Sharing My Documents

[Mike T.]

I'd like to know the pros/cons of the folloiwing scenario:

PC1 - XP x64 SP2
PC2 - Vista Ultimate (yet to be built)
Both computers will be in a workgroup, and will have the same usernames and
passwords (2 users).

I'm thinking of purchasing an external hard drive with an Ethernet
connection. Would it be possible (or worth it) to redirect the My Documents
folder for the users on both machines to a share on the network drive, so
that either user can access My Documents from either computer? Would there
be authentication issues? Or would mounting volumes be a possibility?

In other words:
User1 on PC1 redirects My Documents to \\extdrive\user1docs
User1 on PC2 also redirects My Documents to \\extdrive\user1docs

User2 on PC1 redirects My Documents to \\extdrive\user2docs
User2 on PC2 also redirects My Documents to \\extdrive\user2docs

Even though the user on PC1 is not connected to the user of the same name on
PC2 since it's a workgroup setup.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Ace]

This setup is possible. HOWEVER.
Please take note of the following:

1. Users must not access same documents at the same time
2. Said users might encounter sharing violations (Same folder redirect)
3. Authentication\Access depends on the external drive's capabilities
4. Mounting will be possible through Windows Explorer, see 'Extra' menu

You might have a nicer setup if you give each user their own separate
folder on the external drive, and let the users browse these folders as
neccesary through a mountpoint in Explorer.

Example:

User1 on PC1 redirects My Documents to \\extdrive\user1docs
User2 on PC2 redirects My Documents to \\extdrive\user2docs
User1 and User2 get a new drive listed leading to \\extdrive

To create a new mount, or "mapped drive", see the 'Extra' menu in
Windows Explorer, and review the first two options.