Share USB disc on network

[Jezza]

I am used to having mapped drives on my network to access datafiles but because of the work i am doing at the moment I have applications stored on a 250 Gb USB hard drive that I want to share accross a network temporarily to allow installation of applications.

If I put a share on the drive (currently assigned to N: on my PC) and then search for my PC on the network it does not show my hard disk assigned to N:


So is there a way of mapping a network drive to a USB connected hard drive so that it can be viewed across a network?

[DaveA]

You need to have the drive /folder "Shared". Then on the other machines you look for the "Shared" name, and then you may map it on that machine.
The mapping is alway done of the "Guest" machine and the Sharing on the "Host" machine.

[JohnGray]

Are we talking XP Pro or XP Home? Have you looked at the Permissions side of things?

Googling for xp file sharing brings up all sorts of useful articles, from Microsoft and from others, that I have recently found quite useful in setting up networking on a workgroup (rather than on a domain).

John

[Leif]

haven't had too much time to read this too carefully, but does this article give any pointers?

[Jezza]

Hi Dave and John

We are using a mixture of both. I am using VNC and VNC Viewer ( Green and Red). We have created a batch file that we are able to log in to a PC remotely, fault find and adjust. If installation is required, I am able to log off and retain connection to allow me to go in as administrator. With a normal VNC viewer I am unable to do this as it will cut me off at re-log on.

If I have a networked area I can map to the area and log on as me or I can trace my PC back through the network and use mt D dive (or CD-ROM) If it is shared by me and install from the tray. The problem comes when it is a USB connection to my PC as that drive letter is taken of the list, even if I have shared it. Searching for my PC via the users PC will find it but will not show the share!

[Jezza]

Thanks Leif, that does look very useful....I have just returned from a demonstration of this to get the bosses to agree to us using this ( No problems BTW)

I am using Win 2000 pro desk top at the moment but we will be going over to XP Pro laptops in a couple of weeks and this will probably do the job, but I will test it in the morning on my XP test machine <img src=/S/cheers.gif border=0 alt=cheers width=30 height=16>

[DaveA]

Do NOT look for the drive letter, look for the Computer name and share name that you defined on the "Host" machine.

We have 3 USB external drives on our network. We have shared the "Drive", using a share NAME not a drive letter. We use a short descriptive name, that explains the source. We have NEVER mapped a drive, as we feel it is a waste of time, as all shares appear in the "My Network Places".
True we are running a WorkGroup network, but I do remember my pre retirement days on a domain and the shares worked the same. No shares were a drive letter until one mapped it from the Guest machine, and it was that drive letter ONLY on that machine, unless someone did the mapping using the same letter.

[Jezza]

Thanks Dave.

[Jezza]

Dave, back on my USB conundrum again.

I did as you said, but this time just gave permissions to one folder on my USB HD ( I did this as I have an area for my private stuff)

Now the guys have been merrily backing up there install discs and the system without a glitch. The HD is attached to my PC, I have set the share permissions to the team members, they can all get into it, but if I nip off to another PC on the network, log on as myself, it denies me access!!!

All the people with permissions have been given Full Control, including myself, any ideas?

[StuartR]

Jezza,

Is this a domain login, or are you logging in to local accounts on the two PCs?

StuartR

[Jezza]

Hi Stuart

A domain log in

[StuartR]

Jezza,

Strange. Please let me check that I have understood correctly.
<UL><LI>You have a USB disk.
<LI>You have physically inserted this USB disk in a Windows XP system that is a member of a domain.
<LI>You have created a share for the USB disk, and have granted share level access permissions to a number of users including yourself
<LI>You have granted file level access permissions to the same users (or is it formatted as FAT32?)
<LI>All users can access the share when connected from remote computers, except for you
<LI>You can access the USB disk when logged in locally, but not when logged in on another computer in the domain[/list]Can you check that the PC with the USB disk sees you as yourself, and not a guest. Right click My Computer, Manage, Shared Folders, Sessions - are you connected as yourself? as guest? not at all?

Try connecting to the PC with the share by using the command
<code>NET USE pcnameIPC$ /user:domainusername</code>
it should prompt you for your password and allow you to log in, please confirm that this works and again check the session to see if it knows it is you.

StuartR

[Jezza]

Hi Stuart

Thanks for this, I found that it seemed to rectify itself the next day. I reckon there must have been a network glitch...all running smoothly now though <img src=/S/cheers.gif border=0 alt=cheers width=30 height=16>