Home Network with 2003 Server and XP machine

Hello all,

I'm trying to setup Windows 2003 server behind a Linksys 4 port router with 3 other machines running XP Pro. I'm not quite sure what is the way to set up the network so that the 2003 server can be seen by other machines and also access the internet. I want to run a Java server program in addition to having the capability to setup a web server.

I have a static ip, DSL connection to the WAN side of the router. I had the machine I have installed the Server 2003 on a static IP when it was running XP Pro while the other machine were DHCP controlled from the router. It seems the Server 2003 wants to run the DHCP but I took that feature off.

On the server machine, I gave it a domain name of WA.local but I can't connect to the internet through the server 2003 and cannot see the other machines on the network.
The network works fine setup as a workgroup.

I would sure appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks

Since you've got a router with the Internet connection, check that this has DHCP enabled. Then, for the XP Pro computers, make sure that the NICs are set to obtain their IP settings automatically from the router.

While you could use the same setting for the 2003 server, if you're planning on running services from it, it's probably best to make sure that it has a static IP address. You'll need to check on the router's config pages what ranges are being used for dynamic IP addresses. Some may start from 192.168.1.100 and then work upwards. If this is the case, then you could set the static IP of the server to 192.168.1.50, as this shouldn't cause any conflicts. For the other details (default gateway, DNS servers), copy the settings from the Windows XP computers (which have been set by the router).

Once you've done this, the computers should all be able to access the Internet.

If you want to host a web server on the 2003 server, then firstly install IIS (or Apache). This will setup the web server on port 80. You'll then need to configure the router and you should see a section for port forwarding. Here, enter the port number 80 and the internal IP address of the server (eg: 192.168.1.50) then the web server should be accessible from the Internet.

Thank you for your response edwinbrains. Following your advice, I am now able to access the internet using the Server 2003. I have configured port forwarding to the static IP I set for the server. I have successfully run a javaserver program using the Server 2003.

I am now trying to configure the Server 2003 to "see" the other computers on the WORKGROUP I have setup. This seems it should be easy as the XP pro is very easy but I am unable to find the correct settings or location to set this up. Can you suggest a method to have the Server 2003 part of the WORKGROUP and enable file and printer sharing?

Thanks again for your help. I appreciate your assistance.

Randy

You can setup the workgroup in XP and 2003 from the System applet in the Control Panel. Click the Computer Name tab and then the Change button to make all computers part of the same workgroup.

With 2003 server, you can setup file and print sharing with the Manage Your Server wizard. There should be a link to that on the start menu. Once opened, select the button to add a new role, and select file sharing, then print sharing. Once the wizard has completed, you should be able to configure folders and printers to share.

Hi edwinbrains,
Your help again has been very useful however, I am stumped once again. I've followed your instructions to setup file and print sharing using the wizard. I have tried to enable sharing of folders/directories on the server 2003 however they still will not show up on the Xp Pro machines on the network when looking at a network view under Windows explorer.

When displaying the network shares on the server 2003, the shared 2003 folers are listed. Additionally, while looking at the network view in explorer on the XP machines, the old XP Pro folders were still listed however trying to access, an error was generated saying the folder was not accesible on the network.

I captured an image of the File server management page which is available at: http://kk6rw.us/shareview.png .thinking perhap this may be helpful.

I've tried sharing complete drives as well as separate directories on the 2003 server machine with no access from th eother machines.

I do appreciate your help edwinbrains. This should be simple yet I seem to be missign something which I don't know about.

Thanks again for your help,

Randy

From one of the XP computers, type \\computername\sharename into the address bar in Windows Explorer. Obviously, replace computername with the name of the server and sharename with the name of one of the shares. Although you can't seem to browse the network, I just want to check if you can access the shared folder directly. If you get an error message, just type out the text (or take a screenshot) so I can see what the problem may be.

Hi edwinbrains. I tried the procedure as you described, the result ending in an error which I have an image of here: http://kk6rw.us/serverror.png . Basically it said it could not find the \\computer\share...etc.

I then tried to locate the computer using the search feature. I found the server listed under the workgroup name but when I tried to change to it, a password box came up. I typed in the server 2003 name and password which then showed the shared files. However, I click on one of the shares, the hourglass appears, nothing happens until I try to shut down the window. Once I click on the X to close, there is an error message saying program is not responding, the taskbar disappears as well as the desktop icons and any other running programs. I then must use ctrl-alt-delete to restart the XP Pro computer. STRANGE!

Perhaps you've seen this behaviour before. I do appreciate your help!

Randy

That error message suggests to me that there's some communication problem between the computers. Could you try pinging the server from one of the XP computer to check that you get a response.



Er, yeah. I think everyone who uses Windows has seen something like this

Seriously though, I know exactly what you mean, and I've had similar situations in the past, but once you get communication between the computers this should disappear.

I'm wondering if there is some type of security setting on the Server that is disallowing the file share? I've looked for som security setting but I cannot find anything related to the server files.

It would seem that my client XP machine can see the server as the ping saw the ip address.

I'll give it another go, maybe I'm missing something. I do appreciate your help. I know how difficult it can be to troubleshoot or help with computer problems over the net or phone. I like to be at the troubled computer when I try to get something working.

Thanks

Edwinbrains,

Just a short follow up. I have Server 2003 installed on another computer. I ran the 2003 server on the machine that normally runs XP Pro. I was able to browse to the main server which I have been trying to do with XP pro running. I saw the main server listings (directories in right pane) as well as the other XP Pro machine.
This would seem to point towards a problem with XP Pro and not a security setting on tthe Server 2003 (main).

I'm stumped but I'll keep at it.

Thanks again

Randy

Are you using the server in a workgroup or domain environment? I'm guessing that you're using a workgroup, in which case make sure that the account has the correct privileges. On the server, you need to replicate all the accounts from the XP machines. If, for example, you had an account called Forestguy57 on the XP computer, you'd need an account with exactly the same username/password on the server too.

Make sure that this account has privileges to access the share.

You may also need to configure the Local Security Policy. In Local Policies, User Rights Assignment there should be an option at the top with the options to specify who can access the server from the network (the top option I think). Make sure that the correct groups are listed there. If you add the Everyone group then everyone should be able to access the server. Also check the one further down which has the name similar to deny access to this computer across the network. Check that users/groups aren't being restricted.



Did you do anything different to the server? Did you use a different account than you're using on the XP computer?

Yes, I am using a workgroup setting. After trying many things , included the suggestions you provided here edwindbrains, I still could not see any shares from the XP computers. I decided to start from scracth after seeing all the domains and other roles I had set up.


After reinstalling a clean system, I was able to share diectories on the server with the other XP machine(s). I first had to go into Local Policies, User Rights Assignment, then make sure to add the XP computers to the "Enable computer and user accounts to be trusted for delagation" . This was the major change that allowed access from the other XP machines. I also had to choose folders then "Sharing and security" to enable sharing of that particular folder. However, I cannot share a complete drive. It is already configured for network sharing with the permissions inaccesible.

So far so good. I can now share individual folders with the other machines, my goal when I started out. Now on to find a way to disable the need to enter a password when the screen saver kicks in. I can autologon without the ctrl-al-del combo and no password though.

Thanks again for all your help Edwinbrains.
Randy

I thought this was the default behaviour of Windows 2003, but if it's not doing it, then open Display from the Control Panel. Click the Screen Saver tab and make sure that there's a tick next to "On resume, password protect".