Beginning with PowerShell 3.0, you can use New-PSDrive to map network drives. They will be visible in File Explorer as well. Here is some sample code:
#requires -Version 3 New-PSDrive -Name N -PSProvider FileSystem -Root '\\dc-01\somefolder' -Persist Test-Path -Path N:\ explorer.exe N:\ Get-PSDrive -Name N Remove-PSDrive -Name N -Force
If you’d like to provide logon credentials, add the –Credential parameter to New-PSDrive, and submit a username in the format domain\username. The password will be securely prompted.