Connecting Windows XP to a WebDAV share
This guide was carried out on Windows XP SP3 and should also be applicable for Windows 2000
WebDAV can be viewed as a network filesystem suitable for the Internet. It is an open, IETF proposed standard.
To connect Windows XP/2000 to a WebDAV share you will need to know the following infomation:
- The server address where the WebDAV is (this will most likely be a sub domain ie. dav.example.com).
- The folder (directory) name you wish to access.
- Whether you should connect securely (over https) or not.
- Any user names and passwords necessary to view/edit files contained in the share.
Once you have this information handy, click on the Start button in the bottom left of the screen followed by My Network Places. If you cannot see My Network Places, open My Computer then click on My Network Places under the Other Places heading on the left hand side.
Once you have the My Network Places window open, click on Add a Network Place:
You will now be presented with the Add Network Place Wizard. Click Next then, leaving Choose another network location selected, click Next again.
You will now be asked what the address of the network location is. Format it as follows; if you are connecting securely enter:
https://
Otherwise enter:
http://
Next you need to add the server address to that, followed by the directory you wish to access eg.
https://dav.example.com/webdav
Click Next again and Windows will connect to the server. Depending on the server configuration you may be asked for a User name and Password, enter them and then choose a name for your shortcut icon.
From now on, when you go to My Network Places you will have a shortcut to the WebDAV net share.
Possible problems:
- As far as I am aware it is not possible to connect Windows XP/2000 to a WebDAV share running on a non default port ie. It has to be on 80 (http) or 443 (https).
This Calmblue guide by Simon Bell is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales License
