Setting up a small network to share files.

[Kelemvor]

Howdy,

Our church is moving their office so we're taking this time to redo their "network".

The current setup is 4 computers that are used by the staff. Each person has their own computer. There is no "server" computer and they use email to share files.

At the new office they will be going to only 3 necessary computer so we'll have an extra. I'll want to turn the 4th PC isn't a sort of file server (shared drive) so they can share their files.

I'm looking for advice on how to best configure things there. The PCs all run Windows XP, there's no need for a Domain setup at all. There would be very little, if any, reason for someone to use someone else's computer. I don't know how they are setup right now at all.

Would it be easiest to just assign all the PCs to the same Workgroup within XP and just open up the 4th PC so Everyone can access it? Is there a better way to do it?

Any advice, links, tutorials, best practices, worst practices to avoid, etc would be appreciated. If I left out any vital info, let me know and I'll add it in.

Update: Since this is a church (non-profit) anyone know how cheap we can get a copy of an older Server OS? Don't need anything fancy since it'd just be for sharing files if it's even worth it...

 

[dawks]

Registered non-profits can get copies of Windows for a very low rate, relatively speaking.

For what you're doing, XP will work fine as a server. Another possibility is running a Linux distro as a basic file server. Great way to learn some new technologies, no licensing fees, or artificial limitations (XP will only allow 10 connections - no a concern for your small network).

You'd want to set them all up on the same workgroup. You'd need to set up accounts on the XP 'server' that match the accounts on the desktops to simplify access. Or just give the 'Everyone' group access if you dont need strong controls.

 

[emptyshell]

Something like dropbox might be a solution if the space requirements are small enough.

 

[dawks]

Something like dropbox might be a solution if the space requirements are small enough.

Very good point. Dropbox is smart enough to do LAN syncing as well.

 

[JackMDS]

Taking into consideration your description, you can use the 4th computer as server (no need to spend money on anything else).

If you need to set password protected shares then you have to use on the server WinXP Pro.

Maybe this can further Help.

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#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 .

Windows XP File Sharing - http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304040

Printer Sharing XP - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/honeycutt_july2.mspx


Windows Native Firewall setting for Sharing XP -http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875357

In Win XP pro you can Visually see the Permission/Security setting, and configure them to your liking.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/learnmore/accesscontrol.mspx#securityTab

When finished with the setting of the system it is advisable to Reboot all the hardware including the Router and all computers involved.

 

[gmaster456]

Howdy,



Update: Since this is a church (non-profit) anyone know how cheap we can get a copy of an older Server OS? Don't need anything fancy since it'd just be for sharing files if it's even worth it...

WHS 2011 is $99 on newegg. Should run fine on a P4 box. If it were me, I'd have at least two hard drives, one for the OS and another for the data. I'd also have two external drives for backing up the server and rotate them on a cycle and take the other one off site somewhere safe.

 

[Kelemvor]

WHS 2011 is $99 on newegg. Should run fine on a P4 box. If it were me, I'd have at least two hard drives, one for the OS and another for the data. I'd also have two external drives for backing up the server and rotate them on a cycle and take the other one off site somewhere safe.

I was actually just looking that up. Would it not be this $49 version?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832416443

 

[gmaster456]

I was actually just looking that up. Would it not be this $49 version?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832416443

Yeah that's it. I must have been thinking about windows 7.

 

[gmaster456]

Make sure whatever box your setting it up on has this though:

CPU: 1.3 GHz x86-64 Dual Core or 1.4 GHz x86-64 Single Core
RAM: 2 GB (8 GB Maximum)
HDD At least one 160 GB drive

You should be able to easily get away with 1gb of ram. Especially with the number of clients you have and what you're using it for.