Small office network

[camioneur]

Just set up a wireless network for 3 PC's in small office via a D Link router. All is working fine for internet and mail, but wondered if it's possible to the share files and printers wirelessly amongst the same 3 PC's or do you need ethernet or the like to share these. The printers are not wirless by the way.

[vehelpfulguy]

You should be able to share files on each PC.

It is probably a good idea to give each PC the same Workgroup name (I assume you are not using a domain server). Any name will do.

You do this in the Network Connections option in Windows.

Next you need to make a folder shared on each PC. You do this by right clicking on the folder and selecting the Sharing and Security option.

Then you need to make sure the firewall on each machine allows access to each other machine (I hope you are using a firewall !).

Then reboot each machine.

Then you need to select the option Find Workgroup Computers. This is normally available on some of the Windows filders, on the left in My Network places.

This should then display the computers attached to your Workgroup.

You MAY need to put the same userid/password on each PC. You do not need to log on with them but Windows security may expect each PC to have the authority to access each machine.

Good luck.

[wideboy]

As long as the printer/s is/are connected to one of the PCs and the PC is left switched on, you can share the printer among the others and print wirelessly from one room to another - it almost feels like 'magic' when you see it working. Right click on the printer icon on the host PC and click on sharing.

[sparkyharky]

Further to that, Yes it is possible to share your Printers over the network - I assume each of the 3 PC's have a printer attached.
You need to select "Printers & Faxes" right click on the printer icon and enable sharing on each of the PC's.

Then go to each PC in turn again and ADD A PRINTER opting for a Network Printer rather than a local.

You will only be able to use a printer if the host PC is switched on (assuming they are USB or LPT connected).

Any problems, come back here again and we will soon put you right.

[vehelpfulguy]

Not sure if your network is going to get any bigger but bear this in mind.

You currently have a peer to peer network, where all the PCs have the same importance.

This does have some disadvantages, like whichever PC has the printer attached to it always having to be on. It also means that people personal files are scattered on a number of PCs, making it harder to manage.

If your network is going to get any bigger it is probably best to have a server at the centre of the network and the client PCs coming off that rather like legs off a spider.

The server can run Windows 2003 and it can be used as a file server and print server.

So the server stays on all the time and the printer is attached to it. That means everyone can print via this server.

It can also act as a file server. Everyone keeps their personal files on there. This has the advantage that when you do backups (you do do backups I hope) you can backup everyones personal files from the server.

There are other advantages in having a server so I would go down that route.

[camioneur]

thanks all, some real good tips there, cheers

[wideboy]

One more:- just found this download (Network Magic) to help set up a home network and printers:-

http://downloads-zdnet.com.com/Network-Magic/3000-2085_2-10544082.html?tag=zddl.nlppd&tag=nl.e540

[camioneur]

thanks wideboy, appreciate the effort

[Ralph]

For an almost complete and flexible network, you can add 2 things to make your life easier.

You can add a wireless print server that means you won't have to leave one (or more) computers on to use a printer. The one I linked to can take 2 USB printers, though there are some it won't work with so check first!

Secondly, you can add a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device that connects to your router via an ethernet cable. You can then put all your shared files on this so they are available without one PC having to be on all the time. In theory it's possible to connect one of these via a wireless ethernet bridge and then locate it in, for example, your neighbours house (if you trust them!) for decent off-site backup and storage of your stuff.