Password protecting specific folders

  • Thread starter Thread starter Laphan
  • Start date Start date
L

Laphan

Hi All

I'm not sure this is possible due to the way the networks are setup, but I
give it a shot.

I work for a number of schools that have workgroup peer to peer networks of
WinXP and a few Win98 machines.

They are looking to use 1 WinXP machine as a file server (I know they should
look at W2k3 servers for this) and use standard sharing to share this across
the network, but they really need to protect each folder on this server so
that each class can only save into their designated folder.

What would be great is that when they try to open up a folder they are asked
for a password and once they give the right one they can drag/drop, save,
etc into the folder.

Could somebody give me pointers on how I could setup the network to do this
kind of password protection.

Thanks

Laphan
 
Laphan said:
Hi All

I'm not sure this is possible due to the way the networks are setup, but I
give it a shot.

I work for a number of schools that have workgroup peer to peer networks
of
WinXP and a few Win98 machines.

They are looking to use 1 WinXP machine as a file server (I know they
should
look at W2k3 servers for this) and use standard sharing to share this
across
the network, but they really need to protect each folder on this server so
that each class can only save into their designated folder.

What would be great is that when they try to open up a folder they are
asked
for a password and once they give the right one they can drag/drop, save,
etc into the folder.

Could somebody give me pointers on how I could setup the network to do
this
kind of password protection.

Thanks

Laphan
Click to expand...

short

http://snipurl.com/s4xa

long

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...s/en-us/sharing_files_overvieww.mspx?mfr=true
 
Laphan said:
Hi All

I'm not sure this is possible due to the way the networks are setup,
but I give it a shot.

I work for a number of schools that have workgroup peer to peer
networks of WinXP and a few Win98 machines.

They are looking to use 1 WinXP machine as a file server (I know they
should look at W2k3 servers for this) and use standard sharing to
share this across the network, but they really need to protect each
folder on this server so that each class can only save into their
designated folder.

What would be great is that when they try to open up a folder they are
asked for a password and once they give the right one they can
drag/drop, save, etc into the folder.

Could somebody give me pointers on how I could setup the network to do
this kind of password protection.
Click to expand...

I would suggest instead you use a Linux distro for the file server. This
is exactly what I've done for our school's laptop program. Linux, like
Windows XP and Windows Server, uses permissions to restrict user access
and not password-protecting folders. Because obviously we don't want to
have to create individual user accounts/passwords, we make generic
accounts like "Student" and "Teacher". An example of the type of access
restrictions we use:

1. Folder that is read/write by only teachers.
2. Folder that is read/write by teachers and read-only by students (for
handouts, etc.).
3. Folder that is read/write by teachers and students so students can
upload assignments.

A student who tries to access the teachers' folder in #1 gets an "access
forbidden" message.

You can also do this with Windows 2003 server but it is more expensive
than Linux since you can use a regular Linux distro instead of a server
version.

You will not be able to do what you need with Windows XP because you
will run into the concurrent inbound connections limitation (see
below). If you want to run a Microsoft operating system, it will have
to be a server one.

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=314882 - Inbound connections limit in
XP

5 for XP Home
10 for XP Pro/Tablet/MCE
49 for SBS 2000
74 for SBS 2003
Unlimited for full Server O/Ses

Malke
 
Laphan said:
Hi All

I'm not sure this is possible due to the way the networks are setup, but I
give it a shot.

I work for a number of schools that have workgroup peer to peer networks of
WinXP and a few Win98 machines.

They are looking to use 1 WinXP machine as a file server (I know they should
look at W2k3 servers for this) and use standard sharing to share this across
the network, but they really need to protect each folder on this server so
that each class can only save into their designated folder.

What would be great is that when they try to open up a folder they are asked
for a password and once they give the right one they can drag/drop, save,
etc into the folder.

Could somebody give me pointers on how I could setup the network to do this
kind of password protection.

Thanks

Laphan
Click to expand...



Like WinNT and Win2K before it, WinXP's file security paradigm
doesn't rely on, or allow, the cumbersome method of password protection
for individual applications, files, or folders. Instead, it uses the
superior method of explicitly assigning file/folder permissions to
individual users and/or groups.

HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;279783

HOW TO Set, View, Change, or Remove File and Folder Permissions
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q308418

HOW TO Set, View, Change, or Remove Special Permissions for Files and
Folders
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];Q308419



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Bruce Chambers

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