Computer question - PW protect shares

[ezpunkx]

Hey guys,
figured maybe someone here would know the answer to this.

lets say i have 3 computers on a peer to peer network all running WINXP pro. One computer shares a folder. I want to password protect that folder so only certain computers can access it.

I know there is a permissions section under the folder sharing options. But it will only allow me to enter users who are set up as users on that computer.

any ideas? i have a feeling you need to be part of a domain for this to work?

[jcblitz]

Like you said, I think they all have to be on the same domain. I don't have much knowledge of windows networking, but whenever we have sharing issues at work the guy always says it's because of the domain differences.

[EvilSteve]

You can't do this based on the computer, you might be able to select the users group (should contain all user accounts from that machine) from the computer you want to restrict and deny them access. Not sure if that will work in a peer to peer setup though.

[JimRBlue]

The only way to really do it would be to make local users on the machine hosting the share and then pass that specific user info upon connecting. The easiest way though, would be to have all the machines in the same domain. (that would require also having a domain controller.)

[ffejtable]

no domain required. lets call the computer with the network share you are creating the server computer, and the other computer is your client. on the server computer you go to the sharing tab, share it and specify what users and/or groups have access to the share, and what permission they have (i would suggest doing it read only unless you MUST have permission to write to the drive).

on the client computer, right click on My computer on the desktop and then click on Map Network Drive. Select a drive letter, and in the folder, specify \\COMPUTERNAME\SHARENAME and then click on the "connect using a different user name" link. That will pop up a window that will ask for a username and password. Use whatever username on the server computer that you gave permission to access that share.

You may need to specify the username as COMPUTERNAME\USERNAME

I believe you could also create a user account on the server computer with the same username and password that you use on the client computer, and grant that account permissions on the server computer. By default when the client attempts to connect to the share it will use the local username/PW used on the client, so if they match whats on the server I believe that will work as well.

its been a while since Ive had to do this, but I am pretty sure its possible. I actually run a domain at home because im former windows admin geek and run my own exchange box.

if you still have problems let me know, we'll get this working, and if its porn you are trying to share across the network, you better share! :)

[ezpunkx]

thanks guys,

So i tried what ffejtable said. I acutally tried that before i posted and couldnt get it to work.

i created a user on the server machine, then mapped the network drive and used the User/pass. I get an error though and i'm not sure if its because its not working or if theres something else wrong.

i'm getting the error " the network folder specified is currently mapped using a different user name and password. to connect using a different username and password, first disconnect andy existing mappings to this network share"

then i hit OK, and get
" The mapped network drive could not be created because the following error has occurred; multiple connections to a server or shared resource by the same user, using more than one user name are not allowed, Dissconect all previous connections to the server or shared resource and try again.


I had this problem with a NAS drive i was using, when i set up usernames and passwords on it. I reset it to default and i didnt have the problem again. It seems that message is very common (i've done some searching on it) I dont have any other maps or shares, and i've tried the "net use" command in the prompt.

[ezpunkx]

actually, i'm going to give it another try tommorow.

I got it to work on my home computers.. i'm gonna try a different computer in the office.


and no i'm not using it for porn.... but if you want porn, i got a few gigs layin around ;)

[EvilSteve]

if you're still getting that error dude, it's because you're actually connected to the share some other way. Go to your command prompt and run "net use", that'll show you all the shares you're connected to. You can also use net use to delete mappings. I think it's "net use <drive letter or path> /delete". If you're not sure run "net help use" and that'll give you the command help.

[jcblitz]

http://code.google.com/p/macfuse/

I installed that on my mac and it's great. I just mount the networked computer through SSH and use it like it's a local drive wherever I am.

And this helps you in no way at all, I just wanted to tell someone.

[ffejtable]

yeah you are already connected to that share, or another share/resoruce on the "server" computer, perhaps using a different username/password combination... maybe a printer?

you cant share a printer on the server and access it using the "joe" account and then try to map a network drive to a share name mp3 using the "bill" account, which is basically what the error message is saying. could be a couple of possibilities, but the error message is actually encouraging :)

and yeah, do a "net use" on the client to see what remote resources you are connected to.

[ezpunkx]

I figured it out. works fine now.

BTW that error mesage i was getting is a very common one, which doesnt always mean what it says.. in otherwords if you get that message it doesnt necisarily mean what it says... if that makes any sense to you.

anyways got it up and working.. i was on the right path originally.. just needed to test it on a different computer cause the one i was using was F'ed up, i should have realized that.

heres another question for you.. do you trust the built in backup software that comes with windows????

[Cakes206]

do you trust the built in backup software that comes with windows????
If Windows spits out error messages that don't really mean what they say...I wouldn't :lol:

[ezpunkx]

If Windows spits out error messages that don't really mean what they say...I wouldn't :lol:

good point :lol: