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Working Remotely – Tips and Tricks

This guide was prepared to help Staff & Faculty who telecommute or work remotely. It will give you tips and tricks to enable you to work more effectively when off campus.

Table of Contents

  1. Virtual Private Network (VPN)
  2. What is the uDrive?

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Access and Security through VPN

To make it easier for the campus community to access CSUN computing resources from off campus, and to help ensure the security and integrity of sensitive information passing across the internet or the CSUN wireless network, IT is pleased to offer the Virtual Private Network (VPN).

Downloading the free and easy–to–install Cisco VPN client is all you need to take advantage of this service. The client only takes about five minutes to install and using it enables you access to campus resources from off campus as never before.

Here are just a few examples of what you will be able to do with your hoe and other remote computers while using the VPN client.

  1. Use the CSUN email system with a standard email client (i.e. Netscape Messenger, Microsoft Outlook etc.)
  2. Easy access to Library resources (no need to enter your library bar code!)
  3. Connect to on campus Windows´ based server shares.
  4. Secure all network communications between your computer and CSUN with 168bit encryption.
  5. Secure you communications while using the campus wireless network

CSUN faculty, staff, and students can download the Cisco VPN client – for Windows, Mac OS/X, Unix, and Solaris – from IT´ software download site (you will be prompted to enter your CSUN User ID and Password).

Installation and configuration instructions are available for Windows and Mac OS/X based computers.

What is the uDrive?

The uDrive is an extra storage area that provides additional disk space for campus users who wish to store their desktop files and folders on a remote server. This campus server houses all files and email message that are sent to users´ CSUN email accounts. For more information on this please select one of the topics below.

Mapping your uDrive using a PC

  • map network drive, folder, and connection options box
  1. Right click the My Computer icon on your desktop, and select Map Network Drive... The "Map Network Drive" window appears
  2. In the Drive: box, click the down arrow and select the U: drive from the list of available drive names for the drop down menu, the default drive name is Z:
  3. Click the Folder:text box and type \\udrive\xxxx where the "xxxx" is your CSUN User ID, e.g. jsmith.
  4. Click Finish
  5. A window listing your files and folders, including your public _html folder (if you have created one) will be displayed in the My Computer window.
  • You may copy, move, and delete files to and from this drive, the same way you use any window on your PC.

The title bar of this window reads something like xxxx on ´uDrive@CSUN (udrive)´ (U:) where "xxxx" is your CSUN User ID. This window displays the My Computer component of Windows. In fact, most of its features are the same as those in My Computer. It may also be used in Windows Explorer view mode.

The first time you map to the uDrive you will see the files that currently reside in your campus account. Many of these files may not be familiar to you. Never delete files with which you are unfamiliar, as they may cause problems with your account. Ignore these files and simply use the drive to copy, move, organize and navigate through your files, folders and drives.

Note: To activate your uDrive the first time, you must change your Password. Go to http://www.csun.edu/it/helpdesk/outages/accounts.html and change your current Password. Your uDrive will be recognized. This only needs to be done once.

Mapping your uDrive Using a Mac

  1. Under the Go menu on the blue apple menu bar at the top of the display, choose Connect to Server.
  2. mappiong drives using a Mac
  3. In the Connect to Server window, type in the location of the account that you wish to map.
  • The correct format for the path is smb://udrive.csun.edu/xxxx where "xxxx"is your CSUN User ID.
  1. Then click the Connect button.
  2. connect to server Mac box
  3. In the Authentication window, leave the Workgroup/Domain box blank. Type in your CSUN User ID and Password in the boxes indicated.
  4. Then click the OK button.
  5. authentication domain, user ID and password logging box
  6. The icon for your uDrive will appear on your desktop. Double–click the icon to open and view the contents.
  • The first time you map to the uDrive you will see the files that currently reside in your campus account. Many of these files may not be familiar to you. Never delete files you are not familiar with as they may be necessary to maintain your account. Ignore these files and simply use the drive to copy, move, organize and navigate through your files, folders and drives.
  • udrive files display

Note: To activate your uDrive the first time, you must change your password. Go to http://www.csun.edu/it/helpdesk/outages/accounts.html and change your current Password. Your uDrive will be recognized. This only needs to be done once.

Support

If you need further assistance, contact the IT Help Center at (818) 677-1400 or send an email to helpcenter@csun.edu.