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Not understanding sharing of files and folders

S

smitbret

Diamond Member
I have set up my Mediaserver/NAS but I think I am missing some rudimentary knowledge about controlling user access to folders and files.

The devices that will need differing levels of access:

NAS - WHS 2011 (headless)
PC #1 - Windows 7 Pro
PC #2 - Windows 7 Home Premium
PC #3 - Windows XP Pro
WDTV Live Hub

I have a very basic understanding of networking and I have been able to set it up so that I can share specific folders with all locations by simply sharing with "Everyone" but the WDTV Live requires that access be set up as Read/Write to work. I would like to set it up so that only the WDTV Live and myself have full Read/Write access to most of the folders. I would also like to set up Read access for anyone that logs into any location under the user name "Home".

Everything I find on the internet is either really basic "this is a modem, this is a router, etc." kind of stuff or "after consulting with admin, check your DHCP settings in the network broadcast and make sure the MAC address is interchangeable with the forwarded ports and then disconnect and reconnect the hyphen doofinator at the x point prior to network shift........" and other stuff that I don't care to know.

I think my needs are somewhere in between. Is there a guide on the internet and if not, what books are a good "intermediate" guide to network sharing that I could pick up at Amazon or similar?
 
If you need different levels of permissions, then you need to set up user accounts for the devices and assign permissions to those accounts with the access you want to have.

For example, assuming the three PCs all only need Read access and the WDTV needs Read/Write access:

On the WHS, create two user accounts, one named PCs (or whatever) and one named WDTV.

In the permissions for the shared folders, give the PCs account Read access and give the WDTV account Read and Write access.

On the PCs and the WDTV, log in (connect) to the WHS using the appropriate account for the device and they will only be given the permissions that you assigned to their account.

You can also create separate user accounts for each computer (or each person) and assign separate permissions that way as well.
 
Everyone does Not mean Everyone that wants to logon.

If accounts are set only for John, Jill, and Jack, using the Everyone setting in the Folder Permissions saves the effort of setting Permission separately for John, Jill, and Jack.
Everyone else is Not in the Everyone group, only John, Jill, and Jack.
Thus, you have to configure similar specific users on both computers and set their permissions.
---------------
Permission and Security issues, check the following settings.
Point to the a Folder that meant to to be share. Right click and choose properties.
In the properties

Click on the Security tab shown in the pic bellow to the right) and check that the users and their permission (shown in the pic bellow center and left) are correctly configured. Then do the same to the Permission tab.

This screen shot is from Win 7, Vista's menus are similar.
http://www.ezlan.net/Win7/Permission-Security.jpg

In both the Security panel, and the Permission panel you have to highlight each User/Group and examine that the Permission Controls are checked correctly.
When everything is OK, Reboot the Network (Router, and computer).

* Note . The Groups and Users shown in the screen-shoot are just an example. Your list will look the way your system is configured.

**Note . All users that are allowed to share need to have account on all the computers that they are allowed to connect to.

Everyone is an account, it means a group of all of the users that already have an account and been established as users. It is available to avoid the need of configuring permission to each on its own, it does not mean Everyone that feel that they would like to login.
------------------------------
New Computers usually come with 3rd party security suits,that sometimes contribute to the Sharing issues.
Make sure that the Software Firewall on each computer allows free local traffic. If you use 3rd party Firewall On, Vista/XP Native Firewall should be Off, and the active Firewall has to adjusted to your Network IP numbers on what is some time called the Trusted Zone (consult your 3rd Party Firewall instructions

General example, http://www.ezlan.net/faq.html#trusted

Please Note that some 3rd party Software Firewalls keep blocking aspects of Local Traffic even it they are turned Off (disabled). If possible configure the Firewall correctly, or totally uninstall it to allow clean flow of local network traffic. If the 3rd party software is uninstalled or disables, make sure that Windows native Firewall is On.


😎
 
Last edited:
Excellent, guys.

Got it set up now and it's running the way I had hoped. The biggest thing I was missing was the reboot after changing the sharing and permissions.

Thanks for all the help.
 
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