Access a Department Network (Microwave) Drive

Questions

• How do I access a network folder from my personal computer?
• How can I get to my J: drive from home?
• How do I connect to the J: drive at home?
• I am using my own computer; can I get to my J: drive?
• How do I access my department drive?
• How do I get to the J: drive?

Environment

This article applies to Bowdoin faculty, staff, and students connecting to a department (J:) drive on the microwave.bowdoin.edu file server.

• Apple macOS (Sequoia or Tahoe)
• Microsoft Windows 11
• Linux

Resolution

macOS

1. (Optional) If you are at home, connect to campus using the VPN first.
2. Click Finder in the Dock.
3. From the Finder menu bar, choose Go, then Connect to Server.
4. Enter smb://microwave.bowdoin.edu/dept and click Connect.
5. When prompted, enter your Bowdoin username and password and click OK.
6. After a few moments, a Finder window opens showing your department drive contents.
7. Browse into the folder you would like to access.

Windows

1. (Optional) If you are at home, connect to campus using the VPN first.
2. Click the Start menu (lower-left corner with the Windows logo).
3. In the search field, enter \\microwave.bowdoin.edu\dept and press Enter.
4. When asked, enter your Bowdoin username in the format username@bowdoincollege.edu. It is important that you use your username followed by @bowdoincollege.edu.
5. Enter your password and click OK.
6. After a few moments, a File Explorer window opens.
7. Browse into the folder you would like to access.

Linux

1. Open a terminal shell.
2. Run the following commands with root privileges. Replace USERNAME with your actual Bowdoin account (for example, "jsmith"), and do not include "@bowdoin.edu". Note that there are no spaces between USERNAME, the comma, and "domain=". For example, to mount the department drive:
   • mkdir -p /mnt/dept
   • mount -t cifs user=USERNAME,domain=BOWDOINCOLLEGE.EDU //microwave.bowdoin.edu/dept
3. Enter your Bowdoin account password when prompted.
4. You will find the Microwave volume mounted under the /mnt directory.

Additional Help

If you need further assistance, you have several options:

• Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
• Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
• In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
• Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.