I have a computer workstation all connected via wire router. The problem i have is, i have to connect them all

Question

I have to made one of them a server computer & others client computers. So i can open shared files or folder through client computers. How can i configure them? Please suggest me details. ( I'm using windows xp service pack 2). Please help me. Thanks.

Answer 1

It sounds like you just need to connect them via IP. If they are physically connected to the same network, you are almost ready to go.

Go on each computer and find out its IP address. Most home routers have a built in DHCP service which assigns a range of IP addresses to computers that connect to them. Without going into the gritty details of IP addressing, you should be able to tell if they are on the same network by looking at the addresses.

Next would be to use the IP network to share your files and folders. On most windows based computers, this can be done by simply right clicking on a folder and selecting "Sharing and Security". Create a shared folder from here.

After this, go on a client computer and then to "network neighborhood" to see if you can get to the new shared folder.

About workgroups/domains:  most windows XP installations are configured to participate in the "WORKGROUP" group by default. Right-click "My Computer", properties, and under the "Computer Name" tab to check this. Leave it this way or else all your computers need to be on whatever group you create.  

Answer 2

Select the folders you want to share and turn on sharing for these folders then simply run the network setup wizard, first on the server pc then on each of the others.  Each pc should then search for available network shares and list them in the network places list.

Forgot to mention about the computers all needing to be in the same workgroup.  The default for xp home is mshome and for xp pro it is workgroup.  You can create your own workgroup with any name you like as long as you set them all to the same before you set up the network.