ComputerTeckie

I need someone's help. I am trying to create a secure file server for my home network using Server 2008 Standard. I want to be able to alot individual storage space for each of 5 users (for things like my financials, the wife's recipes, the kids' homework, etc.), and also a single storage space for everyone to use (for musice, family photos, and general files that everyone would have access to.)

I would like each of the secured areas to be secured with username and passwords except the "common area", and I would like to have a single Admin password that can access everything.

The reason I would like to use Server 2008 is because I have an old box laying around not doing anything that I think would serve (no pun intended) this role well, and I have never set up a server before. (An actual server, I mean.). I have neighbors that share my wireless and don't want them accidently getting into files they should not see, but I want to have network access to everything on the server.

Can anyone help out a noob?

Manyak

What you're asking for isn't as easy as it sounds. You need to set up a Domain, DNS, and DHCP. And you need to create roaming profiles to link the "My Documents" for each user to the server. And then you need to tweak the roaming profiles setup so that it doesn't take forever to log on and off.

Unless, and this is the easy way, everyone in your family is comfortable using shares (\\servername\sharename). In which case you can just create shared folders for everyone, and use NTFS permissions and Share permissions to allow/deny specific people access to those folders (right click on any folder or hard drive and you'll see all the permission settings).

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ComputerTeckie

I don't care about the \\server\share being the way to go. I want it as easy as possible.

The problem I had before doing that was that I couldn't get the computer to let me in for machines I was working on that weren't a normal part of my network.

A configuration problem?



By the by, I love your avatar. That is hysterical!!!

ComputerTeckie

So I got the file shared, but am having problems with the user rights. Is there a way to share a file without having to add the user as a user on the server?

Manyak

lol thanks

When you try other PCs, do their users have blank passwords? If so that might be the problem.

If you want to allow blank passwords go to the group policy editor (gpedit.msc), and then go to Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options. There will be an option there that says "Accounts: Limit local account use of blank passwords to console login only". Disable it.

And unfortunately the only way to set permissions on shares is through usernames that are on the server. And then when accessing the share, the person has to 'login' with \\servername\username. But if I remember correctly, if you create usernames and passwords that match what's on the desktops then the login is automatic.

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ComputerTeckie

But by allowing blank passwords, doesn't that leave it open for others as well?

Manyak

Yes, if they know the usernames. Which isn't hard if they can jump on a computer.

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ComputerTeckie

...is there a way to grant access with a username and password without having to create a user account for them on the server?

Manyak

You can try setting permissions for "\\computername\username" but I don't think it works. IIRC permissions are set according to an internal Windows user ID number and unless a user is on the computer's local or domain list that number won't exist.

Other than that, or simply allowing access for everyone, I don't know of any other way.

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