When connecting to Lighting from your personal computer off-campus please follow the steps below.

(Note: If you are off campus, please first follow the instructions on how to set up VPN here and then follow the instructions below.)

Lightning on a Personal Windows PC

1. Log-on to your computer and set up VPN using the linked instructions

2. Click on the "Start" button, and then "Run".

3. Without quotes, type in the address bar "\\lightning", then click OK.

4. If asked for your username and password, type your username as follows: "Student\YourUserName" for students, or "Philacol\YourUserName" for faculty and staff.

5. Browse to the correct folder. For instance, Academic Files folders can be found in the Apps folder, inside the folder entitled Academic.

6. Right-click on the appropriate folder, select "create shortcut", and drag-and-drop a shortcut of that folder onto your desktop.

7. Double-click the desktop shortcut to access Lightning.

If a message appears stating that it cannot find the server, make sure you are still connected to the network. If you are, try deleting the shortcut and re-creating it, replacing "\\lightning" with "\\lightning.facstaff.philau.edu" 

Lightning on a Personal Apple/Mac Computer

1. Log-on to your computer and set up VPN using the linked instructions

2. At the Mac desktop, choose "Connect to Server" from the Go pull-down menu.

3. Choose the Lightning server, or type the server name (which can be expressed as smb://Lightning) in the address bar. Click 'Connect'.

4. Type your Username and Password where appropriate. If necessary, express your username as follows: "Student\YourUserName" for students, or "Philacol\YourUserName" for faculty and staff.

5. If the computer prompts you to choose a volume to mount, choose the appropriate one and click OK. For example: Academic Files folders can be found in the Apps folder, so choose Apps as the folder to mount.

6. The icon should appear on your desktop. Find the folder you need and open it. You now have access to your files on Lightning.

7. To create an alias (shortcut) to a particular subfolder, hold down the 'Apple' and 'Option' keys and drag the icon to your desktop.

If a message appears stating that it cannot find the server, make sure you are still connected to the network. If you are, try deleting the shortcut and re-creating it, replacing "\\lightning" with "\\lightning.facstaff.philau.edu" 

If you need further assistance please contact the Technology Help Desk at 215-951-4648 or by Email at HelpDesk@PhilaU.edu