Drive mapping

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Drive mapping is the way by which Microsoft Windows and OS/2 associate a (local) drive letter ("A" through "Z") with some storage area that is shared by another computer over a network. For instance, drive "H:" could be mapped to the network location \\mainserver\accounting; thereafter, application software on the client could read and write files from the shared storage area by accessing the "H:" drive, just as if "H:" represented, e.g., a local physical hard disk drive.

[edit] Alternative viewpoint #1

In Microsoft Windows and OS/2, a mapped drive is typically the place on a network server's hard drive that has been created/designated and given a special name. It is created by an administrator, it is given certain permissions of use to be set by, again, an administrator, and will store information for particular users or groups, and basically contain anything (whatever) that is(is) compatible with the existing system depending on what those who use it and/or create it require at a given time.

[edit] Alternative viewpoint #2

Mapped Drives are hard drives, partitions or volumes, or network drive areas represented by a name and/or numbers, along with typical computer symbols, which could include a particular directory on that HD (hard drive) or partition that one who creates it designed it to have as an integral part (for instance, the C:\ and with a directory may be C:\winnt).

Mapped Drives are assigned a letter of the alphabet usually after the first few taken like C:\ on most systems. Then, with the first hard drive and a directory to be mapped may be displayed as, for example:

C:\[sample sub-directory name]

or

C:\BDB60471CL

The preceding location may reach something like, a companies library for their budget database), which logically is represented with the BDB60471CL. If one wishes to have a cd-rom then should reserve a letter for its pathname while installing all physical drives. It is best to avoid confusing the physical devices in your system with your virtual or emulated devices.

Mapping a drive can be complicated for a complex system. Network mapped drives are available only when the host computer is also available. In order to use drives from host computers, the computer must be online or available on your network, and the user will need proper permission in your account profile settings.

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