File sharing W2K and Win 98

[jo]

I've inherited responsibility for a 4 station peer-peer
network, initially set up just to share an internet
connection. It consists of one W2k Pro system and 3 Win 98
[SE] systems. At max, only 3 of these systems are in use
at one time and usually only two. No software is networked.

Due to disability, my Pc knowledge stopped at the Win Me
level and my networking understanding is purely intuitive
from years in the business. With that background, and some
poking around, I was able to get all stations defined in
the same workgroup, enable printer sharing, and get file
sharing working except TO the W2k system. That produces a
network password request and is where I'm stuck.

After "talking" to a couple of people,I understand
basically that there is a need to make the Win 98 systems
known to the W2k system to do this, but the details are
haven't been clearly outlined. Here is what I'm working
with:

1) None of the 98 systems currently present a logon screen
or request a password. I am reasonably sure I can enable
that if this is part of the solution.

2) The W2K system has only a single user, the
Administrator, with a logon prompt but no password.

3) There is no need for any user logons and/or passwords
in this office unless they are necessary to make file
sharing work.

4)Eventually, I want to backup all stations from a yet-to-
be determined tape drive on the W2k system. I assume that
it will have to interface with W2k's security system in
some manner to do this, hopefully in an unattended mode.
Not sure if this is automatic once I solve the underlying
problem I've described.

5) I've been told that there two ways I can do what I want
but so far noone has clarified what the
functional/practical differences are.

I am tempted to assign a user name to one of the 98
systems, enforce a logon (without or with a password as
need be), define the same user on the W2k system, with no
restrictions on permissions, and see what happens. Am I
on the right track? I've gotten several books from the
library, but none address this in specifics. Any help you
can offer would be appreciated.

jo

 

[serverguy]

Answers inline below

I've inherited responsibility for a 4 station peer-peer
network, initially set up just to share an internet
connection. It consists of one W2k Pro system and 3 Win 98
[SE] systems. At max, only 3 of these systems are in use
at one time and usually only two. No software is networked.

Due to disability, my Pc knowledge stopped at the Win Me
level and my networking understanding is purely intuitive
from years in the business. With that background, and some
poking around, I was able to get all stations defined in
the same workgroup, enable printer sharing, and get file
sharing working except TO the W2k system. That produces a
network password request and is where I'm stuck.

After "talking" to a couple of people,I understand
basically that there is a need to make the Win 98 systems
known to the W2k system to do this, but the details are
haven't been clearly outlined. Here is what I'm working
with:

1) None of the 98 systems currently present a logon screen
or request a password. I am reasonably sure I can enable
that if this is part of the solution.

Yes, you will need to do this and create user accounts on the W2K box. Put
those accounts in a group (administrators for example), then grant
permissions to that group on anything you would like to share: printers,
folders, etc. I can't remember the file extension you can delete in Win9x
to remove the profiles and prompt for userid on next boot - sorry, it's been
a while. You may be able to just setup the users in control panel on the 98
boxes. On the W2K box, right-click My Computer, go to Manage, then Local
Users & Groups.

2) The W2K system has only a single user, the
Administrator, with a logon prompt but no password.

I highly recommend that you don't use the administrator account, or at the
very least you should rename it, and definitely give it a strong password
that you will not forget.

3) There is no need for any user logons and/or passwords
in this office unless they are necessary to make file
sharing work.

Do any of the computers connect to the Internet? If so, there is a very
huge need for logons and passwords. I'm not being paranoid, I'm just
talking about computer security best practices.
Even if they are not on the Internet (closed LAN), I would highly recommend
implementing standard security practices including auditing, if for no other
reason than to learn how to do it - you will need that knowledge in the
future.

4)Eventually, I want to backup all stations from a yet-to-
be determined tape drive on the W2k system. I assume that
it will have to interface with W2k's security system in
some manner to do this, hopefully in an unattended mode.
Not sure if this is automatic once I solve the underlying
problem I've described.

Excellent idea! Depending on whether you will just be using MS-Backup or
some third party software, you may not need to worry about the security

5) I've been told that there two ways I can do what I want
but so far noone has clarified what the
functional/practical differences are.

I am tempted to assign a user name to one of the 98
systems, enforce a logon (without or with a password as
need be), define the same user on the W2k system, with no
restrictions on permissions, and see what happens. Am I
on the right track? I've gotten several books from the
library, but none address this in specifics. Any help you
can offer would be appreciated.

I also suggest going into the Help menu on the Win2000 box and reviewing the
peer-to-peer networks section.
Good luck!