Windows XP Network - Different Workgroups Sharing Same T1 Internet 1

[rokkit99]

Thanks for reading this post.

I have a Windows XP Network. All workstations are using XP. There are different workgroups sharing the same T1 Internet Connection. Even though the workstations are broken into diferent workgroups, all the workstations can see each others files and gain access to them regardless of what workgroup they are a member of.

How can I share the Internet Connection, but restrict the different workgroups to sharing & seeing only the files within their own workgroup.

Under local area connection, I have gone to TCP/IP, advanced and Wins and under Netbios Setting checked the bottom item to disable Netbios over TCP/IP. Enable LMhosts is checked, but this apparently didn't do it.

Please Help - I'm in a crisis right now.

Thanks so much for any help!

rokkit99

 

[bcastner]

Even though the workstations are broken into diferent workgroups, all the workstations can see each others files and gain access to them regardless of what workgroup they are a member of."

This is exactly how Windows Networking works. There is no Workgroup level security.

"Under local area connection, I have gone to TCP/IP, advanced and Wins and under Netbios Setting checked the bottom item to disable Netbios over TCP/IP. Enable LMhosts is checked, but this apparently didn't do it."

These steps will not lead to a solution of your problem. There is some possibility in creating an LMHOSTS file for each workgroup, and distributing it appropriately.

Solution: purchase a router for each Workgroup. Use a fixed IP on the WAN port to connect to the existing router/T1 connection. Use a different local subnet address for each Workgroup/router.

Accounting: 10.0.1.x
Sales: 10.0.2.x
Management: 10.0.3.x

 

[bcastner]

Note you would use a Class C subnet in the example above: 255.255.255.0

 

[bcastner]

So as not to offend the hardware guys in the Forum, you can purchase a router that offers the same features in a single box -- these individual subnets are called VLANs, and can be configured to do what you want.

I would use SOHO class routers from Linksys or Netgear as described above unless this is a medium-to-large LAN.