Google Data Set Access Instructions

Note concerning off-campus access:

The Google Dataset is licensed for use by people affiliated with Michigan State University. Access from locations on campus is permitted without authentication. Access from off campus requires that you authenticate using your MSU NetID. You can do this by logging on to the campus VPN at http://vpn.msu.edu.


Mounting the dataset on your workstation:

Windows 7 and later

  1. Open "My Computer".
  2. Select "Map Network Drive" from the menu bar at the top. A box will open asking "What network drive would you like to map?"
  3. In the box labeled "Folder:", type:
    \\ldc.lib.msu.edu\gds
    Note the letter in the "Drive:" box, and press "Finish."
  4. The drive is now mapped using the drive letter you noticed and an Explorer window will open displaying the Google Data Set folders.

Windows XP and earlier

  1. Double click on "My Computer."
  2. From the menu, select Tools, then Map Network Drive. A box titled "Map Network Drive" will open.
  3. In the box labeled "Folder:", type:
    \\ldc.lib.msu.edu\gds
    Note the letter in the "Drive:" box, and press "Finish."
  4. The drive is now mapped using the drive letter you noticed and an Explorer window will open displaying the Google Data Set folders.

Macintosh

  1. In Finder, select Go, then Connect to Server (option-K).
  2. In the "Server Address" box, type smb://ldc.lib.msu.edu/gds and press Connect.
  3. Click the "Connect as: Guest" radio button, then press "Connect."

LINUX or UNIX
Mount the CIFS share //ldc.lib.msu.edu/gds on a suitable mount point.

Example: sudo mount -t cifs //ldc.lib.msu.edu/gds /mnt/gds
mounts the data set at /mnt/gds on a RedHat or Ubuntu system.

If you see a message like "mount type unknown," check to see that mount.cifs exists and is in your path.