Question about Mapping Network Drives

[doctore]

Hello,

I have a question about mapping network drives. When I map a shared folder as a network drive on the computer, I see the drive under "Computer", but it doesn't show on any other computer on the network. The folder is still accessible anywhere on the network, it just doesn't show as a drive on any other computer.

My question is if this is the way it supposed to be? Should I map the folder on every computer on the network or is it supposed to show on the entire network as a Network Drive automatically?

Thanks!

 

[cluberti]

If you want a drive to be accessible under "My Computer", it needs to be mapped on every PC for every user that needs to access it. I'm curious as to what you're trying to accomplish here specifically. This question seems to be worded in such a way that there's something else or something bigger that you're actually curious about.

 

[doctore]

If you want a drive to be accessible under "My Computer", it needs to be mapped on every PC for every user that needs to access it. I'm curious as to what you're trying to accomplish here specifically. This question seems to be worded in such a way that there's something else or something bigger that you're actually curious about.

I'm just following an instruction book in a "lab" I set myself to play a bit more with Windows. The book talks about mapping network drives, but didn't say whether the drive would be mapped "in the entire network", like a shared folder would, or if I have to map the folder on every computer.

If you have time - would you tell me what the benefits of mapping a shared folder to a drive on the local machine would be, as compared to just leaving the shared folder "as-is"? For instance, if I have a shared folder "SF", why would I map it to a network drive?

 

[cluberti]

Usually drive letters (which get actual letters on the system) are used when either an application requires a network resource to appear like a local resource, or you have users who have trouble with keyboards and mice and couldn't find their own belly button.

Usually one of the two.

 

[doctore]

Makes sense

Thanks