File sharing in XP

[Harald]

I tried using an XP Home as file server. But when using
net use on other computers (W98, XP, 2K) it says
something like "too many connections" and it wont map the
network drives. Is there a limit in XP, and anyway around
it?

 

[Chuck]

I tried using an XP Home as file server. But when using
net use on other computers (W98, XP, 2K) it says
something like "too many connections" and it wont map the
network drives. Is there a limit in XP, and anyway around
it?

Harald,

XP Home is limited to 5 incoming connections.
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=314882

The only way around the limit is to upgrade to XP Pro for a limit increase to
10, or to a real server OS for more.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Guest]

Thanks a lot, that add up with my thinking. I also
understand some problems I had with gettin' "thrown off"
network. Had problem finding this info on microsoft pages.

Have a nice week.

 

[Chuck]

Thanks a lot, that add up with my thinking. I also
understand some problems I had with gettin' "thrown off"
network. Had problem finding this info on microsoft pages.

Have a nice week.

Finding any information in the Microsoft pages is a matter of experience. I
experience the frustration frequently.

Thanks for the feedback.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

XP Home is limited to 5 incoming connections.

Only a small remark on the sidelines. To be very precise, XP
Home is limited to 5 simultaneous inbound connections.

One way around this is to open the connections only when you
actually need them, and close them afterwards. I think an unused
network connection closes automatically after 15 minutes, but
this is only from my poor memory.

Hans-Georg

 

[Chuck]

Only a small remark on the sidelines. To be very precise, XP
Home is limited to 5 simultaneous inbound connections.

One way around this is to open the connections only when you
actually need them, and close them afterwards. I think an unused
network connection closes automatically after 15 minutes, but
this is only from my poor memory.

Hans-Georg

HG,

The distinction "simultaneous connections" is relevant - but more so with
multiple computers randomly accessing the same server. With randomly sequenced
accesses, timed out connections are a workaround. Remember that some folks then
complain of mapped drives with a red X under My Computer, and that opening the
drives in question always involves an unacceptable delay (while the connection
is reestablished) (no delay is ever acceptable).

In Harald's case, he was actually seeing an explicit refusal to connect because
the previous connections had not yet timed out. The timeout period is indeed
adjustable, but at the risk of causing a timeout while activity is continuing,
though paused briefly.

AFAIK, adjustment of the timeout period is a Registry Editor issue. I don't
know of an alternate gui, or scriptable, method of changing it. :-(

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

The distinction "simultaneous connections" is relevant - but more so with
multiple computers randomly accessing the same server. With randomly sequenced
accesses, timed out connections are a workaround. Remember that some folks then
complain of mapped drives with a red X under My Computer, and that opening the
drives in question always involves an unacceptable delay (while the connection
is reestablished) (no delay is ever acceptable).

In Harald's case, he was actually seeing an explicit refusal to connect because
the previous connections had not yet timed out. The timeout period is indeed
adjustable, but at the risk of causing a timeout while activity is continuing,
though paused briefly.

AFAIK, adjustment of the timeout period is a Registry Editor issue. I don't
know of an alternate gui, or scriptable, method of changing it. :-(

Chuck,

good information. Now he can make an educated choice.

(But then I think it's a good idea to upgrade to Windows XP Pro
anyway.

Hans-Georg