Accessing USB drives on AirPort Extreme

Question

Level 1

4 points

Accessing USB drives on AirPort Extreme

I have two USB drives attached to the AirPort Extreme which I can access from my MacBook. How do I access the files from

(a) other machines on the network which are on windows

(b) from my iPad Pro 9.7 and iPhone 7plus? I have tried using file browser apps but am unable to access. They ask for a login id which I am unable to figure out.

Would appreciate any help on this.

Thanks.

iPad (4th gen) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iOS 10.2.1

Posted on Feb 5, 2017 5:58 AM

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Answer 1

Tesserax

Level 10

159,726 points

Feb 5, 2017 9:06 AM in response to gagan1205

How do I access the files from

(a) other machines on the network which are on windows

If you are running Windows 10, just ask Cortana for something like: How do I map a network drive?

Otherwise, the following are the methods to do so with each of the Windows versions:

Windows XP

Method 1 - Map Drive

Start > All Programs > Accessories > Windows Explorer > Tools > Map Network Drive ...
Drive: <use default or select a drive letter>
Folder: \\<Base Station Name or LAN-side IP address>\<Volume Name>
User name: <Enter Base Station Administrator name>
Password: <Enter Base Station Administrator password>

Method 2 - Add a network place

Start > My Network Places > Add a network place > Next > Choose another network location > Next
Internet or network address: \\<Base Station Name or IP Address>\<Volume Name>
Type a name for this network place: <use default or enter a desired name> > Next > Finish

Windows Vista

Start > All Programs > Accessories > Windows Explorer > Map network drive
Drive: <use default or select a drive letter>
Folder: \\<Base Station Name or LAN-side IP address>\<Volume Name>
User name: <Enter Base Station Administrator name>
Password: <Enter Base Station Administrator password>

Windows 7

Start > Computer > Map network drive
Drive: <use default or select a drive letter>
Folder: \\<Base Station Name or LAN-side IP address>\<Volume Name>
User name: <Enter Base Station Administrator name>
Password: <Enter Base Station Administrator password>

Windows 8-10

Open File Explorer
- Option #1: Taskbar > File Explorer
- Option #2: Start > File Explorer
Option #3: <Windows Logo> key + E
Select "This PC" > Computer tab
Option #1: Map network drive
- In the Drive box, select the desired drive letter or leave the one showing.
- In the Folder box, enter: \\<Base Station Name or LAN-side IP address>\<Volume Name>
- Optional: Enable the "Reconnect at sign-in" option.

Select Finish.

Option #2: Add a network location

At the "Welcome to the Add Network Location Wizard" window, select Next.
At the "Where do you want to create this network location?" window, select "Choose a custom network location," and then, select Next.
In the "Internet or network address" window, enter: \\<Base Station Name or LAN-side IP address>\<Volume Name>, and then, select Next.
At the "What do you want to name this location?" window, enter the desired network location name or leave the default. Then select Next.
At the "Completing the Add Network Location Wizard" window, select Finish.

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Answer 2

Bob Timmons

Level 10

189,590 points

Feb 5, 2017 7:23 AM in response to gagan1205

FileBrowser does not need anything in the Login box, so leave that blank. Type in your AirPort Extreme administrator password in the Password Box.

I don't have a PC here to test, but in the past, it was easy to access the hard drive(s) attached to the AirPort Extreme by......

Opening Internet Explorer

In the address bar, type in \\IPaddress of the AirPort Extreme

Click or press Enter

So,, for example if the IP address of the AirPort Extreme was 10.0.1.1, then you would type the following in the address bar of Internet Explorer:

\\10.0.1.1 and press Enter

Hopefully, one of the PC guys will see this post and provide more information.

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