Setting Up Shared Resources

Sharing resources with other network users requires the following steps:

1. Installing File and Printer sharing

2. Selecting which drives , folders, or printers to share

3. Setting permissions on Windows NT 4.0/2000/XP

caution

Windows Me and Windows XP have Network Setup Wizards, which are designed to automate various parts of the network setup process. Do not use these wizards if you have already configured network settings because the wizards might undo your changes.

The following sections cover performing these processes manually. With Windows Me and Windows XP, the Network Setup Wizard can also perform these steps for you.

Installing File and Printer Sharing

All versions of Windows covered on the A+ Certification Operating Systems Exam support file and printer sharing . File and printer sharing is installed through the network properties sheet. For Windows 2000 and XP, follow this procedure:

1. Open the properties sheet as described in "Installing Network Protocols in Windows," p. 791 .

2. Click the Install button.

3. Click the Service icon.

4. Click the Add button.

5. Select File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks and click OK.

6. Restart the computer.

Windows XP uses permissions only on NTFS-formatted drives and only if simple file sharing is disabled.

For Windows 9x/Me, follow this procedure:

1. Open the properties sheet as described earlier in "Installing Network Protocols in Windows."

2. Click File and Printer Sharing.

3. To share files, click the box next to I Want to Be Able to Give Others Access to My Files. To share printers, click the box next to I Want to Be Able to Allow Others to Print to My Printer(s).

4. Click OK on all open dialogs and restart the computer when prompted.

Windows NT 4.0 automatically provides file and printer sharing through its Server option on the Bindings tab of the network properties sheet.

Shared Folders and Drives

A shared folder or drive can be accessed by other computers on the network. On a peer network, each shared folder or drive can be password protected with a different password for each share. Separate passwords can be used to provide full access or read-only access for each resourceto control access levels, you would give some users the read-only password, other users the full-access password, and some users might not receive either password. To use a shared resource, users must log on to the network, and then provide the appropriate password for each shared resource they want to use.

On a server-based network, shares are protected by lists of users or groups. Only members who belong to a specific group or are listed separately on the access list for a particular share can access that share. After users log on to the network, they have access to all shares they've been authorized to use without the need to provide additional passwords. Access levels include full and read-only and, on NTFS drives, other access levels, such as write, create, and delete. Windows NT 4.0/2000/XP (when not using simple file sharing ) also support user and group access control.

To share a folder or drive in Windows XP with simple file sharing enabled

1. Right-click the folder or drive and select Sharing and Security.

2. If you right-click a drive, Windows XP displays a warning. Click the link to continue.

3. Click the box Share This Folder on the Network to share the folder in read-only mode. To share the folder in read/write mode, click the box Allow Network Users to Change My Files. Click OK.

To share a folder or drive in Windows 2000/XP (with simple file sharing disabled)

1. Right-click the folder or drive and select Sharing.

2. Click Share This Folder and specify a sharename. (The default sharename is the name of the drive or folder.) Add a comment if desired.

3. Specify the number of users or use the default (10).

4. Click Permissions to set folder permissions by user or group. See Chapter 18 for details.

5. Click Caching to specify whether files will be cached on other computers' drives and how they will be cached.

6. Click OK.

To share a folder or drive in Windows 9x/Me

1. Right-click the drive or folder you want to share and select Sharing.

2. Click Shared As and specify a sharename. (The default sharename is the name of the drive or folder.) Add a comment if desired.

3. Select the access type. (Read-Only is the default.) You can also select Full (allows changes) or Depends on Password.

4. Supply Read-Only and Full Access passwords. Click OK.

Figure 21.12 compares the Windows 2000 and Windows XP (simple file sharing) and Windows 9x/Me share dialogs. Windows NT 4.0 doesn't support caching, but uses an interface similar to Windows 2000.

Figure 21.12. The Windows 2000 (left), Windows XP simple file sharing (center), and Windows 9x/Me's Sharing dialogs.

Shared Printers

Access control for shared printers on both peer- and server-based networks is similar to access control for drives and folders. The following are the differences:

• Only a single level of access (and a single password) are supported on peer networks (Windows 9x/Me).

• Windows NT 4.0/2000/XP can distribute printer drivers for other versions of Windows when clients log on to the server and want to use its shared printers.

To set up a printer as a shared printer

1. Open the Printers or Printers and Faxes folder.

2. Right-click a printer and select Sharing.

3. Select Shared As (9x/Me) or Share This Printer (NT 4.0/2000/XP) and specify a sharename. With Windows 9x/Me only, you can also specify a comment.

4. Specify a password if desired (9x/Me only). Click OK.

With Windows NT 4.0/2000/XP, click Additional Drivers to select additional drivers to install for other operating systems that will use the printer on the network.

Setting Permissions

You can specify file and folder permissions with Windows NT 4.0 and 2000 (and with Windows XP if simple file sharing has been disabled).

See "File Permissions," p. 660 , for details.