To access BigMama from a Windows computer off campus, you will need to make use of an FTP program. The "drive mapping" method used while on-campus WILL NOT WORK.

We recommend a program called FileZilla, a free, open-source FTP utility. It is small and easily installed, and requires little user training.

To access FileZilla, open the following URL:

http://filezilla.sf.net (opens a new browser window)

Once there, click the "Download" link on the left side. A Web page with a list of files will appear; select "FileZilla_2_2_26a_setup.exe":

A new page will open, asking you which mirror to use when downloading the file. Select any one of the "binary file" icons on the right side (it doesn't specifically have to be Phoenix, AZ), preferrably one in North America (the download will go much faster).

We recommend saving the file to your Desktop, so it'll be easier to find later. Once the file has been downloaded, open it and follow the set up instructions. The default settings are appropriate for most users, so you don't need to modify anything.

Once FileZilla has been installed, open it from the Start Menu, and the program will load:

To quickly connect to BigMama, locate the "Address:" field in the menu bar. You should see fields for "User:" and "Password:" next to it.

Type in the following information into these fields:

Address: bigmama.sod.ncsu.edu

User: Studio

Password: Studio

The User and Password fields are case-sensitive, so you'll have to make sure that you type "Studio" with the S in upper-case. Otherwise, you will receive a login error.

Once you've successfully connected, you should see a list of folders in the Remote Site window. You can double-click on any of these to access the folder you wish to use.

Take note that the files on your local computer are in the Local Site window, on the left side. You can drag-and-drop files in either window, depending on what you wish to transfer.