When I access a shared folder on Windows using the PC’s name (e.g. \pc-name\c\folder) and provide login information, but then try to access the same folder using its IP address (e.g. \ipaddress\c\folder), I have to enter my login credentials again.
Why is this necessary, even though I can still access the files from the first method?
3 Answers
Understanding the Difference between Accessing a Shared Folder by PC Name and IP Address
When it comes to accessing a shared folder on Windows, there are two ways to do it – by using the PC’s name or by using its IP address. However, there is a distinct difference between these two methods, especially when it comes to providing login credentials.
What is a PC Name?
A PC name, also known as a hostname, is a unique identifier given to a computer on a network. It is used to identify and communicate with a specific computer on the network, without having to know its IP address. For example, if you have a computer named “PC-A” on your network, you can access its shared folders by typing “PC-ASharedFolder” in the Windows Explorer address bar.
What is an IP Address?
An IP address, on the other hand, is a unique numerical identifier assigned to each device on a network. It is used to identify and communicate with devices on the network, including computers, routers, and printers. For example, if you have a computer with an IP address of “192.168.1.100” on your network, you can access its shared folders by typing “\192.168.1.100SharedFolder” in the Windows Explorer address bar.
Why Do You Need to Provide Login Credentials Again?
Now that we understand the difference between accessing a shared folder by PC name and IP address, let’s talk about why you need to provide login credentials again when accessing the same folder using its IP address.
When you access a shared folder using the PC’s name, Windows automatically tries to authenticate you using the credentials you provided when you logged into your computer. This is because Windows assumes that you are logged in as a user who has access to the shared folder.
However, when you access the same folder using its IP address, Windows does not make this assumption. Instead, it treats the access request as if it is coming from an unauthenticated user, and prompts you to provide login credentials again.
How to Avoid Having to Provide Login Credentials Twice
Having to provide login credentials twice can be frustrating, especially if you are accessing the same shared folder frequently. Fortunately, there are a few ways to avoid this.
One way is to use the same username and password when prompted for login credentials after accessing the shared folder by IP address. This will allow Windows to authenticate you and grant you access to the shared folder without prompting you for credentials again.
Another way is to use the “Credential Manager” in Windows to store your login credentials for the shared folder. This will allow Windows to automatically authenticate you when you access the shared folder using either the PC’s name or its IP address.
Conclusion
In conclusion, accessing a shared folder on Windows using the PC’s name or its IP address can lead to having to provide login credentials twice. This is because Windows treats the access request differently depending on the method used. However, there are ways to avoid having to provide login credentials twice, such as using the same username and password or using the Credential Manager.
The main reason why access to a shared folder by PC name is distinct from access by IP address is due to the nature of the Domain Name System (DNS). DNS is the system by which domain names are translated into IP addresses. When you use the PC name (e.g. \\pc-name\c\folder) to access a shared folder, this is translated into an IP address via DNS.
When you specify an IP address instead (e.g. \\_ipaddress_\c\folder), you bypass this translation process by providing the system with the correct IP address directly. This means that when you access the shared folder by PC name, the credentials are stored in the DNS cache and are used for the translation process. This allows you to access the shared folder without having to re-enter the credentials.
However, when you access the shared folder by IP address, you bypass the DNS cache and the credentials are not stored. This means that you must re-enter the credentials each time you access the shared folder, as the credentials are not stored in the cache.
This is important because if the DNS cache is not updated with the correct credentials, the system will be unable to access the shared folder. This is because when the system attempts to translate the PC name into an IP address, it will be unable to find the correct credentials in the DNS cache and thus will be unable to access the shared folder.
Furthermore, the DNS cache can become stale over time, meaning that it is no longer able to provide the correct IP address to access the shared folder. This is because the DNS entries can become outdated and thus the system will be unable to translate the PC name into the correct IP address. In such cases, using the IP address directly will ensure that the system is able to access the shared folder.
In conclusion, access to a shared folder by PC name is distinct from access by IP address because of the role of the Domain Name System (DNS) in translating PC names into IP addresses. When you use the PC name to access a shared folder, the credentials are stored in the DNS cache and used for the translation process. However, when you access the shared folder by IP address, you bypass the DNS cache and the credentials are not stored, meaning that you must re-enter the credentials each time you access the shared folder. By understanding the role that DNS plays in translating PC names into IP addresses, you can ensure that you are able to access shared folders without encountering any problems.
In summary, access to a shared folder by PC name is distinct from access by IP address due to the role of the Domain Name System (DNS) in translating PC names into IP addresses. When using the PC name to access the shared folder, the credentials are stored in the DNS cache and used for the translation process. However, when using the IP address, the credentials are not stored and you must re-enter the credentials each time you access the shared folder. By understanding the role of DNS in this process, you can ensure that you are able to access the shared folder without any problems.
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The layer responsible for storing login information for shared folders does not have knowledge of the host’s IP address. It only recognizes the name that has been entered and stores login details associated with that name alone.
There could be a few reasons for this approach, but only Microsoft knows the exact reason. One reason could be that IP addresses can change frequently, especially in a workgroup LAN where routers may give out different IP addresses each time.
Additionally, SMB supports both IPv4 and IPv6, and storing login information under the hostname makes it easier to access the same file server through either protocol. SMB was developed around the same time as IPv4, and in the past, file servers could have been accessed through multiple LAN protocols, such as IPX or NetBEUI, making it necessary to use the hostname instead of the IP address.
The NetBIOS-based SMBv1 had a feature that supported virtual hosting, which meant that a system could act as different servers with different credentials based on the hostname. This feature may have been used by protocol gateways. Nowadays, SMBv3 supports a similar feature, and Azure Cloud reportedly uses load-balancers that rely on it.
In essence, this approach is similar to how HTTP vhosts and cookies work. Even if a browser has stored a cookie indicating that a user is logged in at a specific domain, it will not provide that information if the user visits the same site through an IP address.