logging onto windows network folder from mac

[lawrencef]

hi im new to mac and have just bought new MB pro. using it at home but need to log onto my work windows computer to access and backup work files. ive downloaded ipsecuritas and have successfully managed to vpn to my work network thru the netgear vpn router (fvs338). i can tell the vpn login has been successful because i can then use remote desktop on the mac to see the computer i need to access by just entering the local work network ip address of that computer (10.0.0.30). also if i plug in the local ip address of my fax machine in firefox i successfully go to the settings screen. also i can ping the 10.0.0.30 computer successfully too.

problem is i cant log onto the 10.0.0.30 computer via finder which is what i need to do so i can ultimately use some type of sync software to backup my data and get access to files from home. have spent all night trying to sort out how to log on with no success. my mac user name and password are identical to user name and password of work computer. and under system preference, network, airport, advanced, wins, ive changed the workgroup to the same as my work windows network workgroup name.

then i go to finder, go, connect to server, plug in smb://(work computer ip address/shared folder name and press connect ..... and nothing... can anyone help with some detailed info on how to solve this???

 

[r0k]

hi im new to mac and have just bought new MB pro. using it at home but need to log onto my work windows computer to access and backup work files. ive downloaded ipsecuritas and have successfully managed to vpn to my work network thru the netgear vpn router (fvs338). i can tell the vpn login has been successful because i can then use remote desktop on the mac to see the computer i need to access by just entering the local work network ip address of that computer (10.0.0.30). also if i plug in the local ip address of my fax machine in firefox i successfully go to the settings screen. also i can ping the 10.0.0.30 computer successfully too.

problem is i cant log onto the 10.0.0.30 computer via finder which is what i need to do so i can ultimately use some type of sync software to backup my data and get access to files from home. have spent all night trying to sort out how to log on with no success. my mac user name and password are identical to user name and password of work computer. and under system preference, network, airport, advanced, wins, ive changed the workgroup to the same as my work windows network workgroup name.

then i go to finder, go, connect to server, plug in smb://(work computer ip address/shared folder name and press connect ..... and nothing... can anyone help with some detailed info on how to solve this???

First of all, I (almost) never make credentials identical across machines. I suggest you make your Mac login different than your work login. When you see your work machine in finder, or pick "connect to server" in finder, you should be able to "connect as" your work login and save your work credentials in your keychain on your Mac.

 

[Panch0]

It sounds like the steps you are taking are correct. Can you expand on '...and nothing..' ? If the smb connection fails, it should ultimately at least time out and give you some sort of message, even if it is just "Connection failed".

I agree with the previous poster regarding credentials. There is no need to try to sync up the username and password between the Mac and Windows systems. In fact I would go farther and say that you shouldn't store the Windows credential in your keychain. It puts the work computer at increased risk in the event that your home computer is accessed by someone else.

If it is possible to take your Mac to work and plug in to the network, I would suggest that you do so. That would take the VPN out of the equation and simplify trouble shooting.

You may have an issue with the permissions on the Share, or the name of the Share. It is also possible that the VPN only allows selected ports or protocols to pass. A VPN is configured to allow everything to pass once the tunnel is created, but it doesn't HAVE to be. Finally, you could have a firewall issue on the Windows machine itself.

Finally, I would suggest that rather than connecting via SMB and bringing files
down to your home computer, you simply use Remote Desktop to connect to the work computer and edit them there. That is safer and simpler, and you already have RDC working...

 

[lawrencef]

thx guys - appear to have got success by turning off windows firewall on the windows computer in question. dont want to leave it this way however so now need to sort out how i can still get access by configuring windows firewall to allow my connection.