Map network drive for user using VB/ASP.NET

[=?Utf-8?B?QnJpYW4gTmljaG9sc29u?=]

Hello,

I'm trying to create an admin page that can run miscellaneous scripts for
our IT department. Currently, I'm trying to create a script that can map a
network drive for a user (e.g. a form where I can input \\path\folder, drive
letter, and domain\user). Is this possible? If so, can someone point me in
the right direction?

Thank you,
Brian Nicholson

[kimiraikkonen]

Re: Map network drive for user using VB/ASP.NET

On Jun 29, 11:42 pm, Brian Nicholson
<BrianNichol... @discussions.mi crosoft.comwrot e:

Hello,
>
I'm trying to create an admin page that can run miscellaneous scripts for
our IT department. Currently, I'm trying to create a script that can map a
network drive for a user (e.g. a form where I can input \\path\folder, drive
letter, and domain\user). Is this possible? If so, can someone point me in
the right direction?
>
Thank you,
Brian Nicholson

Hi,
If you're meaning to transfer files across computers that are on the
same network, you can simply use it by calling mapped computer's name
with UNC path or network IP address:

My.Computer.Net work.DownloadFi le("\\MAPPED_PC \folder\file.ex e",c:
\file.exe")

Additionaly, you need to set networkCredenti als parameter if your
drives require network authentecation.

Hope this helps,

Onur Güzel

[kimiraikkonen]

Re: Map network drive for user using VB/ASP.NET

On Jun 30, 1:09 am, kimiraikkonen <kimiraikkone.. .@gmail.comwrot e:

On Jun 29, 11:42 pm, Brian Nicholson
>
<BrianNichol... @discussions.mi crosoft.comwrot e:

Hello,

>

I'm trying to create an admin page that can run miscellaneous scripts for
our IT department. Currently, I'm trying to create a script that can mapa
network drive for a user (e.g. a form where I can input \\path\folder, drive
letter, and domain\user). Is this possible? If so, can someone point me in
the right direction?

>

Thank you,
Brian Nicholson

>
Hi,
If you're meaning to transfer files across computers that are on the
same network, you can simply use it by calling mapped computer's name
with UNC path or network IP address:
>
My.Computer.Net work.DownloadFi le("\\MAPPED_PC \folder\file.ex e",c:
\file.exe")
>
Additionaly, you need to set networkCredenti als parameter if your
drives require network authentecation.
>
Hope this helps,
>
Onur Güzel

However you can do it also with System.IO.File. Copy using UNC

and, correcting my previous syntax as:

My.Computer.Net work.DownloadFi le("\\MAPPEDPC\ \file.exe","c:\ file.exe")

or one of System.IO.File' s methods to work with your mapped drive on
domain / workgroups using proper credentials.

HTH,

Onur G.

[Mr. Arnold]

Re: Map network drive for user using VB/ASP.NET


"Brian Nicholson" <BrianNicholson @discussions.mi crosoft.comwrot e in
message news:2906FEFC-3E9A-4BAB-B0FA-9C3E339E516E@mi crosoft.com...

Hello,
>
I'm trying to create an admin page that can run miscellaneous scripts for
our IT department. Currently, I'm trying to create a script that can map a
network drive for a user (e.g. a form where I can input \\path\folder,
drive
letter, and domain\user). Is this possible? If so, can someone point me in
the right direction?
>

As someone else said, you might not find a VB example, and as a good .Net
programmer, you need to know C# and VB. It's not that hard to translate.
There is no reason that you can't use the class for an ASP.Net solution.

There is also no reason you couldn't just take the class talked about as is,
compile as a C# dll, and set reference to the DLL and use it in your VB
project.

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/system/mapnetdrive.aspx

[=?Utf-8?B?QnJpYW4gTmljaG9sc29u?=]

Re: Map network drive for user using VB/ASP.NET

"Mr. Arnold" wrote:

>
As someone else said, you might not find a VB example, and as a good .Net
programmer, you need to know C# and VB. It's not that hard to translate.
There is no reason that you can't use the class for an ASP.Net solution.
>
There is also no reason you couldn't just take the class talked about as is,
compile as a C# dll, and set reference to the DLL and use it in your VB
project.
>

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/system/mapnetdrive.aspx

>
>

Thank you for the response. I have no problems using C# code; I just asked
that initially because it's what I'm most familiar with. I've come across
that class before, but the problem is that it requires the password of the
user I'm mapping a network drive for. I was hoping there was some way I
could use IIS Windows Authentication or something similar to do this with an
account that has administrative rights, so I wouldn't be required to know the
user's password.

[=?Utf-8?B?QnJpYW4gTmljaG9sc29u?=]

Re: Map network drive for user using VB/ASP.NET

"Brian Nicholson" wrote:

"Mr. Arnold" wrote:

As someone else said, you might not find a VB example, and as a good .Net
programmer, you need to know C# and VB. It's not that hard to translate.
There is no reason that you can't use the class for an ASP.Net solution.

There is also no reason you couldn't just take the class talked about as is,
compile as a C# dll, and set reference to the DLL and use it in your VB
project.

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/system/mapnetdrive.aspx

Thank you for the response. I have no problems using C# code; I just asked
that initially because it's what I'm most familiar with. I've come across
that class before, but the problem is that it requires the password of the
user I'm mapping a network drive for. I was hoping there was some way I
could use IIS Windows Authentication or something similar to do this with an
account that has administrative rights, so I wouldn't be required to know the
user's password.

I posted this same question in the ASP.NET newsgroup -- it appears what I
would like to do isn't feasible without resorting to ActiveX. Thanks for the
replies.

[Mr. Arnold]

Re: Map network drive for user using VB/ASP.NET


"Brian Nicholson" <BrianNicholson @discussions.mi crosoft.comwrot e in
message news:2FA25F8D-2123-4AC2-8397-E5950CEF522D@mi crosoft.com...

"Brian Nicholson" wrote:
>

>"Mr. Arnold" wrote:

>
As someone else said, you might not find a VB example, and as a good
.Net
programmer, you need to know C# and VB. It's not that hard to
translate.
There is no reason that you can't use the class for an ASP.Net
solution.
>
There is also no reason you couldn't just take the class talked about
as is,
compile as a C# dll, and set reference to the DLL and use it in your VB
project.
>

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/system/mapnetdrive.aspx

>
>

>Thank you for the response. I have no problems using C# code; I just
>asked
>that initially because it's what I'm most familiar with. I've come
>across
>that class before, but the problem is that it requires the password of
>the
>user I'm mapping a network drive for. I was hoping there was some way I
>could use IIS Windows Authentication or something similar to do this with
>an
>account that has administrative rights, so I wouldn't be required to know
>the
>user's password.

I posted this same question in the ASP.NET newsgroup -- it appears what I
would like to do isn't feasible without resorting to ActiveX. Thanks for
the
replies.

I kind of doubt that.

[Mr. Arnold]

Re: Map network drive for user using VB/ASP.NET


"Brian Nicholson" <BrianNicholson @discussions.mi crosoft.comwrot e in
message news:24D9F15B-7085-415B-A48F-8CD4B3FAB7E8@mi crosoft.com...

"Mr. Arnold" wrote:

>>
>As someone else said, you might not find a VB example, and as a good .Net
>programmer, you need to know C# and VB. It's not that hard to translate.
>There is no reason that you can't use the class for an ASP.Net solution.
>>
>There is also no reason you couldn't just take the class talked about as
>is,
>compile as a C# dll, and set reference to the DLL and use it in your VB
>project.
>>
>http://www.codeproject.com/KB/system/mapnetdrive.aspx
>>
>>

Thank you for the response. I have no problems using C# code; I just
asked
that initially because it's what I'm most familiar with. I've come across
that class before, but the problem is that it requires the password of the
user I'm mapping a network drive for. I was hoping there was some way I
could use IIS Windows Authentication or something similar to do this with
an
account that has administrative rights, so I wouldn't be required to know
the
user's password.

I don't see why you couldn't use a generic user-id and psw that had admin
rights, but of course this application should never face the Internet.

[=?Utf-8?B?QnJpYW4gTmljaG9sc29u?=]

Re: Map network drive for user using VB/ASP.NET

"Mr. Arnold" wrote:

>
I don't see why you couldn't use a generic user-id and psw that had admin
rights, but of course this application should never face the Internet.
>
>

That's exactly what I would like to do, but I don't see how that could be
done with this class (or other methods I've found). If I were to supply an
admin username/password, it would map the drive to that admin user -- I want
to perform this task under an admin account, but the drive should actually be
mapped for another user.

As for doubting the impossibility of doing this without ActiveX, you might
be right -- I think the Microsoft MVP may have misunderstood what I was
trying to do.

[=?Utf-8?B?QnJpYW4gTmljaG9sc29u?=]

Re: Map network drive for user using VB/ASP.NET

"Brian Nicholson" wrote:

>
That's exactly what I would like to do, but I don't see how that could be
done with this class (or other methods I've found). If I were to supply an
admin username/password, it would map the drive to that admin user -- I want
to perform this task under an admin account, but the drive should actually be
mapped for another user.
>
As for doubting the impossibility of doing this without ActiveX, you might
be right -- I think the Microsoft MVP may have misunderstood what I was
trying to do.

Scratch that -- I originally thought that the username and password were for
the destination of the drive mapping, but it makes more sense that the
username and password is to simply supply credentials for mapping the drive
on the local computer. I guess my question then is how do I get this script
to execute on a specified computer other than the web server?

[Patrice]

Re: Map network drive for user using VB/ASP.NET

IMO your best would be to explain why you are trying to map a drive (i.e. I
mean the overall goal not the way you plan to this for now).

Do you try to map a drive server side ? I would avoid doing such a thing and
would use an UNC drive ? (do you REALLY need a mapped drive ???)

Do you try to map a drive client side ? It looks like it would be best
suitable to do that from the login script rather than using a web
application. If this is to be able to run scripts from a network share they
could be best placed on the NETLOGON share etc....

Knowing exactly what is the overall goal could raise better suggestions...

--
Patrice

"Brian Nicholson" <BrianNicholson @discussions.mi crosoft.coma écrit dans le
message de groupe de discussion :
4B7E22F8-D4B3-4C1E-AD5D-C62D4447744D@mi crosoft.com...

"Mr. Arnold" wrote:
>

>>
>I don't see why you couldn't use a generic user-id and psw that had admin
>rights, but of course this application should never face the Internet.
>>
>>

>
That's exactly what I would like to do, but I don't see how that could be
done with this class (or other methods I've found). If I were to supply
an
admin username/password, it would map the drive to that admin user -- I
want
to perform this task under an admin account, but the drive should actually
be
mapped for another user.
>
As for doubting the impossibility of doing this without ActiveX, you might
be right -- I think the Microsoft MVP may have misunderstood what I was
trying to do.

[Patrice]

Re: Map network drive for user using VB/ASP.NET

You would have to send a client side script inside your web page. This
script would use the WScript.Network object to map the drive. You'll need
also to alter security settings - possibly done by your admin at an
entreprise level - to be able to do that (for example adding your intranet
site to the trusted sites).

Not sure why you need to do that but my personal preference would be to have
the admin team creating a mapping strategy and have the network drives
mapped automatically using the logon script (possibly depending about the
group in which the user is). Try for example

http://www.bluestream.org/Windows/LoginScripting.htm

As said earlier you may want to elaborate about your final goal...


--
Patrice

"Brian Nicholson" <BrianNicholson @discussions.mi crosoft.coma écrit dans le
message de groupe de discussion :
5F0F2AA9-0E78-46D2-8DFD-C4F8DDD3E9EE@mi crosoft.com...

"Brian Nicholson" wrote:
>

>>
>That's exactly what I would like to do, but I don't see how that could be
>done with this class (or other methods I've found). If I were to supply
>an
>admin username/password, it would map the drive to that admin user -- I
>want
>to perform this task under an admin account, but the drive should
>actually be
>mapped for another user.
>>
>As for doubting the impossibility of doing this without ActiveX, you
>might
>be right -- I think the Microsoft MVP may have misunderstood what I was
>trying to do.

>
Scratch that -- I originally thought that the username and password were
for
the destination of the drive mapping, but it makes more sense that the
username and password is to simply supply credentials for mapping the
drive
on the local computer. I guess my question then is how do I get this
script
to execute on a specified computer other than the web server?

[=?Utf-8?B?QnJpYW4gTmljaG9sc29u?=]

Re: Map network drive for user using VB/ASP.NET

Good question -- as far as I know, it's a matter of convenience. Users
constantly access the same network folders, and it's a pain to have to browse
to the folder each time something needs to be saved/accessed. Users call in
requesting to have a certain directory mapped as a drive, so it would be
convenient to have a web app that can do this for us.

"Patrice" wrote:

IMO your best would be to explain why you are trying to map a drive (i.e. I
mean the overall goal not the way you plan to this for now).
>
Do you try to map a drive server side ? I would avoid doing such a thing and
would use an UNC drive ? (do you REALLY need a mapped drive ???)
>
Do you try to map a drive client side ? It looks like it would be best
suitable to do that from the login script rather than using a web
application. If this is to be able to run scripts from a network share they
could be best placed on the NETLOGON share etc....
>
Knowing exactly what is the overall goal could raise better suggestions...
>
--
Patrice
>
"Brian Nicholson" <BrianNicholson @discussions.mi crosoft.coma crit dans le
message de groupe de discussion :
4B7E22F8-D4B3-4C1E-AD5D-C62D4447744D@mi crosoft.com...

"Mr. Arnold" wrote:

>
I don't see why you couldn't use a generic user-id and psw that had admin
rights, but of course this application should never face the Internet.
>
>

That's exactly what I would like to do, but I don't see how that could be
done with this class (or other methods I've found). If I were to supply
an
admin username/password, it would map the drive to that admin user -- I
want
to perform this task under an admin account, but the drive should actually
be
mapped for another user.

As for doubting the impossibility of doing this without ActiveX, you might
be right -- I think the Microsoft MVP may have misunderstood what I was
trying to do.

>
>

[rowe_newsgroups]

Re: Map network drive for user using VB/ASP.NET

On Jun 30, 12:21 pm, Brian Nicholson
<BrianNichol... @discussions.mi crosoft.comwrot e:

"Brian Nicholson" wrote:
>

That's exactly what I would like to do, but I don't see how that could be
done with this class (or other methods I've found).  If I were to supply an
admin username/password, it would map the drive to that admin user -- I want
to perform this task under an admin account, but the drive should actually be
mapped for another user.

>

As for doubting the impossibility of doing this without ActiveX, you might
be right -- I think the Microsoft MVP may have misunderstood what I was
trying to do.

>
Scratch that -- I originally thought that the username and password were for
the destination of the drive mapping, but it makes more sense that the
username and password is to simply supply credentials for mapping the drive
on the local computer.  I guess my question then is how do I get this script
to execute on a specified computer other than the web server?

To me, the easiest solutions would be to write a small Window's app
that maps the network drive and then publish that application to your
website. Then, using ClickOnce deployment, all a user would have to do
is click the link, select 'Run', and then the window's app would run
and map the drive. The nice thing is that since it's a Window's app,
you can easily run impersonation and run the "map drive" commands
under an admin account, invisible to the user.

Thanks,

Seth Rowe [MVP]

http://sethrowe.blogspot.com/

[=?Utf-8?B?QnJpYW4gTmljaG9sc29u?=]

Re: Map network drive for user using VB/ASP.NET



"rowe_newsgroup s" wrote:

>
To me, the easiest solutions would be to write a small Window's app
that maps the network drive and then publish that application to your
website. Then, using ClickOnce deployment, all a user would have to do
is click the link, select 'Run', and then the window's app would run
and map the drive. The nice thing is that since it's a Window's app,
you can easily run impersonation and run the "map drive" commands
under an admin account, invisible to the user.
>
Thanks,
>
Seth Rowe [MVP]

http://sethrowe.blogspot.com/

>

That sounds pretty similar to what I'd like to do, but the part I'm stuck on
is actually creating the app that maps the drive. So far, I've been
unsuccessful finding any kind of method or class that can map a drive
*remotely*...if such a thing even exists.