UCalgary Baja Docs

Accessing the UCalgary Baja Network Share on macOS

Shared folder: smb://100.64.0.3/archive
Username: baja_smb_member
Password: **Ask a network administrator**

This guide explains how to access the UCalgary Baja Archive shared folder on a Mac, keep it easy to find in Finder, and optionally reconnect to it when you sign in.

On macOS, connecting to a network share is generally called mounting a network volume. This is the Mac equivalent of mapping a network drive in Windows. You do not need to assign a drive letter.

1. Before You Begin

  • Connect your Mac to the internet.
  • Make sure Tailscale is installed, connected, and authorized to access the UCalgary Baja private network. The archive server uses a private Tailscale IP address.
  • Obtain the SMB password from a network administrator. This is not necessarily your Mac login password or your Baja member account password.
  • Open Finder (the smiling-face icon in your Dock).

Important: If Tailscale is not connected to the team network, the shared folder may be unreachable even if your username and password are correct.

2. Open the Shared Folder in Finder

  1. Open Finder.
  2. In the menu bar at the top of the screen, select Go → Connect to Server…. You can also press Command (⌘) + K.
  3. In Server Address, enter:

text smb://100.64.0.3/archive

  1. Click Connect.
  2. If macOS asks you to confirm connecting to the server, click Connect again.
  3. When asked for credentials, choose Registered User if that option appears, then enter:
Field Value
Name / Username baja_smb_member
Password Password supplied by a network administrator
  1. Optionally choose Remember this password in my keychain if this is your own Mac and you want macOS to remember the credentials. Do not save the password on a shared computer.
  2. Click Connect. If macOS asks which shared volume to mount, select archive.

The archive share should now open in a Finder window. You can browse its folders and files according to the permissions assigned by the server.

Windows vs. macOS: The same folder is written as \\100.64.0.3\archive in Windows, but as smb://100.64.0.3/archive on macOS. In Finder, use the smb:// version.

3. Keep the Shared Folder Easy to Access

Option A: Add the Mounted Share to Finder's Sidebar

  1. While connected, open a Finder window and locate archive under Locations in the sidebar.
  2. If archive is not visible, open Finder → Settings → Sidebar and enable Connected servers (if available), or choose Go → Computer to locate the mounted volume.
  3. To make a convenient sidebar shortcut, select the mounted archive volume and choose File → Add to Sidebar when available, or drag it into Finder's sidebar.

The sidebar entry provides convenient access while the share is mounted. If the connection has been disconnected, you may need to reconnect before opening its files again.

Option B: Save the Server as a Favourite

  1. In Finder, press Command (⌘) + K.
  2. Enter smb://100.64.0.3/archive.
  3. Click the + button beside the server-address field to add the address to your favourite servers.

The next time you open Go → Connect to Server…, you can select the saved address instead of typing it again.

4. Automatically Reconnect at Login (Optional)

If you regularly use the archive, macOS can try to open its network volume whenever you log in.

  1. Connect to the archive share first, following Section 2.
  2. Open the Apple menu → System Settings.
  3. Select General → Login Items & Extensions.
  4. Under Open at Login, click the + button.
  5. Select the mounted archive network volume or server connection and click Add. If necessary, browse to the mounted volume in Finder first.
  6. Confirm that it appears in the Open at Login list.

Important: Automatic reconnecting depends on network availability. If your Mac logs in before Tailscale finishes connecting, the share may not mount successfully. In that case, connect manually using Command (⌘) + K. Saving the server as a favourite (Section 3) is often the most dependable option.

To disable automatic reconnection, return to System Settings → General → Login Items & Extensions, select the archive entry, and click −.

5. Disconnect the Shared Folder

  1. Open Finder.
  2. Locate archive under Locations.
  3. Click the Eject (⏏) icon beside it, or right-click the volume and select Eject.

Always allow open files to finish saving before disconnecting the share.

6. Troubleshooting

Problem What to Check
The server cannot be found or the connection times out. Confirm that your internet connection works and Tailscale is connected to the UCalgary Baja network. Double-check smb://100.64.0.3/archive.
macOS says the username or password is incorrect. Use baja_smb_member, not your macOS account name. Ask a network administrator to confirm the SMB password.
The share connects but some files cannot be edited. Server-side folder permissions may be read-only for those files. Contact a network administrator rather than changing local permissions.
The folder is missing after a restart. Reconnect with Command (⌘) + K. If you enabled a login item, verify that Tailscale was connected when macOS tried to mount the share.
macOS keeps trying an old password. Open the Keychain Access app, locate the saved credentials for the server, and update or remove the outdated entry; then reconnect and enter the current password.
The share appears disconnected in Finder. Eject the disconnected share if possible, confirm Tailscale connectivity, and reconnect using Go → Connect to Server….

If these steps do not resolve the issue, contact a UCalgary Baja network administrator with the error message you received. Do not send your password in a screenshot or support message.

Further Reading