Finding Resources on Microsoft Networks

Finding Resources on Microsoft Networks

The Universal Naming Convention is a standard for identifying resources on Microsoft networks. A UNC path consists of the following components:

A NetBIOS computer name preceded with a double backslash (left-leaning slash)
The share name of a shared resource located on the given PC (optional)
The MS-DOS-style path of a file or a directory located on the given share (optional)

Elements of the UNC path are separated with single backslashes. The following list details some legal UNC names:

\\BILL’s_PC

\\WEIGHTRM\ACCOUNTS

\\PET_DEPT\CATS\SIAMESE.TXT

Various Windows NT commands use UNC paths to designate network resources. For instance,

net view \\PET_DEPT

enables you to view the shared resources on the computer with the NetBIOS name PET_DEPT. The command

net use G: \\PET_DEPT\CATS

maps the shared directory CATS on the computer PET_DEPT to drive G:.

As with Windows NT, Windows 95 enables you to change the computer name after installation by using the Control Panel Network application. To change the name, follow these steps:

1.	Click the Start button and choose Settings/Control Panel.
2.	In the Windows 95 Control Panel, double-click on the Network application.
3.	In the Network application, choose the Identification tab.
4.	To change the computer name, edit the text in the Com-puter name text box (see Figure 11.2).