File Sharing

By enabling file sharing on your PCs, you can view and copy shared files from any computer on your network. Windows operating systems all offer File and Printer Sharing service. All you need to do is enable it.

You can share folders (and therefore the files inside them) or entire CD-ROM drives or hard drives . However, sharing an entire hard drive is not typically recommended. Select the folders you want to share, rather than giving access to your entire hard drive and all your system files.

If you do quite a bit of file sharing, you'll want the fastest networking equipment available, currently 802.11a or 802.11g.

Since wireless connections are less secure than wired networks, you will need to take special considerations to keep someone from accessing your network. Before you begin sharing files on your wireless network, you should read Chapter 12 to see how to protect your data and your privacy.