Sharing Resources on a Network


The purpose of a network is to make sharing information and hardware components (such as a printer) easier. This section focuses on common networking tasks including sharing files, sharing printers, and setting up network security.

Enabling File Sharing

By default, certain folders are made available to all computers on your network. To make other folders available to other computers on your network, you must enable file sharing for those folders. (You'll also need to perform this task on all networked computers that contain folders that you want to make available over the network.)

caution

Enabling file sharing could make your computer vulnerable to outside users unless you have a firewall. Be sure to turn on firewall protection, as covered in Chapters 8 and 17.


To enable file sharing, follow these steps:

1.

Right-click the folder you want to share on your network and click the Sharing and Security command. The folder's Properties dialog box opens, with the Sharing tab displayed (see Figure 24.4).

Figure 24.4. Use this dialog box to enable file sharing for the selected folder.


2.

Check the Share this folder on the network check box.

3.

If you want users on other machines to be able to change the contents of this folder, check the Allow network users to change my files check box.

4.

Click OK.

Browsing Shared Files

You can browse shared files on the network through My Network Places. It works just like My Computer, except that it shows you files on the other network computers.

tip

In addition to sharing folders and files, you can share drives and devices, such as printers, scanners, and so on. Follow the same steps, but instead of right-clicking a folder, right-click the drive or device.


To view these files, follow these steps:

1.

Click the Start button and My Network Places. The My Network Places window is displayed, listing all shared folders on the network (see Figure 24.5).

Figure 24.5. You can open any shared folders on the network.


2.

Double-click a folder icon to open that folder. You'll see the contents of that folder.

caution

Depending on the file-sharing properties, you may only be able to view certain files. To make changes, the Allow network users to change my files check box for this folder/file must be checked.

3.

To open a document, double-click the document. You can then edit, print, and save the document as needed.

Sharing Printers

You can connect and set up a printer to the main network server. When you add the printer using the Printer Wizard, you can select network printer as the type. Once set up and set as a shared device, you can print to this printer from any of the other networked computers.

To do so, select Network the printer from the Print dialog box in whatever program you are printing from. For more information about printing, refer to Chapter 2, "Saving and Printing Your Work."

Sharing Internet Connections

You can also share an Internet connection. You set up your Internet access for the main computer (server) using the Network Wizard. You can then connect to the Internet from any of the networked computers.

You have several options for how the connection is made. You can use one of the machines as the gateway, you can use a special Windows XP feature (Internet Connection Sharing or ICS), or you can purchase and set up a broadband router.

If you use one of the machines on the network as the gateway, the network's performance will be slowed based on the amount of traffic you're sending through it.

You can share a modem connection on a single machine with others on the network using ICS (Internet Connection Sharing). This, again, is not the fastest method, but it does work transparently.

Finally, you can purchase and install a broadband router instead. This component allows you to share the connection without having one of your machines do the job. The router also can act as a firewall for your network.

Controlling Network Security

If your home network is connected to the Internet, you suffer an increased risk of hackers obtaining access to the computers on that network. One way to obstruct unauthorized users is to erect a firewall. Windows XP ships complete with a firewall that is installed automatically when you run the Network Setup Wizard on a machine with a direct connection to the Internet.

tip

The network properties dialog box includes many more features for controlling your connection, network use, security, and other settings. Consult online help or consider purchasing Absolute Beginner's Guide to Computer Basics (ISBN 0-7897-2499-6), which has some coverage on home networking.


You can also view and change security options as needed. Follow these steps:

1.

Open the My Network Places window.

2.

Click the View network connections link in the task pane (see Figure 24.6).

Figure 24.6. To set security options, first display the network connections.


3.

Right-click the icon for your network and then click the Properties command. You'll see the General tab of the network properties dialog box (see Figure 24.7).

Figure 24.7. The network properties dialog box provides several tabs with useful connection and security options.


4.

Review or make any changes to the General options.

5.

Click the Advanced tab to check that firewall protection is on (see Figure 24.8).

Figure 24.8. You can use the Advanced tab to check your network's firewall protection.


6.

Click OK.

The Absolute Minimum

If you have more than one computer, it's worthwhile to set up a home network so that you can more easily share data and hardware components (such as a printer or an Internet connection). Setting up a home network has been greatly simplified in Windows XP. In particular, look into the following features:

  • To set up a network, you need a main computer (usually called the server or host). You also need a connection type; common connection types include phone lines or wireless connections. Furthermore, each computer on the network must have a network card. Setting up and installing the individual hardware components of a network are beyond the scope of this book. Try online help for more detailed information.

  • Windows XP includes a Network Setup Wizard that guides you step by step through the process of setting up a home network.

  • After a network is set up, you can share files. To do so, you must enable file sharing. After you have done so, you can open and work with any shared files on the network.

  • You can also share a printer (thereby printing to the network printer) and an Internet connection.

  • Security is a big issue for networking. Make sure that you turn on and keep on firewall protection. You can also investigate additional security and network options from the network properties dialog box.




    Absolute Beginner's Guide to Microsoft Windows XP
    Absolute Beginners Guide to Windows XP (2nd Edition)
    ISBN: 078973432X
    EAN: 2147483647
    Year: 2005
    Pages: 176
    Authors: Shelley OHara

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