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Setting up a so called server?

alfa147x

alfa147x

Lifer
iv got a DI-624 from d-link, and have all the computers are wireless

Iv got a desktop pc;
athlon xp 1800+
512 ram
200 gb hdd
40 gb hdd
win xp pro sp 2


I want to use this a server; so when I go to my computer on my laptop (win xp home) I see the desktop pc's hdd and I am able to send a receive file from as well.

How do I go about doing this?

I can hook the desktop using a wire if (to the router) needed.

I am not using this desktop for any other reason so it can have Linux installed over the win xp.


Thanks

 
A server is any computer that serves something. In your case it sounds like you want to use a machine as a file server. Fine, no problem. XP is not "server" OS but you can have server functionality with it, albeit with reduced functionality. For instance you can only have 10 concurrent connections to an XP box. Doesn't sound like that would be an issue for you so it's a moot point.

Just google XP pro file sharing tutorial and start reading. practicallynetworked.com's is probably the one I recommend most often to novices but there are many.

If you want to linux and are comfortable with it, then that will work as well and many would argue, work better. Just depends on your level of expertise as to whether that is a true statement. You can google Linux Samba How-to to get detailed literature about it if you decide to go that route. Plenty of guys here that can answer questions but as a tutorial your better off going the google route, or hitting links I am sure others will be along to provide.

For XP there isn't much to it. Enable sharing, share something and setup your permissions. Your complete environment will determine the variables after that.
 
Was editing my post as you probably posted that reply. If you know linux then it's pretty easy. Even if you don't many distros have made it user friendly enough to make it do-able.
 
Originally posted by: alfa147x
would it be easier with a linux based machein>?
Click to expand...

I think it is easier in Windows XP.

Does the router have ethernet ports? I would plug the desktop computer (the 'server') into the router via ethernet cable, because it will deliver faster performance than wireless (especially if you want to move large files).

To set up your home network, it's just a matter of going to the network connections folder on your sektop pc (the server) and running the network setup wizard.

Then you just need to set aside a folder to contain the files you want to "serve" up. You can just right click on the folder and choose the "sharing and security" option, and set the folder so it is available for anyone to access over the network (click on "if you understand the security risks etc.")

With your laptop, I think if it has a wireless connection into your network, that is fine for most files (word docs, presentations, mp3 files). But if you want to move a large file (say multi gigabytes) then it would be much quickly just to temporarily hook the laptop up to the router via ethernet cable.
 
Running the wizard is a decent hand holder but unecessary and I always recommend not running any network wizard in windows. If it blows up then it makes troubeshooting much more dificult and since there is no particular need for it, IMO it's not something to do typically.

On the other hand, if you don't want to spend the time to set it up manually, or go out and read the walkthroughs, then it's a viable option. Just not a good one. Again, only in my opinion. Which is skewed I suppose. I simply don't need no stinkin wizard and prefer to control the outcome myself. That way I know what was done in sequence, and that it was done right.
 
In order to share files between computers you need to configure the file sharing.

Successful Sharing involves some general consideration in Network settings, http://www.ezlan.net/sharing.html

As well as specific adjustment of each computer according to what is allowed to be shared.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304040

Once File Sharing is working you can map the to be "Server" Computer's Hard Drive and use it as a central file location.

http://www.ezlan.net/sharing#map

:sun:
 
Originally posted by: alfa147x
Will this make it come up as a drive in MY COMPUTER ? (laptop) ?
Click to expand...
Yes.

Let say your Server hard Drive has a directory named mp3 that includes your music file.

You can assign the server Drive as S: "for server" on your Laptop.

If you start a music player on the laptop and point it to S:\mp3 you would be able to play your music on the Laptop.

:sun:
 
Originally posted by: alfa147x
Will this make it come up as a drive in MY COMPUTER ? (laptop) ?
Click to expand...

If everything is working correctly, the folder that you have "shared" on the desktop computer should be visible in your Network locations folder on the lap top. You need to get to this stage first.

Once your shared folder and files are appearing in the network folder, you can do a range of things. E.g., you could make a shortcut of the shared folder, and leave it on your laptop desktop. Or you can "map" the shared folder onto your laptop computer, which means the shared folder will appear as a local drive in your "my computer" folder".
 
Originally posted by: ktwebb
Running the wizard is a decent hand holder but unecessary and I always recommend not running any network wizard in windows.
Click to expand...

Baby steps first. Then, once you get confident, you can branch out and explore other options/ approaches. 🙂
 
At school they have it set up as where there is a massive server and its has hundreds if not in the thousends computers hooked up to it; if you go to any computer (or log in with your own laptop) you are able to see this sever as a drive in the my computer folder
 
That's either done with a logon script (batch file or vbscript likely) or something like Active Directory Group Policy. Without knowing the environment it's a guess but it's very likely one of those two options.

You could setup a logon script at home but it's not needed. Right click on My Computer or Network Places, click Map Network Drive and just make sure the radio button "connect at logon" is checked. It's the same principal. It's just not practical to manually touch dozens, hundreds or thousands of boxes to manually map a drive.
 
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