Map FTP server to drive letter

[stopmotionheavn]

I have seen a lot of programs and ways to add a FTP drive to the windows computer screen. (e.g start>computer) However none of them show how to actually map it to a drive letter. This is important because most programs don't allow to select folders on network shortcuts only drive letters.

I know of software that can achieve this but none of it seems to be free.
If anyone can recommend anything it would be greatly appreciated!

 

[MilesAhead]

Welcome to the Forums.

This freeware claims to do it

Map FTP drive as local disk drive - FTPUSE

 

[Shadowjk]

You can't do it since assigning a drive letter in windows suggests that block level access to the storage is provided. The only protocol that can do this over a network is SCSI (or iSCSI when used over ethernet)... FTP is a file based access protocol and therefore cannot be mapped to a drive letter as individual blocks of storage on the server cannot be manipulated only whole files. In other words, if you can't change the file system then you can't assign a drive letter.

I'd be surprised if you could find a third party application that could legitimately complete this...

Josh

 

[MilesAhead]

if you can't change the file system then you can't assign a drive letter.

According to the FTPUSE page, file system drivers are included. Something called DOKAN I hadn't heard about until now.

 

[Shadowjk]

if you can't change the file system then you can't assign a drive letter.

According to the FTPUSE page, file system drivers are included. Something called DOKAN I hadn't heard about until now.

The issue is that in order to use a file system and in turn allow block level access is that you need to be allocated some disk space... This can't be done over FTP as the protocol supports only referencing and transfer of whole files.

If you could run samba or Windows SMB file shares then you can map the drive to a drive letter but with native FTP I do not think it is possible.

Josh

 

[MilesAhead]

if you can't change the file system then you can't assign a drive letter.

According to the FTPUSE page, file system drivers are included. Something called DOKAN I hadn't heard about until now.

The issue is that in order to use a file system and in turn allow block level access is that you need to be allocated some disk space... This can't be done over FTP as the protocol supports only referencing and transfer of whole files.

If you could run samba or Windows SMB file shares then you can map the drive to a drive letter but with native FTP I do not think it is possible.

Josh

That may be so. But since the thing exists I have to assume non functional software was just left hanging or it kludges it only allowing stuff like file copy/move. I haven't tried it so I don't know.

Edit: It seems to relate to virtual file systems is user code:
http://fuse.sourceforge.net/

 

[Shadowjk]

According to the FTPUSE page, file system drivers are included. Something called DOKAN I hadn't heard about until now.

The issue is that in order to use a file system and in turn allow block level access is that you need to be allocated some disk space... This can't be done over FTP as the protocol supports only referencing and transfer of whole files.

If you could run samba or Windows SMB file shares then you can map the drive to a drive letter but with native FTP I do not think it is possible.

Josh

That may be so. But since the thing exists I have to assume non functional software was just left hanging or it kludges it only allowing stuff like file copy/move. I haven't tried it so I don't know.

Hmmm... I haven't tried it either but I'm assuming its a work around kind of implementation...

Josh

 

[questorfla]

Old Thread but hopefully someone else is reading too

I can tell y9u how to do it with Windows 7 (Ultimate) but unfortunately the same trick does not work with Windows 8.1 as far as I have been able to tell. I wish it did as I was on the verge of celebrating the end of a long search to solve the need for exactly what you want for nearly the exact same reasons.

I can get "Network Places" all day long (although not exactly by following the layout presented by MS). Like you, I can't fault it for lack of connectivity. It is just the need for "drive letter access" that is required by a database program we use. if not for that I would have given this up long ago. And the part that hurts the most is where Windows even offers to allow you to provide "easy access" to the ftp link by mapping it to a drive letter. Then it promptly fails to do so.:huh:

Not knowing if "shadowjk' is still monitoring this, I wont bore everyone with what amounts to only a partial solution because it appears to only work with Windows 7. A change somewhere in Windows 8.1 prevents it from working the same "magic" there. I would like to find someone else who needs this that is still running windows 7 in order to confirm it as a solution rather than just a fluke for my own configurations as I only have two systems on Windows 7. While it works on both, I don't consider "2" to be enough to count as a "fix".

For the record, the system running the FTP end is a Server 2008 R2 box.

Thanks

 

[bksanders]

@questorfla:

Did you not just commit the same sin?
"...offers to allow you to provide "easy access" to the ftp link by mapping it to a drive letter. Then it promptly fails to do so." Really I am not even looking for letter mapping, just a valid path to the drive. I seem to recall something like:
ftp://ftp.192.168.0.1/C:/DIR/
I realize the "Folder" is buried somewhere amongst the user profile.
But then I tend to be delusional.

Thx!

 

[SRTKim]

WebDrive actually does this. But instead of mapping a network place, it maps an actual drive letter. It is available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.

it is on sale online currently, and you can try for free here.

 

[marwerno]

NetDrive - The Network Drive for Windows (FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, Google Drive, Dropbox, Box.com, S3, OneDrive, OpenStack) does the same thing.
It costs to use, but you have a 30days trial period after which you still can use it legally for free, but you will need to establish the connection to the drive letter manuall rather than automatically.
Works really well (even can include Cloud drives as drive letters, i.e. Multiple Dropbox accounts )

 

[JerometheGiraff]

Anyone try FTPUse ? I don't want to map a ftp server drive letter, I want to mount it permanently and after searching; I haven't found many options besides FTPUse & FTPDrive 3.5 ?