--- title: virtual map disk description: Introducing the ability of mapped disks to access cloud files like local disks, and the differences with WebDAV/SMB. slug: mapped-drive lang: en category: Product Features category_order: 2 order: 26 keywords: - mapping disk - Yunqiao - WebDAV - SMB --- # Virtual mapping disk The virtual mapped disk allows users to access BabelBird cloud files in Windows Explorer or macOS Finder as if they were a local disk. It is suitable for scenarios where the directory level is deep, the number of files is large, and users are accustomed to opening files with local file managers and professional software. ![Client main interface](../../assets/images/client-main.webp) *The client carries desktop capabilities such as uploading and downloading, synchronization, disk mapping and local editing.* ## Core Competencies | Capabilities | Description | Support Platforms | | --- | --- | --- | | Explorer/Finder access | Access the network disk directory in the system file manager | Windows client, Mac client | | Virtual drive letter/virtual path | Cloud files can be entered through drive letter or virtual path | Windows client, Mac client | | Cache management | On-demand downloading and caching of files to reduce local disk usage | Windows client, Mac client | | Editing automatically locks | Automatically locks when opening a file for editing in the mapped disk to reduce multi-person editing conflicts | Windows client, Mac client | | File references and associated resources | Click a file to open file references and associated resources | Windows client, Mac client | | Third-party program access | Local applications can access mapped disk files just like local paths | Windows client, Mac client | ## How to work The virtual mapped disk uses local virtual disk technology similar to OneDrive and iCloud to present the cloud directory in the operating system. File icons, directory structures, and basic operations are visible in the system file manager, and users can open, copy, paste, delete, or access files with third-party software. Unlike full synchronization, mapped disks usually do not save all cloud files locally in advance, but download or cache them when needed. ## Permissions and Network - The range of files that users can see and operate is still determined by the Babel permission system. - Access to the mapped disk relies on network connection; when the network is unavailable or permissions expire, uncached files cannot be opened normally. - File editing, uploading new versions, deleting, moving, sharing, etc. should still be controlled by folder permissions, project permissions, and security policies. - The Linux/Xinchuang client does not support the synchronization of folders and mapped disk functions, and is suitable for access through the web page, the client's regular file list, or other deployed portals. ## Differences from WebDAV/SMB | Dimensions | Virtual mapping disk | WebDAV/SMB | | --- | --- | --- | | Permission consistency | Consistent with Babel account, department, project, sharing and file access control | Often requires separate gateway or protocol permission mapping | | Product integration | Can be combined with versions, locks, logs, associated resources, and client editing | Prefer common file protocols | | Experience goals | Localized access experience for BabelBird cloud files | Access to network file systems | | Applicable boundary | Depends on client and enterprise configuration | Depends on protocol service and network environment | ## Applicable suggestions - When browsing a large amount of cloud data but do not want to occupy the local disk, use the mapped disk first. - When you need to process fixed directories offline, use synchronized folders first. - When using CAD, design, video, engineering and office professional software, you can maintain local opening habits through mapping disks. - For sensitive directories, file access permissions, download control, watermarks and log auditing should be combined. ## Detailed description of the white paper ### Overview - Virtual mapped disk: BabelBird Enterprise Drive introduces the virtual mapped disk function, which provides a way to seamlessly connect cloud files. You can access the mapped disk in Windows Explorer or Mac Finder just like accessing a local disk, thereby achieving an easy access to cloud files. - Technical implementation: BabelBird Virtual Mapping Disk uses a technical solution similar to OneDrive and iCloud. It creates a virtual disk in the operating system and maps cloud files to the user's local computer, making these files visible in the user's file browser. ### Main features - Local access to cloud files: The virtual mapped disk allows users to access files and folders in their Babel Enterprise network disk through tools such as local file explorer or Finder. - No local storage occupation: Unlike traditional file synchronization methods, virtual mapped disks do not actually store cloud files on the user's local disk, so they do not occupy local storage space. Files are cached or downloaded only when needed. - Online access: Virtual mapped disks require a network connection to access cloud files. The file icon is actually just a link to the cloud file, so you need to be online to view and operate these files, and the permissions are the same as those in the cloud. - Transparent operation: Users can operate files in the virtual mapped disk just like local files, including opening, copying, pasting, deleting and other operations. - Automatic synchronization: File changes will be automatically synchronized to the cloud, thereby maintaining the consistency of the cloud files and the files in the virtual mapped disk. - Associated files: When you open a file with an associated file in the Babel mapping disk, the associated file will be automatically loaded, achieving the same effect as opening a file in a local folder. For example: opening a DWG (AutoCAD file) containing a large number of reference files, or an Excel chart associated with other files. ### Technical advantages (comparing WebDAV and SMB) - Permission consistency: Unlike WebDAV or SMB mounting (which must use permission rules compatible with WebDAV or SMB), the Babel mapping disk is implemented by directly calling the underlying file system of the operating system, which can achieve the same permission control as Babel. (For example: you can only preview but not download or save as.) In WebDAV and SMB, only the view permission is actually read-only. As long as the file is visible, the user can open and obtain the file in read-only mode, losing control of the file. - Higher performance: The Babel mapping disk directly corresponds to the Babel server-related interfaces. There is no forwarding and intermediate processing links. You can directly obtain the file list provided by the server and open the folder virtually, so it can provide higher performance, and there will be no lag when opening the file list and checking files. Using WebDAV, you can only open a folder to temporarily load a list. If the number of folder files exceeds a certain number (related to device performance and network speed, usually more than 300), severe freezes and slow access will occur. WebDAV does not support very large folders using object storage systems. - More secure: Babel mapping disk can determine the folders and files in the folders that everyone can view based on permissions. People with different permissions can see different contents when viewing the same folder. SMB and WebDAV currently cannot do this. At the same time, Babel's files are encrypted and stored in object storage in blocks. However, if the files are encrypted and stored in blocks, using WebDAV, you need to decrypt the files in order to obtain the file list. This means that products that support WebDAV either do not store data encrypted, or the performance of WebDAV is extremely poor and the number of files exceeds a certain range and is unavailable. - Controllability: Unlike WebDAV and SMB that use third-party software to mount, the Babel mapping disk is a self-developed drive. It has controllability over the drive's operation, menu, running mode, and function implementation, and is responsible for product quality and user experience consistency. There will be more functional expansions in the future. - Mainstream enterprise-level solutions: Whether it is Microsoft's OneDrive, Google's Google Drive, Apple's iCloud, BOX's BOX Drive, or domestic mainstream Internet enterprise network disk manufacturers, they all use solutions similar to Babel's mapping disks, rather than simply accessing WebDAV (to access WebDAV, you only need to make protocols compatible and open for access, and it is simple to implement. Why do mainstream enterprise-level manufacturers spend a lot of energy to develop their own mapping disks?). The main application scenarios of WebDAV are individuals or small teams that do not need to make complex permission judgments, store encryption, and open all files. The main usage scenario of SMB is also open file sharing (plain text storage) for individuals and small teams. ### Application scenarios Virtual mapped disks are suitable for users who need to frequently access cloud files but do not want to change their local disk usage habits or occupy local storage space. This function allows users to access cloud files just like local files, and access network disks in other applications just like opening local folders, without changing usage habits, and facilitates file management and use.