DePaul University Information Services > Services > File Storage > Network File Storage

Network File Storage

Information Services provides network file storage for the convenience and productivity of DePaul's employees.  This resource is to be used for university-related business only.  As you would for paper files in your office, please clean up your network files on occasion to avoid waste and unnecessary expense.  You are encouraged to use these network file storage locations to store your university-related content.  Information stored here is backed up on a regular basis to protect against data loss associated with computer hardware failure.

Personal Storage (U: Drive)

Each person with an employee e-mail account (@depaul.edu) has a personal folder on the U: drive. The folder name matches the username. 

Department/Team Storage (W: Drive)

Folders located on the W: drive serve as common repositories of documents for departments or teams.  Every department has a shared folder, and these are organized hierarchically starting with top level departments and colleges.  Folders must be owned by a full-time faculty or staff member.  Access to your department's shared folder is typically requested by supervisors along with your username and employee email.

To request a new shared folder or to grant someone access to an existing folder, email netadmin@depaul.edu with the following information:

  • Who is the owner?  (new folder only)
  • Name for the new folder?  (new folder only)
  • The usernames (i.e. their logon account) and access rights (read-only or read/write) for those who will have access to the folder
    • "Read only" rights allow an individual to read and download items stored in the folder
    • "Read/write" rights allow an individual to read items in the folder as well as add, change, and delete items in the folder, and to also create and delete folders contained in the folder
You can also email netadmin@depaul.edu to request information about who owns and has access to existing folders.   Shared folder owners can find instructions on how to identify who has access to W: drive folders here.

Accessing Network File Storage

Users can access network folders multiple ways:
  • DePaul managed Windows computers will auto-map to the U and W drives at logon, and users can access these while on DePaul's network. 

  • Macintosh users can log in using their Campus Connect credentials on the Map Drive Mapping page to receive a clickable link which will map the network drives. (This method will not work on Windows computers.)

  • In classrooms and computer labs, select the U & W drive icon on the desktop.
  • You may also access the U and W drives off-campus via one of two ways. 
    • To access the network folders in a web browser or via a mobile device, you may use the Webdrive access method. 

    • To access the network folders on your DePaul managed laptop through Windows Explorer, you will need to download and install the remote-access VPN client, which can be found here.  You will also need to download the drive mapping utility here. After you run this utility a shortcut will be created on your desktop that you will need run every time you connect in to the VPN. 

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