How do I restrict access to shared folders on my server??

[Ronstang]

I finally have my server up and running on my home network. It works great and I am very happy with how everything has turned out but now I need some advice on how I handle data on the server. I am basically using this machine as a place to store all my mp3s and downloaded junk but it is also the print server for my laser printer and now I need a littel configuration help.

Here is my setup:

My main machine runs XP Pro
Server is running XP Pro and is a truly headless machine
One other desktop running WinME
One Laptop running WinME
* I have an Audiotron that will be hooked into the network soon so my stereo has access to the mp3s

All these are connected together through a D-Link DI-704 router which is hooked to my cable modem
I have 4 port switch for hooking up the Audiotron when I get that far

My Problem:

I would like to store all my mp3s on the server along with all of my downloaded shareware/patches/videos/etc. This would make configuring the Audiotron the easiest. I would like for the Audiotron and my main machine to be the only machines on the network with access to MY mp3s and my main machine the only one allowed access to MY data files. I would also like to set up some storage areas on the server where the rest of the family could store their mp3 and I don't really care if I have access to them or not. Is there a way to restrict access to data folders on the server? If so can someone point me in the right direction. I know just enough about this networking stuff to make a fool out of myself so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Ron

 

[dbwillis]

I would say give your ID on the server full access to the MP3 and data files and give your families ID's no access to the MP3 and data folders/files.
Or maybe setup another folder and give everyone access..kinda like a public share

 

[Ronstang]

thanks dbwillis, but I have no idea how to implement what you are talking about. Windows Help is almost useless for most things and especially for networking.

 

[BlitzRommel]

I think he means username accounts.

 

[Ronstang]

But what do username accounts have to do with file sharing? I am testing the system and have and the shared folder on the server is accessible from any machine on the network and there is no username requirements. It's not like someone sits down on my main machine and has to logon as a different user. It seems to me tht once you share a folder/drive that anyone on the network has access and this is what I don't want.

 

[Ronstang]

Sorry, shameless bump for a changed title!

 

[PlatinumGold]

ronstang

you have a peer to peer network setup. that means that each user is loggin on to the individual machine. each machine will have a list of users or you will be allowing them to log on to the default user for each particular machine.

when you do file sharing, each user has to login to that particular resource. what you can do is go to control panel - administrative tools - computer management.

when the computer management MMC comes up you will see a tree. in that tree you will see local users and groups. this is where you would set user rights to specific resources.

you will have to do this for each machine.

good luck.

 

[vi edit]

Simplest thing is just to do specific permissions on the folders that you don't want anyone else to have access to. I'm assuming, no, make that hoping that you have NTFS as the file system on both machines? If so, this is a snap.

All you need to do is right click on the folder, click properties, and then click on the security tab. You can set up user rights to only allow yourself to access the folder.

 

[Ronstang]

vi_edit,

I'm using NTFS on my main machine and on all the drives that are shared on the server but the other two machines run WinME so they are FAT32. When I right click on the shared drives on the server there is no security tab so I have no idea what I have done wrong.

 

[Hermann]

Right click - then properties - then security or sharing.

 

[ProviaFan]

<< vi_edit,

I'm using NTFS on my main machine and on all the drives that are shared on the server but the other two machines run WinME so they are FAT32. When I right click on the shared drives on the server there is no security tab so I have no idea what I have done wrong. >>


It sounds to me like you might possibly need to turn off simple file sharing.
Go to my computer, then go to the tools menu, and choose folder options. Then go to the view tab, and scroll down to the bottom of the list and disable "simple file sharing". Then you should be able to access the security tab in the file's properties.