Windows 7 - Small Office Networking with File Sharing for Certain Users

Hello, I am planning to redo my small office network. Right now every computer is connected through a workgroup and some computers are sharing files to everyone and some need a login to share other files. I want to run a main server where all the files are on that computer and have it share all the files to everyone else on the network. I'm not too familiar with Windows workgroup networking and file sharing.

I want to have certain files accessible to certain computers and certain files accessible to everyone on the network. I'm under the impression that I have to have the main server with all the business documents. Then create separate accounts on the server and hand them out to each individual computer. After, go to each document and specify who can access what with read/write. Can I share some files to everyone and have certain files limited to other computers at the same time? How would someone access the shared files when you need a login and will this login conflict with files shared to everyone and files shared to certain people. I remember on my small business network I need a login for certain computers because it is shared to only certain people then how would I access the files shared to everyone when I have to login to see the server files to begin with? Also, how do I manage backups with this setup? Thanks in advance.

Sounds like Small Business Server might be the way to go. Easy to use and affordable, plus it meets all your requirements SBS 2011

Do I have to install SBS 2011 on all the computers or just the server? I have about 10 computers on the network and it's a mix of XP, Vista, and Windows 7 which Workgroup is easy to somewhat setup.

SBS (Small business server) would be the main Server in your organisation, and it only needs to be installed on this machine.
All the PC's in your company would connect to this server. They would have to be running a "pro" or better version of windows to connect to the server as this is a pre-requisite to connect to a domain.
You configure all the clients (PC's that connect to SBS) from the server (which is wizard based and fairly easy to setup) When the clients connect for the first time everything will be setup automatically by the server ie. exchange will configure the email, file sharing will be setup, software that you stipulate will roll out automatically etc. and security policies will be configured as needed

SBS Benefits

Hi sumstuf,

In addition to some great advice, if there are only 10 computers in your network and file server is the main concern, why not use a NAS starting for about < $150 for a terabayte, there's no need for a Server. I use this for work and home. I would advice to get the gigabit NAS. Have a read on one of my Articles here about NAS. You may buy a disk less configured RAID (for better performance) or NAS with disk - a few selections here from Buffalo and it's very easy to setup, just plug it in to your Switch or a Router then run the installation CD from one of your computers, it will pick up the IP Address of your NAS, then create the same Users/Passwords that you have already have on all 10 computers. A NAS can be used as a Print and FTP Servers as well.

The SBS2011 is a great Windows Server however, you will need someone in your company that knows how to administer Windows 2008 Server R2, the Roles, Apps, it's configurations and how to manage the AD Users and Computers. SBS Essentials is a great addition to SBS family, it supports up to 25 Users. I'm a fan of SBS family.

Other solutions that you might consider is a Cloud Solution, work any time and anywhere around the world, no need for a Server to run, just a computer and a working internet connection. Google Apps is around $5 per User/Month including synching all emails in your Smart Phones/Blackberry. The Basic Google Apps package is Free for up to 10 Users. Office 365 is around $6 per User/Month. Have a read in this Article for more info.

Hope this helps.

I'm guessing the NAS might be a better solution since it has RAID. I'm not sure if any of my computers can support RAID. Can the NAS support separate login and password for certain files meaning only some people have access to certain files and not the others? As well, can it support login/password for certain files and public file sharing for certain files at the same time? We're going to be sharing excel (read/write), word, pdf, pictures, etc.

Hi sumstuf,

Yes, all your computers should be able to access the NAS. I have a mixed of XP SP3 and Win 7 PC's at work and they can all access the NAS. The transfer rates are also great. Consider upgrading your PC's NICS to gig NICS if it's possible of course it will help a lot, it's just an option.
Yes, you may create different LogIn and Passwords for certain files and only certain people can access. You may grant them, read or read/write permissions.
Yes, definitely!
Edit: You might want to consider either Synology or Qnap for your NAS, both are great devices.

Hello everyone, I just fully setup a Qnap TS-212 and it is great. I finished setting all the permissions for each individual computer. The software is really great.

I have a question about the Qnap software, my total business files is 6 gigs spread over 20 folders. I got two WD Caviar Black 1TB SATA2 HDDs. What is the best way to run daily backups on all my business files? I know there is RSYNC and RTRR but I'm not sure which one will do the job. I want to have the Qnap software run a full backup with copies of the files and does the syncing mean if I run a full backup, delete a file, the next backup will sync again and remove the deleted file from the previous backup? I'm under the impression that these sync backups wants to sync with what is on the server hard drive right now and not keep backups of the old files which I would like. Thanks.

sumstuf - Glad to hear that you have the Qnap NAS all setup.

You may do incremental backups, differential and also Full Backup (that won't ovewrite the existing one). Does your Qnap backup software supports all 3? http://www.geekgirls.com/windows_bac...gies_table.htm

Are you using the Turbo NAS? If you are, the Qnap Backup supports VSS.