Network Utilities

After opening Boot Disk shell you can see several network tools: Map Network Drive, View Network Status, Network Configurator, and Remote Desktop Connection.

Map Network Drive

A Mapped Drive is typically a place on a network server's hard drive that has been created or designated as a shared folder and assigned a local drive letter. It is given specific permissions of use as the folder will store information for particular users or groups.

How to map a network drive?

1. For The Map Network Drive dialog box appearing click Start > Network > Map Network Drive from the Boot Disk shell
2. In Drive, select a drive letter
3. In Folder, type the server and share name of the computer or folder you want.
   For example: \\servername\sharename.
4. To search for the computer or folder, click Browse.
5. How can I change the user name in order to map the selected drive?
   • Click the link at Connect using a different name and the Connect As... dialog box appears.
   • Enter the domain name and the user name that has permission to connect to the selected computer or folder.
   • Enter the password for the user named above.
6. Click OK for returning to the Map Network Drive dialog box.
7. For reconnecting to the mapped drive every time you log on, select the Reconnect at logon check box.
8. Click Finish.

View Network Status

View Network Status — ipconfig (IP Configuration) in Windows is a utility to print the local computer's current network configuration and to control the Windows Service that acts as its DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) Client. DHCP is a set of rules used by communications devices such as a computer, router or network adapter to allow the device to request and obtain an IP address from a server which has a list of addresses available for assignment.

For this utility you need network adapters on PC.

The ipconfig utility displays current TCP/IP network configuration values, updates, or releases, DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) allocated leases, and display, register, or flush DNS (Domain Name System) names.

How to view the status of a local area connection?

1. From the Boot Disk shell, click Start > Network > View Network Status. The View Network Status DOS session appears showing Windows IP Configuration.
2. To close the DOS session, press a key on the keyboard.

Network Configurator

This utility works only on computers with adapters that are configured to obtain an IP address automatically. It renews DHCP configuration for all adapters.

This utility works only on computers with adapters that are configured to obtain an IP address automatically. It renews DHCP configuration for all adapters.

To configure the IP address:

1. From the Boot Disk shell, click Start > Network > Network Configurator. The Network Configurator dialog box appears.
2. From the Ethernet Adapters drop-down list, select an adaptor.
3. To view details about the selected adaptor, hover the mouse over the Ethernet Adapters field. A drop-down text screen appears.
4. In the IP tab, do the following:
   • To get an IP address automatically from the network server, select the Obtain an IP address automatically radio button.
   • To use a specific IP address, select the Use the following IP address radio button and type the information in the fields below.
   • In the DNS tab, do the following:
     • To get a DNS automatically from the network server, select the Obtain DNS Server address automatically radio button.
     • To use a specific DNS address, select the Use the following DNS Server address radio button and type the information in the fields below.
5. In the Network Identification tab, to specify a workgroup for group access, type the workgroup name in the Workgroup field and click Set.
6. In the Firewall tab, you may set the status of the firewall in the Firewall status drop-down list:
   • To turn the firewall on, choose On.
   • To turn the firewall off, choose Off.

Remote Desktop Connection

Remote Desktop Connection — As part of Microsoft Terminal Services, use this utility to allow a remote user to take control of your computer (Remote Desktop). Microsoft provides the client software Remote Desktop Connection for most Windows operating systems that allows a user to connect to and work with a remote server running Terminal Services.

Remote Desktop Web Connection must be installed and running on the Web server.

Use the Boot Disk View Network Status utility to ensure that your client computer has an active network connection and that the WINS server service (or other name resolution method) is functioning.

How to connect to another computer using Remote Desktop Web Connection?

1. From the Boot Disk shell, click Start > Network > Remote Desktop Connection. The Remote Desktop Connection dialog box appears.
2. In the Computer field, type the URL for the home directory of the Web server hosting Remote Desktop Web Connection.
3. For setting more parameters for the connection, click Options >> and specify information for your connection.