Windows-Home, what does maximum 5 users mean?

[George]

WinXP-Home says it only supports up to 5 users, does this mean there can
only be 5 PC's on an office LAN if they all have WinXP-home?



Would it really matter at all since isn't it true that... a router along
with extra hubs could support an "unlimited" number of PCs, regardless of
what OS each PC has?



If it does matter, does it mean I need one WinXP-PRO PC, then can add on
lots of lower priced Win-HOME PC's?



What am I missing about the "5-limit" thing?



Thanks,
George

 

[Chuck]

WinXP-Home says it only supports up to 5 users, does this mean there can
only be 5 PC's on an office LAN if they all have WinXP-home?



Would it really matter at all since isn't it true that... a router along
with extra hubs could support an "unlimited" number of PCs, regardless of
what OS each PC has?



If it does matter, does it mean I need one WinXP-PRO PC, then can add on
lots of lower priced Win-HOME PC's?



What am I missing about the "5-limit" thing?



Thanks,
George

George,

A computer running XP Home is limited to 5 inbound connections, when it's
sharing files. One connection is one individual computer, connected to a second
individual computer, accessing shared files.

One computer accessing a share = one connection. Two computers, accessing a
share = 2 connections. One computer, accessing 2 shares on the same computer =
1 connection.

You can have as many computers on your LAN as you wish. Just be careful when
connecting multiple computers to the same computer that's sharing files.

See the Microsoft article:
<http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314882>

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

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

WinXP-Home says it only supports up to 5 users, does this mean there can
only be 5 PC's on an office LAN if they all have WinXP-home?

Would it really matter at all since isn't it true that... a router along
with extra hubs could support an "unlimited" number of PCs, regardless of
what OS each PC has?

If it does matter, does it mean I need one WinXP-PRO PC, then can add on
lots of lower priced Win-HOME PC's?

What am I missing about the "5-limit" thing?

Thanks,
George

There's no limit to the number of computers that can network with
Windows XP on a LAN.

However, Microsoft's documentation isn't as clear as it should be.
I've even seen a computer manufacturer's web site pass along incorrect
information in this area.

There's a different limit that seems to cause this confusion. Home
Edition allows a maximum of 5 other computers to connect to its shared
resources simultaneously. Professional allows a maximum of 10 other
computers to connect to its shared resources simultaneously.
Computers that aren't actively connected to a computer's shared
resources don't count against the limit. When a computer disconnects
from a shared resource, it no longer counts against the limit. See
this site for more information:

Inbound Connections Limit in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314882
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[George]

Thank you Steve and Chuck,
About the "shared resources" that are limited in the number of connections,
is it possible to give a layman's example of what a "shared resource" is.
Thanks

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Thank you Steve and Chuck,
About the "shared resources" that are limited in the number of connections,
is it possible to give a layman's example of what a "shared resource" is.
Thanks

A shared resource is a disk, folder, or printer that you have
specified is to be shared with other computers on the network.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com