SMB Shared Drive from Spectrum Scale on MacOS

Important

  • These methods will only work if your computer is connected to the UTEP network or remotely via the UTEP VPN.
  • If you are connected to UTEP WiFi, you must also be connected to the UTEP VPN for this to work.
  • You will need to use your UTEP credentials to access the shared folder.

MacOS instructions to connect to UTEP VPN if you are outside UTEP campus or in WiFi

Steps to Access an SMB Shared Folder on macOS

  1. Open Finder:

    • Click on the Finder icon in the Dock.

  2. Go to Server:

    • In the top menu bar, click on Go.
    • Select Connect to Server from the dropdown menu.

  3. Enter Server Address:

    • In the Server Address field, type smb:// followed by the IP address or hostname of the server and the shared folder you want to connect to (e.g., smb://rad.utep.edu/WebGraphics).

  4. Connect:

    • Click on the Connect button.
    • If prompted, enter your username and password for the server.

  5. Access Shared Files:

    • Once connected, the shared folder will appear in a new Finder window.
    • You can now browse, open, edit, and save files as if they were stored locally on your Mac.

Tip

  • Add to Favorites: If you frequently connect to the same server, you can add it to your Favorite Servers list by clicking the + button next to the Server Address field.
  • Reconnect Easily: Use the Recent Items menu under the Apple menu to quickly reconnect to recently accessed servers.
  • Network Credentials: Keep your UTEP credentials handy for a smooth connection process.

Note

  • This method will only work if your computer is connected to the UTEP network or remotely via the UTEP VPN.
  • If you are connected to UTEP WiFi, you must also be connected to the UTEP VPN for this to work.

Important

⚠️ Important: Correct Method for Moving Data into SMB Shared Drives (Spectrum Scale)

When transferring data into the SMB shared drive (Spectrum Scale), it is critical to follow the correct procedure to ensure that file and folder permissions are applied properly. Failure to do so can result in incorrect or missing permissions, especially on nested folders (cascade permissions).

❌ Do NOT Move Files Directly

Avoid using drag-and-drop move operations. Moving files in this way can bypass ACL inheritance, causing permission inconsistencies throughout subdirectories.

Always perform the transfer in two steps:

  1. Copy the data to the SMB shared drive.
  2. Verify the copy was successful.
  3. Delete the original source files afterward.

If using the command line, use the following command to preserve all attributes, timestamps, and permissions:

bash cp -a /path/to/source /path/to/destination

The -a flag (archive mode) ensures that ownership, permissions, and symbolic links are correctly preserved during the copy.

🧩 Why This Matters

Spectrum Scale uses specific ACL inheritance mechanisms for managing access control. Directly moving data from local or network sources may break the inheritance chain, leading to:

  • Files or folders becoming inaccessible to collaborators.
  • Lost or mismatched permission sets.
  • Issues with group-based access control.

By copying instead of moving, you ensure that all permissions cascade correctly within the SMB shared environment.