As a faculty or staff member, you have a folder on a network drive that can be used for back-up or storage. In addition to having "another copy" stored in a safe place, network back-ups are performed daily providing yet another layer of security for your important data. This document will cover mapping your network folder to your Mac's desktop, and touching lightly on using that folder for protecting your data.
If your computer is turned on and connected to the network, you can begin.
STEP 1
Click on the Apple in the menu bar at the upper left corner of your monitor. Pull down to CHOOSER.
The Chooser window should now be open on your desktop. If you have 3 boxes in your Chooser, including one labeled "AppleTalk Zones," skip to STEP 4. This is how the Chooser will appear without the AppleTalk Zones:
STEP 2
You will need to change your AppleTalk port to "Ethernet." Click on the Apple in the Menu Bar, pull down to Control Panels, and then AppleTalk.
STEP 3
Click on the select field, and change it to "Connect via: Ethernet"
Close the AppleTalk Control Panel, and click SAVE when prompted. In your Chooser, the AppleTalk Zone box should now appear.
STEP 4
Click on the AppleShare icon in the upper left corner of the Chooser.
The Zone should be "OFFICE." In the file server box, there should be many names to choose from. Your network folder is on HURRICANE. Double click on Hurricane.
STEP 5
An authentication dialog box will appear, requiring you to enter your network login user name and password.
Fill in the blanks and click on CONNECT.
STEP 6
You will see a list of available directories on Hurricane. The gray listings are not available to you, only the dark listings. Choose the letter that corresponds with the first letter of your last name. My name is "Schneider," so I chose "S."
If you would like the chosen directory to appear on your desktop automatically every time you boot your computer, put a check in the corresponding box to the right as shown above. If you do not check the box, you will have to manually map the drive the first time you need access after you boot your computer.
A new icon will appear on your desktop, with the initial of your last name:
That's it! You have mapped a network drive to your desktop.
STEP 7
Double click on the network drive icon to access the directory as you would your local hard drive:
I have scrolled down until I found the folder with my login, "schneidr". You will note that this is the only folder that does not have a little belt wrapped around it. This belt indicates that the folder is "locked" and off limits to you. Your folder will not have a belt, because you own it. Only you (and network administrators) have access to your folder.
Use this folder to store data that needs to be backed-up, or as additional storage space.
Using your Network Folder for Backing Up Your Data
If you have not read the document, "Macintosh File Management and Back-Up Strategies", I recommend you do so as this document assumes you have stored all your personal documents in the DATA folder.
First, create a folder in your network folder with the date you backed up the data. This will make it easy for you to find the most recent back-up. Then simply drag your DATA folder into the dated folder:
That's it, you're done! Really! It's that simple.
How often should you back up your data?
That's really up to you, and how much you are willing to lose. I would recommend nothing less than once a week. Go into Outlook/Exchange and create a recurring appointment for yourself on Friday afternoon. Every week your computer will pop a reminder to back up your data.
If you are working on an important project, you may want to back up your data ever day. A few years ago when I was writing a book, I did a back-up every time I stopped for a break, lunch or quit for the day.
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Mister 3D
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