Network Broke?

Couple of places to check to see just how broke it is. We can help you better, if we can understand what you can't see or get to.

1. Can't get to Parker1, where our network files are stored? You usually see this when you open Word, then try to open the file you worked on last, but don't see the F or I drives.

TRY THIS: Open Windows Explorer (Start button, Programs, Windows Explorer -OR- hold Windows key and press 'e'). If you are logged in and the drives are mapped, you can see in the left pane Shared on Parker1. If you click once on Shared on Parker1, you should see a list of user folders in the right pane. Even if you see a red X on the drive, give it a click to see what happens.

So, if you don't see Shared on Parker1, then the drive may not be mapped. Try to map the drive. Click on Tools, Map Network drive. The drive letter is arbitrary, but we use drive F for Parker1\shared, and I for Parker1\groups. The location is \\parker1\shared. Some locations may have to specify \\parker1.med.unc.edu\shared. Click on reconnect at logon box. Click OK. In a few seconds, you should be able to see Shared on Parker1.

If you get an error message, see what it says. If it says you don't have permission, you may not be logged in, even though everyone thinks that they are. If you still don't have what you need, then try logging off and logging back on. After that, you should try your browser to see if you can access the network at all. The browser has the simplest connection. All you need is a outlet and the computer turned on. To see network drives, you have to be logged in properly, have a connection to the authentication server named Goliath, and Parker1 must be available.

2. Can't get to Verne for the GCRC web page or another web page? You usually see this when you open Netscape or Internet Explorer and it says Page Not Found. This could be a problem with your computer, the network connection to the med school, the med school connection to the campus, the campus connection to the rest of the internet, or the server at the distant end.

TRY THIS: Well, could be the network or it could just be you computer. You don't have to be logged in to use the browsers. First try to look at a few pages that you know are at the Med School, then main campus, then off campus or major commercial sites. Try a different page in Med School such as http://www.med.unc.edu, or http://webmail.med.unc.edu. If you can see the Med School, but you can't see Verne, then you have connectivity, but it might be a problem with Verne. If you were looking for a special page on Verne, then try just plain old Verne, http://verne.med.unc.edu. If Verne is ok, you might have a bad URL or location for that particular page. Sometimes the reference will say page_name.htm and the page is really page_name.html, so try adding or deleting the l from the location.

3. Can't get your mail? You usually see this when you click on Eudora, Outlook Express, or Netscape Messenger. You get one of them strange error messages or maybe don't get anything at all. To connect to the mail server you need: Connectivity to the network, good login to Parker1 since your mail program may store you mail on Parker1, and an authentication (password) for the mail server. The mail server and Parker1 passwords are stored in different places, so it is possible to login to Parker1 without being able to login to get mail.

TRY THIS: Make sure you are logged in. Try the web mail client at http://webmail.med.unc.edu. If you can login there, then you should be able to login with your mail client. It also lets you know if the mail server is not available, since you won't get the login screen. It is possible to get the login screen, but the mail handling software on the server is not running properly. This just helps eliminate the places that might be having problems so you can solve the dilemma. You can always use the web mail client to get to your mail while you are waiting for us to fix your regular mail client.

IF you still can't figure out what's wrong, then give us a call. That's why we are here. We set up these instructions, to help when we aren't around or aren't immediately available, and to help overcome some of the minor common problems that people over look and there isn't really anything wrong after all. We certainly don't want you floundering into frustration. Many of problems have some simple common things that you can take care of before we get there.