Microsoft Windows XP Illustrated Complete

1
Microsoft Windows XP Illustrated Complete
Managing

• Shared Files Using a Network

2
Objectives

• Understand network services
• Examine network computer properties
• Open and view a network
• Create a shared folder

3
Objectives

• Map a network drive
• Copy and move shared files
• Open and edit a shared file
• Disconnect a network drive

4
Unit Introduction

• Windows XP comes with My Network Places, a
  powerful tool for managing files and folders on a
  network
• A network is a system of two or more computers
  linked together to share resources
• My Network Places is integrated with Windows
  Explorer and My Computer

5
Understanding Network Services

• Windows allows networked computers to share
  resources such as programs, files, printers, and
  an Internet connection
• A server is a single computer on the network
  designated to share the resources
• Other computers on the network are called clients
  or workstations
• Computers in one or a group of buildings are
  called a LAN (Local Area Network)
• Computers spread over a large area are called a
  WAN (Wide Area Network)

6
Understanding Network Services (cont.)

• To set up a network, you must have a network
  adapter for each computer and connect them to a
  network hub using cable or wireless technology
• Network adapters are usually hardware cards
  called network interface cards (NICs), inserted
  into a slot, or USB (Universal Serial Bus) port
  in the back of your computer
• A network hub is a hardware device that connects
  multiple computers at a central location
• If there are multiple LANs or LAN sections, you
  can connect them together with a router for a
  large network, or a bridge for a smaller network

7
Understanding Network Services (cont.)

• A network allows you to share resources through
• Client/server networking, where one computer is
  designated as a server
• Peer-to-peer networking, where there is no
  designated server
• Network connections, where you can access network
  and Internet resources whether you are connected
  to the network physically or over the Internet
  using a VPN (Virtual Private Network)
• You can also share designated files and folders
  on your computer with other network users
• Mapping drives on your machine lets you share the
  resources of another client or server

8
Understanding Network Services (cont.)
Phoneline and modem network connection
Wireless connection
WAN or Internet
LAN
Network server and printer
Workstation
Network hub
9
Understanding a Home Phoneline Network

• An HPN (Home Phoneline Network) can connect
  several computers located in different rooms of
  your home using existing phone lines and
  telephone cable.
• An HPN is an example of peer-to-peer networking
• You can share files, printers, and Internet
• You need to install a HPNA (Home Phoneline
  Network Adapter) for each computer
• An HPN operates on different frequency from your
  normal telephone use

10
Examining Network Computer Properties

• Names identify an individual machine
• Locations refer to how the machine is grouped
  with other computers
• A workgroup is a group of computers that perform
  common tasks or belong to users who share common
  duties
• A domain is a collection of computers that the
  network manager groups because they are used for
  the same tasks, which simplifies their setup and
  maintenance

11
Examining Network Computer Properties (cont.)

• To check the network properties of your computer
• Open the Control Panel in Classic View, then
  double-click the System Icon
• In the System Properties dialog box, click the
  appropriate tab to view the properties

12
Joining a Network Domain

• The Network Identification Wizard can be used to
  join a domain and create a local user account
• You need to physically connect your computer to a
  network using an adaptor and cable first
• Windows will automatically create a LAN
  connection
• The wizard will start when Windows XP detects the
  new adaptor and will guide you through joining a
  network domain

13
Viewing Network Properties

• You can view and modify network connection
  settings using Network Connections (available
  through Control Panel)
• The network connection consists of three types of
  components
• Clients allow you to access computers and files
  on the network
• Service allow you to share your resources with
  other computers
• Protocol the language your computer uses to
  communicate with other computers on the network

14
Opening and Viewing a Network

• The key to managing files and folders in a
  network is to understand its structure
• To view the network hierarchy and properties
• Double-click the My Network Places icon on the
  desktop
• In the Other Places section of the task pane,
  click Entire Network
• Double-click the Microsoft Windows Network icon
  to display current domains on your network
• Double-click domains and computer icons to
  display their contents

Current domains
15
Creating a Shortcut to a Network Location

• The Add Network Place Wizard can create a
  shortcut to a network location in the My Network
  Places window
• You can also create a shortcut to a Web or FTP
  site or sign up for online storage for your files
  and folders
• To start the wizard, double-click the My Network
  Places icon on the desktop, then click Add a
  network place

16
Creating a Shared Folder

• You can create a new folder to share or use an
  existing folder using the Sharing and Security
  command in My Computer or Windows Explorer
• When you create a shared folder, you have the
  option to use the name of the folder or another
  name, called the share name

17
Creating a Shared Folder (cont.)

• To create a shared folder
• Open the My Documents folder
• Right-click a blank area of the window, point to
  New, then click Folder
• Name the folder, then right-click it
• Click Sharing and Security
• In the folder Properties dialog box, click the
  Share this folder option button, then click
  Permissions to modify permission settings if
  necessary

Shared folder
18
File Permission Properties

• Every file includes permissions for each user,
  which are settings that designate what each user
  can and cannot do to a file
• Two basic permission types are
• Read allows the user to open and view files, but
  not save changes
• Full allows the user to edit and save changes
  (or write) and execute programs on server or
  client computers

19
Mapping a Network Drive

• Mapping creates a direct connection to a network
  location for quick and easy access
• If you connect to a network location frequently,
  you might want to designate a drive letter on
  your computer as a direct connection to the
  shared drive or folder

20
Mapping a Network Drive (cont.)

• To map a drive letter from your computer to a
  shared folder
• Open My Network Places
• Click Tools on the menu bar, then click Map
  Network Drive
• In the Map Network Drive dialog box, click Browse
• Navigate to the drive or folder
• Click the folder, then click OK

21
Creating an Network Connection

• A network connection provides access between your
  computer and a network, another computer, or the
  Internet
• The New Connections Wizard can be used to set up
  a home or office network, connect to the
  Internet, and more
• To start the wizard
• Click the Start button, point to All Programs,
  point to Accessories, point to Communications,
  then click New Connection Wizard

22
Copying and Moving Shared Files

• The difference between copying and moving a
  shared file or folder is that data transfer can
  take longer over a network
• You can use any Windows file management tool to
  copy or move shared files

23
Copying and Moving Shared Files (cont.)

• To move a shared file using My Network Places
• Open My Network Places, navigate to the drive and
  folder where the shared file or folder is
  located, then display it in the right pane
• Right-click the file or folder in the right pane,
  then drag it to the new location in the Folders
  Explorer Bar (left pane)
• Click Move Here on the shortcut menu

24
Opening and Editing a Shared File

• Once you map all the necessary drives to your
  network folders, you can use network files in any
  program from your computer
• To open and edit a shared file
• Start the program with which you want to edit the
  file
• Click File on the menu bar, then click Open
• Navigate to and double-click the file on the
  network drive
• Edit the file, then click Save to save your
  changes to the file on the network

25
Network Traffic

• Large networks can serve hundreds of computers at
  a time
• Only a certain amount of data can flow through
  the wires connecting individual computers at a
  time
• If there are lots of users at once, the data flow
  might slow causing file operations to take longer
  to complete

26
Disconnecting a Network Drive

• To disconnect a drive manually
• Delete or move the files and folders as necessary
• Right-click the My Network Places icon on the
  desktop, then click Disconnect Network Drive
• In the Disconnect Network Drive dialog box, click
  the mapped drive, click OK, then click Yes in the
  message box if necessary

Drive to disconnect
27
Disconnecting a Network Drive (cont.)

• Shortcut menu commands for My Network Places

28
Network Paths

• The path to a shared network directory is like
  the path to a file on a hard or floppy disk
• Network paths replace the drive designation with
  the host computer name, such as \\Server\Wired
  Coffee, where Server is the host computer name,
  and Wired Coffee is a folder on the drive