What?

Peer-to-Peer networks are ones that get set-up with typical PC workstations connected to each other.  They often have one PC, typically a desktop with the largest memory and hard disk capacity, designated as the peer-to-peer network server.  For clients that have actual network servers elsewhere we often designate their home or small office sever as their network 'HubPC' to differentiate it from an actual Windows severs (e.g. Windows ?? Server, inserting NT, 2000, 2003, 2007, etc. for the ??)  Note that Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP Professional and Windows Vista Business/Ultimate have a bult-in limit of 10 connected network users.  Above that number peer-to-peer severs are usually NOT appropriate.

Why?

Small business and home-based users are usually interested in sharing files, printers, backup, Internet connections and more.  And while doing this is reasonably straight-forward there are also a few complexities, particularly in setting up sharing and security, that can make it hard to get all the devices working together.

How?

Before offering several guidelines, it's assumed that all the peer-to-peer network PCs are working normally, that they have network cards and cables in place, and that various data lights (ones that come on when you connect network cables) are reassuring you that the connections are actually able to work.  It's also assumed that printers are properly installed and working on at least a single attached PC.  Finally for sharing an Internet connection it's presumed that you have a network router with switching capability (e.g. a place to plug in more that one PC) available and working.  That router or an attached wireless access point may also make wireless connections available. 

WARNING: it's important to turn off any non-Microsoft firewalls.  They'll play havoc with trying to share, and will need to be turned on one-by-one, and configured to allow peer-to-peer networking.

Following are several step-by-step and logically-ordered guidelines that we use in setting-up peer-to-peer networks.  We hope you find them to be of use:

ON THE PEER-TO-PEER SERVER OR 'HubPC'

• Designate a network 'HubPC' and use (or add to the current name) the term 'HubPC' as its, or in its name.
• Create actual windows users ([Start]-->[Settings]-->[Control Panel]-->[User Accounts]) for each user who will be logging onto any PC on the peer-to-per network.  This may require setting up multiple users on some PCs and duplicating user names on more than one PC. We strongly recommend using a standard like 'first names only' or 'first initial and full last name' to keep it simple.  (You may find it helpful to review our guide titled: Copying Windows XP & 2000 Professional User Profiles)
• Keep passwords consistent.  We often encourage clients to use the same password (maybe the short business or family name) as the user password for every user, and we certainly encourage each user to have the same password everywhere on the network.
• Create a folder at the root (e.g. top) level of the hard disk with the most free space named 'File Server Files'
• Create sub-directories under 'File Server Files' named 'Shared' and 'Network-Apps'.
• Deactivate 'Simple file sharing on every PC' by selecting in any my computer Window [Tools]-->[Folder Options]-->'View Tab' scroll to the bottom and 'UN-CHECK' 'Use simple file sharing (Recommended)'
• Share each of the above directories ('Shared' and 'Network-Apps') by navigating to them, clicking on them one-by-one with the right mouse button and choosing 'Sharing and Security' for each folder.  Continue to choose the radio button labeled 'Share this folder', type a description if desired, and click on the button labeled [Permissions] and then check off 'Full Control' and 'Change'.  Finally click [OK] and [OK] again to allow access to these folders by all users on all PCs.  (It's possible to fine tune the access to specific users, but typically NOT worth the trouble on a small network)

ON EACH PC

• Revise the workgroup name to one that will be shared by all PCs on the peer-to-peer network (maybe your family or short business name) by selecting [Start]-->[Settings]-->[Control Panel]-->[System]-->'Computer Name' tab -->[Change] and type in the selected 'Workgroup Name' and click on [OK].
• Add (not required, but may be desired) the NetBEUI protocol to each PC to improve the speed of connections on a small network.  (It's not required, but very handy if there are problems with the automatically implemented TCPIP, or Internet standard protocol).  (For directions see Microsoft's instruction page at http: //support-microsoft-com/kb/301041, (<--copy, paste, remove the extra space and change the dashes to periods, '-' to '.')
• Share any attached printers on each PC by navigating to the PCs printer list [Start]-->[Settings]-->[Printers and Faxes] and then continuing to right click on each printer and choose 'Sharing'.  Select the radio button labeled 'Share this printer'.  If desired type an alternate name (Note that the name will appear with it's connected PC as follows 'HPLJ2300 on HubPC'.)
• Make connections to the peer-to-peer or 'HubPC' by opening a 'My Computer' window and choosing [Tools]-->[Map Network Drive].
• Continue to select the desired network drive letter and type the path to the folder to be shared.  Here are some samples using the above folders and the standard drive letters that we use on most networks:
                    Drive        Folder (e.g. computer name and path to folder)
                     N:           \\ HubPC\NetworkApps (For databases, templates, etc that are to be shared by all users)
                     S:            \\ HubPC\Shard (For files that are to be accessible to all users at any PC)
• We usually do this on the 'HubPC' as well to keep the availability and viewing of shared drives consistent.

ONCE ALL PCs ARE SET UP

• Navigate to implement shared printers by opening a 'My Network Places' window and then clicking in turn on the entries 'Entire Network'-->'Microsoft Windows Network'-->('Your workgroup name from above') and each PC with a printer one by one.
• Implement printer sharing by finding and clicking twice on each displayed printer.  In many cases this will start the install process to make the selected printer available on this PC.  In some cases you may need to separately make available (e.g. via download or CD) the printer's driver files to allow the shared printer installation to complete 'OK'.  We highly recommend printing a test page which you can do any time by selecting [Start]-->[Settings]-->[Printers and Faxes] and then right clicking on the target printer and choosing properties and finally pressing the [Print Test Page] button.

HERE's WHAT YOU'VE GOT

At this point you should have a working peer-to-peer network with shared files on a 'HubPC' that are available to every other PC.  If you add folders named for each employee/family member, customer, project, etc. under the 'Shared' directory everyone will have places to easily store or find files, and a backup solution on the 'HubPC' is one that backs up all the important files (e.g. files that people create) from any PC.  Assuming they're all installed, any printer on the network can be selected and used by any network PC. 

SHARING AN INTERNET CONNECTON

All this leaves you ready to share an Internet connection if that's not already being done by virtue of the initial set-up.  It can be as simple as plugging in your Cable or DSL modem to the WAN port of a late model router and then connecting the router's switched networking ports to each PC, including the network 'HubPC'.   It's this connection, via the switched network ports, that actually creates the network and the ability to surf between PCs.  (Note there is NO network-based control over Internet access, so firewalls, antivirus software, parental controls, etc. will be needed at each PC.)

If you're setting up a peer-to-peer network you may also find our guide titled: "Computer BackUp for Small Bus.-The What, Why, & How?" to be of interest.

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