Access my domain files remotely

This article is...

	This page describes how you can access your Riverdale server files from home.
	Intended for Employees and Students
	Categorized under RCS Software and Services
	Maintained by Rob Shin
	Up-to-date for the 2021-2022 school year.

This page describes how you can access your Riverdale server files from home. However, we encourage everyone to put files on Google Drive so that you can access data from anywhere. The Google Drive App is a great option for those that would like to access GDrive using Finder.

Students

Students can access Academic Files, which includes your Mac and Windows Home folder. See below for instructions on how to connect to your files.

Faculty and Staff

Faculty can access Academic Files, which includes your Academic Mac and Windows Home folder, Departmental shares, and Foreign Language folders. Administrative Home folders and departmental shares are available to those who use them. See below for instructions on how to connect to your files.

Some important notes about remote file access

• The RCS Technology Department maintains the WebDAV Server, but does not have the laborpower to maintain or troubleshoot your personal computer, also known as the WebDAV Client. If you have a problem that you believe is related to the WebDAV Server, please submit a tech request.
• Using your RCS files via WebDAV is very much like using files on a USB thumb drive.
• When connecting to your RCS files via WebDAV, you can open, edit and save them WITHOUT needing to copy them to your own computer.
• You will need the appropriate applications on your computer in order to open your files. For instance, you cannot open a Word document with extension .doc or .docx if you DON'T have a program on your computer that can read it.
• The WebDAV service is not intended to be used with large files, like photoshop files, video, and music.
• Some of the contents of your Home folder are hidden from you based on which RCS computer you are using. When using WebDAV to access your files, all of the contents of your Home folder are visible. Please store files in folders you have created yourself, or in your Documents folder.

How to access your files remotely

In order to access your files, look at the URLs listed below. Choose the appropriate URL for the files you want to access and use the connection instructions below.

Files	Location / URL
Academic Files	https://files.riverdale.edu/academic
Admin Files	https://files.riverdale.edu/admin
Hill Class folders	https://files.riverdale.edu/classes-hill
Your MS or US student Home folder	https://files.riverdale.edu/academic/student/username
Your Hill campus faculty Home folder	https://files.riverdale.edu/academic/employee/username
Hill Faculty Shared folder	https://files.riverdale.edu/academic/faculty-shared-Hill
Your River campus faculty Home folder	https://files.riverdale.edu/academic/employee/username

NOTES

• Replace username with your own username (Ex: jking or rshin).
• These URLs cannot be used in a web browser. They must be used in a WebDAV client using the instructions for each operating system listed below.
• Each of the URLs use SSL to secure your data and start with https.

Windows 7 (No longer supported)

1. From the Start menu, click Computer to open Windows Explorer.
2. Right-Click Computer and select Add a network location.
3. Click Next...
4. Click Choose a custom network location, and then click Next.
5. In the "Internet or network address:" field, enter the appropriate location/URL from the list above, and click Next.
6. When prompted, enter your domain username and password.
7. Type a name for the location, such as My RCS Files.

Known Issues

Please install any applicable HotFixes available from Microsoft. Here is a sample of those currently available (Oct 2012):

• Error message when you access a WebDAV resource in Windows Server 2008 R2 or in Windows 7: "The folder you entered does not appear to be valid"
• Some files under a WebDAV folder are not listed in Windows 7

Sometimes Windows 7 will have errors connecting to a WebDAV server. A sample error is shown below. If this happens to you, please perform the following steps:

1. Right-click any WebDAV connection you've defined in Windows Explorer
2. Delete the WebDAV connection
3. Restart your computer
4. Re-create your WebDAV connection using the instructions above

Alternate WebDAV Clients

If you continue having trouble and find re-creating the connection irksome, we recommend using a WebDav client such as

• Cyberduck
• BitKinex

Windows 8, 8.1, and 10

Skip down to instructions on using Cyberduck

macOS

1. Open the Finder.
2. Select Go > Connect to Server...
3. Enter the appropriate location from the list above.
4. Authenticate with your domain username and password.
5. Click Connect.

Known Issues

Apple's WebDAV implementation has some significant performance issues when displaying the contents of folders and directories. While it may take longer than you anticipate to see your files, when you open/access/save them you will have full speed.

When ejecting the WebDAV server/volume/disk, you may encounter a "Disk in use" message. Please wait while it tries to eject; you may have to eventually click the "Force Eject..." button" to disconnect.

Cyberduck

Cyberduck is available for both Mac & PC and is a good alternative if using the native OS instructions do not work well for you. The most recent Mac & Windows version of Cyberduck can be found at Cyberduck's Website.

Once you have Cyberduck installed, you'll need to open a connection to WebDav.

Configuring a New Connection

1. Click the Open Connection button at the top left of the CyberDuck Window
2. In the Connection Type dropdown, Choose WebDAV (HTTP/SSL)
3. For the server, type files.riverdale.edu
4. For the port, ensure it says 443
5. For the Username, type your Riverdale Domain username
6. Select More Options
7. In the Path, Choose the appropriate path for the files you want to access.
   • If you're unsure about what path to put here, refer to the URL chart above.
8. Click Connect. You should be prompted for your password. Type in your riverdale.edu Domain password.

You may use the Cyberduck application as if it were a Finder or Explorer Window - you may drag files into it to transfer to WebDav and drag files out to download them. You may also open files

WebDAV and iOS Devices (iPhone, iPhone Touch & iPad)

Please see our iPad documentation.