Help! Only two small things.

Customfig · 02 Sep 2010

I have two things I’m looking for help with today.

The first this is creating a workgroup for a small office of 6 computers. From what my understanding of workgroups are is they allow each individual computer to share files and printers and what not. I was looking to get some more information if they can be configured more like a domain and have a central user that is able to manage them remotely, as well as have access to the local drives. Basically I’m trying to create a small domain without a server or expensive software.

Any idea would be greatly appreciated.

The second thing I would like to accomplish is to have a shared drive hosted on one of the computers running windows 7 ultimate. This shared drive would be our groups drive and everyone has access to it. However I would like some folders that restrict access to only certain individuals.

If anyone has any ideas how I can accomplish this please let me know.

Much appreciated to everyone in advance.

-AF

chev65 · 02 Sep 2010

You can't set up a domain without a server but you can set up a VPN.

You can set up a virtual private network in order to access the network remotely, the link below shows you how to set that up.
Virtual Private Network (VPN) - Enable Incoming VPN Connections

https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...nnections.html

You can share a drive although you need to go into the advanced security settings and also the permissions settings of the drive to make it work. Sharing entire drives is not as easy as sharing folders because it's considered a security risk.

As for restricting access to certain users that is quite a bit more complicated. You need to set up a restricted access group for that to work. The post below shows you how.
GUIDE: How to protect directories from childrn and other usrs of a PC

Barman58 · 02 Sep 2010

A few questions that may help to provide information on options for this

it can be done to an extent but is not easy

What Operating Systems are involved?
Do the users have individual user names or can you use a standard user ID across the network?
Do you have one system than can be designated as a "Server" to run centralised control?

Customfig · 03 Sep 2010

Barman58 said:

A few questions that may help to provide information on options for this

it can be done to an extent but is not easy

What Operating Systems are involved?
Do the users have individual user names or can you use a standard user ID across the network?
Do you have one system than can be designated as a "Server" to run centralised control?

We are using Windows 7, 3 of them on Professional, 2 on ultimate and 1 on home premium. We will also be adding sometime in the future a Windows Server 2008, however I would like to do this before we have the server 2008 up and running.

We are looking to have each individual to have a different log-in; however we would like a single admin.

Yes we do have a centralized box to use as a “server”.
Thanks for all your help

-AF

Barman58 · 03 Sep 2010

As you are no doubt aware Workgroup networking relies on the same user being available on each system to enable sharing and log-in to any machine,' Also any permissions and software restrictions have to be added to each machine individually

this can make any serious workgroup network a pain in the, [insert appropriate body part

], and in addition you do not have easy group policy access on your Home premium box.

With this in mind take a look at Desktop Management Software | Desktop Administration Software for Windows - ManageEngine Desktop Central which will allow you to remotely manage Workgroup systems - This is commercial, professional software but will, after a 30 day trial of the full version, drop into a free mode that's only restriction is that it is limited to 25 systems.

I use this to manage a similar sized network to your's where all systems run Vista Home Premium workstations and It allows me to add and remove users to all systems, set permissions workgroup wide, add group policy to the system, and also control windows updates across the network.

It is also fully compatible with an active directory based server network so will expand as your plans unfold.

If you need it they also do an inventory and help desk application with the same 25 device restriction although for this I actually prefer Free Network Monitoring Software | Spiceworks Free Network Management Software, as it provides better control of printers and routers etc, I use both in combination on some systems

This is now the best time to look at this form of control - before the system is set up and I'm sure that time spent now to set things up will be rewarded.

Sorry for the long post

chev65 · 03 Sep 2010

The VPN would allow you to control the network remotely. Sharing drives is easy enough as I already pointed out but you will need to go into the Advanced Security settings to enable sharing of an entire drive, it won't work otherwise. And I would much rather use Windows to set up restricted access for certain users on this small of a network. No reason to over complicate something that can be very simple.
Just my two cents.