Basic Procedure:

1. In Unix/Linux: You will need to have a directory called smb_files at the top level of your home directory. *Note: new users will have this directory by default. If you don't have this directory, then create it.


2. In Windows: Open My Computer and type into the address bar: \\samba.cecs.pdx.edu
   
   * If the Windows computer your using is not supported by the CAT you will need to login via the VPN first in order to gain access to your files.
   See: How to connect to our VPN


3. Enter your Windows username and password if asked, NOT your unix/linux username and password. You will then see folders for linux, ece, cs, etc. These names correspond to the different accounts that a student or faculty member may have.


4. Double click on the appropriate folder. This will direct you to your smb_files directory in your UNIX/Linux home directory. If you do not have an smb_files directory already in place you will get an error.


5. Once inside your smb_files folder you may not find anything. If your Unix/Linux account is fairly new a link to your Unix/Linux home directory will already be in place. You can just double-click it to gain access. If you don't find anything then you need to create a link manually (see next step).


6. In order to access other parts of your Unix/Linux home directory from Windows you need to place links in your smb_files directory. These "symbolic" links point to the other directories you want to access. Symbolic links are created using the UNIX "ln" command.
   
   Let's create a simple link in your smb_files directory that points to the top of your Unix/Linux home directory. Type the following at a command prompt while logged into your Unix/Linux account:
   
   ln -s /u/yourusername ~/smb_files/yourusername
   
   Remember to substitute "yourusername" for your actual account username! The command you typed creates a symbolic link named after your username, and places it in smb_files. This link points to your home directory (/u/yourusername).


7. In Windows: The link you created should now show up as a regular folder. Double-clicking this folder will now give you full access to your home directory.

Additional Information:

1. Create an smb_files directory in both home directories and access them separately.


2. Place an smb_files directory in one of your home directories and create a symbolic link inside pointing to the other home directory. Remember, from UNIX the path to your Linux homedirectory is /home/linux/yourusername/yourfiles, and from Linux the path to your UNIX home directory is /home/solaris/yourusername/yourfiles.