Technology

CAS - Accessing Private, Office Files, Project, and Labs Drives

Last modified 11/13/2024

CAS-IT provides network storage to CAS faculty and staff to store work-related business, teaching, research, and scholarship files. These files are available on PC or Mac.

Connect with VPN

To be able to access your files when NOT on campus, you must have a VPN connection. If you do not already have VPN set up on your computer, please click on the link for information regarding how to do so:

Temporarily Browse to a Drive (Windows)

To temporarily connect to a drive:

  1. Click on the start icon Windows Start Menu Icon and select This PC.
    1a. Alternatively, you can type 'This PC' into the Windows Search Tool located next to the Start Menu. 
  2. Click in the address bar and type in one of the addresses below depending on your needs:
    2a. Private Drive: \\casprivate.ad.ilstu.edu\private\ULID (Where ULID is your ULID).
    2b. CAS Office Files (fka CAS Shared) Drive: \\ad.ilstu.edu\cas\office (choose department).
    2c. Project Shared Drive: \\ad.ilstu.edu\cas\Project (choose project).
    2d. CAS Labs Drive: \\ad.ilstu.edu\cas\Labs (choose lab).

Map Network Drive (Windows)

Creating a shortcut in Computer to these folders when frequently used will allow you quicker access in the future. To do so, do the following:

  1. Follow the directions to temporarily browse to a drive (in the section above), then continue with step 2, below.
  2. Copy the address of the folder you want to map (make sure to click in the white space after address to copy the full address).
  3. Click on the start icon and select This PC.
  4. Click Map Network Drive.
    4a. Alternatively, you can Right-click on This PC and choose Map Network Drive.
  5. Select any drive letter that does not already have a network path next to the letter.
  6. Paste the address in the Folder field.
  7. If you are on a computer that you have logged into with your ULID and password, then please check next to Reconnect at logon and uncheck next to Connect using different credentials.
  8. If you are on a computer that you did not log into with your ULID and password, then please uncheck next to Reconnect at logon and check next to Connect using different credentials.
  9. If you are prompted for credentials, enter your user ID as adilstu\ULID (where ULID = your ULID).

Mount drive (Mac)

If you are using a Mac, you may mount the network drive for quicker access in the future. To do so, do the following:

  1. Within Finder, click on Go in the menu bar on the top of your screen.
  2. Click on Connect to Server.
  3. Type in the address appropriate to the folder you want to access.
    3a. Private Drive: smb://casprivate.ad.ilstu.edu/private/ULID (Where ULID = your ULID).
    3b. CAS Office Files (fka CAS Shared) Drive: smb://ad.ilstu.edu/cas/office (Choose Department).
    3c. Project Shared Drive: smb://ad.ilstu.edu/cas/Project (Choose Project).
    3d. CAS Labs Drive: smb://ad.ilstu.edu/cas/Labs (Choose Lab).
  4. If you are prompted for credentials, then enter your user ID as adilstu\ULID (where ULID = your ULID).

How to Get Help

Technical assistance is available through the Illinois State University Technology Support Center at:

Explore Tech Topics