File Sharing on a Peer-to-Peer Network

Sharing Files on a Peer-to-Peer Network

In order to share files over a Peer-to-Peer network, you of course need to have File and Printer Sharing enabled. Sharing files is really a rather simple process which actually consists of two processes, sharing the files and mapping network drives. Whether you need to actually map a network drive depends on what you are wanting to share. Things such as WAV files and the like can be accessed, used or copied via network neighborhood. If you are wanting to share games or applications, then you are going to need to map a network drive to the shared resource.

File Sharing

Sharing files is a little more involved than you may think; it does involve a little forethought. Say for example, you want to share multiple games over your network. Instead of installing them to the root drive, you may want to install the games to sub directories under one main directory. For example, C:\GAMES\DOOM. This way you can share the \GAMES directory and include all the games you wish to connect from the other machine in one single share to which you can map a single network drive letter. You can however bypass this theory and just share the entire C: drive in that case, you will have no control over what the other station can access. After all, security over a Peer-to-Peer network is pretty much non-existent. If you want security on a peer-to-peer, go out and get Windows NT :)

To actually share a directory, follow the steps below:

1.) Open Windows Explorer.
2.) Right-click on any folder you wish to share and select Sharing from the context menu that appears. If you do not see the Sharing option, you most likely do not have File and Printer Sharing installed and must do so before the folder/directory can be shared.
3.) On the Sharing Properties screen, make sure the Shared As radio button is selected. You can now either accept the default Share Name, usually based on folder name, or type in a new share name. You also have a relatively basic security option here if you wish to implement it:
Read Only - the share cannot be modified in any way. Programs that need to write to the folder when executed will usually error out if this is selected. Good for sharing files however.

Full - the share can be modified. Good for sharing programs but can wreak havoc on your files should someone with unauthorized access gain entry.

Depends On Password - basically as it sounds. You can specify a password for Full Access. You are prompted for this password when you first connect to the share. Once connected, if left unattended, anyone can have access to it through your PC. If no password is specified for Read-Only Access, then not entering a password will gain you Read-Only Access. Pretty straight forward I believe :)

Connecting to the Shared Files

Once shared, the next logical step is to connect to it from the other computers. If you are simply sharing files between computers, then you may not need to map a network drive. Most files can be accessed or copied simply by browsing through them in Network Neighborhood. If you are sharing applications, you must then map a network drive. The easiest way to map network drives is as follows:

1.) Double-click Network Neighborhood and then double-click the computer name housing the shared folders.
2.) Right-click on any folder you wish to map a drive to and choose, you guessed it, Map Network Drive. By doing it this way, you will not have to fill in the UNC path. You must simply choose a drive letter. Drives with resources already mapped to them will show the UNC next to the letter. Once the drive letter is decided upon, you must decide if you want to map this drive for the time being or to make it a persistent connection. If you wish it to be persistent, make sure you check the box, "Reconnect at Logon."

A window will now be opened in which you should be able to see the files contained within. Your drive is now mapped. Repeat the above process for any additional drive letters you wish to assign to shared resources.

Some Considerations

To provide consistency in the network, you may wish to use the SUBST command to make the shared directory look like a network drive on the PC on which the games are actually installed. For example, if you are sharing C:\GAMES and the other computers map a network drive letter F: to it, then you may want to include the command line:

C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\SUBST F: C:\GAMES

in your AUTOEXEC.BAT. After a reboot, you will now have an F: drive which when viewed, will look like you are in the C:\GAMES directory. Follow? This way the network drive letter appears the same on all PC's, not just the ones connecting to the shared resource. This is a good way to make a peer-to-peer network run centralized applications like a Novell network without the cost of a Novell server. All in all, you can pretty much map drives at will. Each station doesn't necessarily need the same drive letters mapped to the same resources. You don't have to use the SUBST command. Some stations may not use the same shared folders as others may. It is pretty much open to how you want to set it up. Good luck and happy networking!

See Also:

Sharing Printers