Workgroup Setup

[spooters]

Hi all,

I am setting up a workgroup which has one server and 2 PC's on there which are all connected through a hub. I am using static IP address for all the PC's(192.168.0.0 range)and want to know what the best setting are to use under the TCP IP Configuration.

Do I need to configure anything like DNS?

I guess I dont need to configure DHCP as im using static IP?

I can ping all the computing now matter what PC I use as I have allow ICMP requests in the firewall settings.

Is there a easy way to make file sharing a bit better like when on a domain? At the moment you can do a UNC browse to another computer but you have to enter the computers logon details for the PC you are browsing onto, I would rather this just went straight through.

Does my setup sound ok or is there any best practices I should follow?

Thanks for your help

 

[IllogicallyLogical]

These should help you with your file sharing. Simple file sharing is easier to configure, but XP Pro file sharing (the type of file sharing you get in a domain with NTFS and Share permissions) is much more secure.

- XP Simple File Sharing

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/filesharing.htm

- XP Pro File Sharing (Simple File Sharing Disabled)

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_filesharing/index.htm

You say you are connecting all of these PCs through a hub? Is this a hub, or a switch, or a router with a built-in switch? If this is just a regular hub, I would recommend ditching the hub and going with a switch as you can get full-duplex capabilities and no collisions. Are these PCs connected to the Internet? If so point them to the DNS server of your router or your ISP . What is your server (Win Server 2003?) If not connected to the Internet and you want to configure DNS locally in your workgroup have a look here.

- How To Configure DNS in a New Workgroup Environment in Windows Server 2003

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324259

DNS may not be the easiest thing for you to configure and since you can access files by the UNC it sounds like your name resolution is working fine . You are probably using NetBIOS, which will work fine for a small workgroup.

- How to enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP in a peer-to-peer network

http://www.chicagotech.net/connecti...NetBIOS over TCP/IP in a peer-to-peer network

I hope this will help you out in setting up your network.

Joey
A+, Network+, MCP