This page is a mini sitemap specializing in VBScripts to map network drives. In this section, I will show you how to
build VBScripts for mapping home drives to network shares. Each page has detailed examples of a different VBScript method, for instance, MapNetworkDrive, which connects a drive letter (H:) to a UNC
path on a Windows server.
For more complicated scripts we need to employ several methods in the same script. I will explain how to build scripts which enumerate network drives, then if necessary,
remove drive mappings and finally map the drive letters to your specification.
Topics for Map Network Drive Windows Logon Scripts
Our mission is to
create scripts, which provide access to Windows network resources. Users and some applications, prefer to connect to a mapped network drive letter, than type the UNC path in the Run dialog box. As with so many scripts, the
map network drive logon scripts mimic actions that users could perform manually. Explorer has all the tools to display, create and disconnect mapped drives. However, if you code these same
commands in a logon scripts and not only do you save time, but once
perfected the code never makes a mistake.
Map Network Drive Methods
In common with other scripting languages, VBScript uses three components an object, a method, and a value. Most
of my scripts create objects using names beginning with obj, for example objNetwork.
What gives any scripting language power is the rich variety of methods or verbs. Here is a list of examples of map network drive methods.
Guy Recommends: SolarWinds Network Topology Mapper (NTM)
NTM will produce a neat diagram of your network topology. But that's
just the start;
Network Topology Mapper can
create an inventory of the hardware and software
of your machines and network devices. Other neat features include dynamic
update for when you add new devices to your network. I also love the ability to export
the diagrams
to Microsoft Visio.
Finally, Guy bets that if you test drive the Network Topology
Mapper then you will
find a device on your network that you had forgotten about, or someone else
installed without you realizing!
The purpose of this VBScript is to map the H: to a share called '\home'. In my example the server is called '\\alan'.
Pre-requisites
On Line 2 change the name of the server from '\\alan' to the name of your server. You need a computer with a network share.
Make sure that the shared folder is called '\home'. Alternatively, alter the word '\home' in the script if your share is called something else.
Instructions to MapNetworkDrive
Copy and paste the script below into notepad or get a script editor such as OnScript (free download).
Change the server name from "\\alan to the name of your server.
Check the share name '\home'.
Save the file with a .vbs extension, e.g. MND.vbs or MapNetworkDrive.vbs.
Double click the resulting script and look in your Windows Explorer for a new drive letter called : home on 'alan' (H:)
Set objNetwork = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Network")
objNetwork.MapNetworkDrive "H:" , "\\alan\home"
Learning Points
Note 1: If you run the script a second time, then you get WSH error message code 80070055. The solution is launch Windows Explorer, just right-click on: home on 'alan' (H:) and select:
Disconnect.
Recommended: Solarwinds' Permissions Analyzer - Free Active Directory Tool
I like the
Permissions Analyzer because it enables me to see WHO has permissions
to do WHAT at a glance. When you launch this tool it analyzes a users effective NTFS
permissions for a specific file or folder, and takes into account network share
access, then displays the results in a nifty desktop dashboard!
Think of all the frustration that this free SolarWinds utility saves when you are
troubleshooting authorization problems for user's access to a resource.
Give this permissions monitor a try - it's free!
Both DOS and VBScript are being superseded by PowerShell, even for
connecting to printers or mapping network drives.
Remember that PowerShell is designed for configuring the operating system
rather than setting the user environment. However, it's possible for
PowerShell to create a ComObject, which can act as a wrapper for VBScript
commands. Here is example of PowerShell's New-Object cmdlet manipulating a
MapNetworkDrive method:
You can save these instructions in a .ps1 file. However, the
hard part is executing this .ps1 file as a logon script. See
more about
assigning a PowerShell logon script.
All my scripts are copyright fee, go ahead an copy my scripts and amend them to your Windows network. I do hope that will take the time to learn more about the NetworkDrive family of methods, for
example, MapNetworkDrive, RemoveNetworkDrive, or EnumNetworkDrives.
The extra features you get in your eBook
include, more pages full of detailed examples. Also, ten 'how to...'
sections, with screen shots showing which menus to use. Go for Guy's
eBook - and get a printable version with copy enabled and no expiry date.
Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) is
most useful for PowerShell scripting.
SolarWinds
have produced this
Free WMI Monitor to take the guess work out of which
WMI counters to use for applications like Microsoft Active Directory,
SQL or Exchange Server.
