/CIFS
Servers using Server Messaging Block (SMB) and Common Internet File System (CIFS) are the norm for Windows file sharing. "Mac OS X 10.1" is required for SMB/CIFS connections.
smb://server.rit.edu/sharepoint
You can also use the Windows domain and server name.
smb://domain;computer/sharepoint
If the share is hidden, add a dollar sign after the share point name:
smb://domain;computer/sharepoint$
For further information on Mac OS X's built-in support for SMB/CIFS file server connections, see the Mac OS X and SMB How-To at the Apple Developer Connection site.
NFS
Mac OS X also supports Network File System (NFS), a common way for UNIX systems to connect to file servers.
NFS is not supported in Mac OS X's graphical user interface, as of this writing.