Good day, blog readers. Last time we connected computers using a router into a network and configured their IP addresses. In today's post we will continue setting local network in the house. Computers are on the network, which means you can make it possible to exchange files, view photos, listen to music and watch movies on a PC that is in the next room, for example. It's not difficult to set up. You just need to introduce the computers to each other.
Setting up a workgroup
So what do we have at this moment. Two (or more) computers connected to the Internet via a router. In general, that's all. They cannot yet exchange information. In order to exchange files, you need to combine computers into one working group And tune general access to files. In general, even if the computers are in different workgroups, there will still be access to them. The most important thing is file sharing. By default, the computers should already be in the same MSHOME workgroup, but just in case it’s worth checking, otherwise you never know.
Choose properties computer.
For win7. Properties - Extra options systems.
Tab Computer name. You can set the name of the working group to whatever you need. But then this will need to be done on other computers.
In general, all computers should be in the same group. In our case, we will leave the default MSHOME.
File sharing
Let's say I want it from a computer №1 it was possible to download movies and view photos. To do this, do the following on a PC №1 :
— select a folder with images.
- call with the right mouse button properties and go to the tab Access. Where do we put a tick? Share this folder. If you want other users to be able to make any changes to the contents of this folder, check the box Allow modification of files over the network.
Here are my two computers that are in the MSHOME workgroup ( provided the first one is enabled).
Now you can safely log in to your PC №1 and locate the My Pictures folder that is set to be shared. That's all.
Maybe everything turned out cumbersome and somewhere it’s not clear. Ask, correct if something is wrong. In the next post we will learn how to set up a network printer.
And remember, everyday computer training brings the desired result!
In commercial, educational and other small organizations it is very important to establish convenient, fast and secure file exchange. In such cases, instead of using the Internet to transfer data, computers are connected to a local network. Networks can be both large and small, have different topologies, that is, connection methods and types. There are two main types - client-server, when one computer on the local network plays the role of a server, and the others are workstations, and a peer-to-peer network, in which all computers are equal.
The second type of network is also called workgroup and is used where there is no need for centralized management. There are also home groups - so to speak, a special subtype of workgroups in which a password is requested when connecting a new device. Such groups are usually used for sharing files in small organizations and houses/apartments with several PCs, hence their name, by the way. Home Windows group 10 can include up to two dozen machines, and we’ll talk about how to organize and configure it below.
Creating and setting up a homegroup in Windows 10
So, how to create a homegroup in Windows 10? First, let's make sure that all computers meet three main requirements, namely: they must be connected to the same network (via a router or Ethernet), have the same workgroup name ( System Properties – Edit – WORKGROUP) and run a system no lower than Windows 7.
Now let's proceed directly to the procedure itself. Let's open it with a team control /name Microsoft.HomeGroup On your computer, use the HomeGroup applet and the first step is to make your network private. To do this, click on the “Change network location” link in the current window, and then click the “Yes” button on the panel that appears on the right.
The contents of the window will immediately change, and the “Create Homegroup” button will become active. Okay, now let's configure some parameters. Click the “Change advanced sharing settings” link in the window and enable network discovery (should already be enabled) and file and printer sharing.
Returning to the “Home Group” applet window, click the “Create Home Group” – “Next” button and select the directories whose contents we want to make common to all users of the group.
At the last stage, you will be asked to write down a password that will be used to connect other computers to the created group. Save the password and click “Finish”. This completes the creation of a homegroup in Windows 10.
How to join a homegroup
The homegroup is ready, but so far it only has one computer. Let's connect other hosts on the local network to it. To do this, open the “HomeGroup” applet on another computer and when, after the automatic scan is completed, the message “The user has created a homegroup on the network” appears in the snap-in window, click the “Join” button.
Then click “Next”, select the necessary resources and enter the same password that was issued by the system when creating a homegroup on the first computer. The connection is complete. If desired or necessary, you can add arbitrary directories to the list of shared resources. There are at least two ways to do this.
The first method is to add the desired folder to any of the standard Windows libraries by right-clicking on it and selecting the appropriate option from the menu. The second method is just as simple. Click on the shared catalog RMB, select the option “ Grant access - Homegroup (view and edit)».
After this, the folder will immediately appear in the resources of the Windows Home Group. In addition, you can change the group access password ( New Password must be shared with all group members) and temporarily disable access to any of the shared libraries. All of these actions are performed directly from the HomeGroup snap-in window.
Common problems with using HomeGroup
As you can see, creating and setting up a homegroup in Windows 10 is not difficult. It is much more difficult to cope with the problems that sometimes arise, especially when it is not possible to establish their cause. And there can be many reasons for this. Let's briefly consider the most common of them.
What to do if you can't connect to your homegroup:
- Make sure that all PCs connected to the HomeGroup are set to the same time. Open on all machines with the command control /name Microsoft.DateAndTime“Date and Time” applet, switch to the “Internet Time” tab and, if necessary, synchronize the time on the Microsoft server.
- A connection problem may occur if a user creates a HomeGroup on multiple computers on the same network. This mistake is often made by novice users. And although all PCs in a homegroup are equal, it is created on only one machine, and all the others only connect to it.
- You will not be able to connect if for some reason Windows services Your Network Member Grouping and Home Group Provider services will be disabled. Also enable the PNRP Protocol and PNRP Computer Name Publishing Service services.
- Problems will arise if, after creating a HomeGroup, you change the network type from Home to Public or Enterprise Network. Also note that there should only be one network in the Network and Sharing Center.
- For HomeGroup to work correctly, IPv6 must be enabled. Go to the “Network and Sharing Center”, click the “Change adapter settings” link, open the properties of the adapter used to connect to the Internet, find the item IP version 6 (TCP/IPv6) and make sure that the checkbox next to it is checked.
Homegroup no longer available after Windows 10 update
Opening with the command services.msc service management snap-in, find the specified service in the list, double-click to open its properties, set the startup type to “Automatic”, save the settings and restart the computer. In the following Microsoft versions, will probably simplify the task, but for now let’s connect like this.
Other problems
There may be other problems that prevent you from connecting to a Windows 10 HomeGroup. If you receive the error “Windows can’t set up a HomeGroup to this computer"You can try resetting the function responsible for saving certificate storage data. Open as administrator command line or PowerShell console and disable the Network Member Identity Manager service by running the following command:
net stop p2pimsvc /y
Now go to File Explorer to the location C:/Windows/ServiceProfiles/LocalService/AppData/Roaming/PeerNetworking, delete the file from there idstore.sst, and then restart your computer.
Previously disabled services will start on their own.
And one moment. If problems with HomeGroup occur after upgrading to Windows 10 from earlier versions of the system, open the command optional features applet “Enable and disable Windows components"And just in case, activate the SMB 1.0 protocol, which is disabled in the Top Ten; it is also associated with network discovery.
Today, using both Windows XP, Windows 7, and Windows 8 in one home or small business is quite possible.
While Windows 7 and Windows 8 have similar tools for sharing files online, there are differences that might puzzle you.
Basics of file sharing on a local network
When setting up or troubleshooting file sharing problems over a home or small business network, the first step is to make sure that all computers on the network are part of the same network. working group . There is an exception: if you have a laptop that is usually connected to a corporate domain and configured as a member of the domain, and you intend to leave it as such.
The default workgroup name for Windows systems is WORKGROUP. But you can use a different name. Simply put, the PC will see all systems on the local network that share the same workgroup name. If you are joining a machine to a workgroup, in the settings Windows systems a master is provided.
To manually change the system workgroup name, call the System Properties dialog box (Figure 1). To do this, in the Control Panel, open the System section. On Windows 7 and Windows 8, click the link Advanced System Settings(Advanced system settings). Select the Computer Name tab and click the Change button to enter a new workgroup name (or new Domain name or computer name).
Figure 1. In System Properties it is offered as manual method joining domains and workgroups, and using the wizard.
Once you have your computers recognizing each other in Windows Explorer, you can start sharing files by designating files and folders to be shared. But more on that in a moment.
Use HomeGroups to Share Files and Folders Locally
Microsoft is counting on you to use the built-in features in Windows to share files. home groups (homegroups). These are essentially pre-configured groupings of shared files and printers. Homegroups are generally easy to set up, but they also have a number of limitations and potential performance issues. For example, XP systems cannot be joined to a homegroup. Transferring files using a homegroup can be noticeably slower than using a standard workgroup connection.
Homegroups can be used in Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1, and Windows 7, with a few important caveats. In Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic, and Windows RT 8.1, you can carry out annexation to the homegroup, but not create her. In RT, you also won't be able to share local content with others. Systems installed as domain members can also be joined (but not created) to home groups.
Typically, Windows 7 prompts users to create or join a homegroup when the PC first connects to the network. Not so with Windows 8: When you set up a Windows 8.1 PC, a homegroup is automatically created if there are no other homegroups on the network. If there is another computer on the network with a homegroup, the utility will notify you and show a button Join now(Join now) (see Figure 2). If you click the button, you will be prompted to enter your homegroup password.
Figure 2: If you already have a homegroup on your network, Windows should automatically ask if you want to join it.
However, before you join a homegroup, I recommend clicking the Change advanced sharing settings link. Advanced sharing settings dialog box ) allows you to configure resources for the network. The program offers three sections: Private (current network profile), Guest or Public, and All Networks. The organizational chart of this utility can be confusing; this is what is shown here:
- In sections Private(Private) and Guest or public(Guest or Public) you can specify whether to enable network discovery and file and printer sharing. You should leave these options enabled because, after all, you want your computers to see each other and share files.
- Chapter All networks(All Networks) is more interesting. Here you can set whether users on other computers can access Public Folders (we'll get to those shortly), and determine which devices on the network can stream media across the network.
To accommodate older devices, you can also downgrade the encryption standard used by the network. Finally, you can set whether password-protected sharing will be implemented on the current computer. If you enable this setting, users will need to have Accounts on the computer.
Figure 3. The All Networks section of the Advanced sharing settings dialog allows you to password protect shared files.
When you are done with the Advanced sharing settings dialog, you can click the Save changes button and return to the previous dialog. Click the button Join(Join now) and you will be asked to select which folders you want to share.
The Share with other homegroup members dialog box can be a little confusing at first. One thing to keep in mind is that you are not defining file types, you are defining folders saved in your user profile. Selecting Shared in the Video category, for example, means that only those files in your Video library or folder can be accessed by others. Videos saved in other directories will not be shared.
Figure 4. Windows allows you to control what is shared in Windows folders and libraries by default; you have two options - Shared and Not shared.
Click the Next button to join the homegroup. You will now be able to navigate within the shared resources of other computers when you go to the Homegroup section in Windows Explorer.
More detailed information You can find information about Windows HomeGroups on the HomeGroup page on the Microsoft website.
Sharing files over the network using folders Are common
Whether your system is connected to a HomeGroup, or just part of a workgroup, you can use the Public folder to share files with anyone who has access to your computer—on the network or locally. If you created a homegroup, the General folder will be used automatically. Otherwise, you will need to enable the General folder yourself.
Again, once you enable the Public folder, any files stored in that folder or its subfolders will be available to everyone who has access to that computer. Keep in mind, however, that the Public folder on each system is a separate folder, independent of the Public folders on all other systems. This is not a single shared folder accessible over the network.
Once you've enabled the Public folder, I recommend making it your new Library. Right click on her name and select Add to library(Include in library).
Share specific files and folders
I don't usually use folders Windows data by default, I find it more convenient to create my own folder hierarchy. (Keep in mind that if you want custom custom folders to be automatically backed up using File History in Windows 8, they must be included in the Library.) Luckily, it's relatively easy to designate individual folders, subfolders, and files to share - for yourself, within a homegroup, or for other specific users.
On Windows 7, click (Share with) and then Individual people(Specific people); The File Sharing dialog box will open, similar to the one in Windows 8.
Interestingly, if you want to make a specific folder (other than the Public folder) accessible everyone on your network, you'll have to take a few extra steps. You must open the properties of the file or folder, select the Sharing tab and click Share.
Figure 6. The Advanced Security Settings tool in Windows 8 allows you to set permissions individual users on sharing files and folders.
Double-click a specific user's name and the Permission Entry dialog box will open (see Figure 7). You can also specify, among other things, whether the permissions also apply to subfolders and the files within them.
Figure 7. The advanced permissions dialog box allows you to set what a specific user can do with selected folders and files.
Windows 7 also allows you to set certain user permissions on files and folders, but this is located in a different place. Right-click the folder and select Properties, then select the Sharing or Security tab. On the Sharing tab, select Advanced Sharing and then Permissions. On the Security tab, highlight the username and then click Edit. (This works for Windows 8 too.)
Setting up shared files and folders manually will take some effort, but it will obviously allow you fine control over access and access levels to data on your PC. When you want to access something shared on another computer, you simply go to the Network section in the navigation bar Windows Explorer, click the Expand button opposite specific system, and open the file or folder you are looking for.
Cloud: organizing access to your own data
Using Home Groups and shared folders makes it easy for others to access your data. This also allows you to access data on multiple computers on your local network. But an even more flexible solution is in cloud technology. Services such as Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive (Microsoft) make it extremely easy to sync data across multiple machines and mobile devices. You can also access your data using any Internet-connected browser, and you can share files and folders with other people over the Internet with relative ease.
But there are downsides to the cloud-based approach to storing files and folders—besides the necessity subscription fee when you go beyond the free storage limits. For example, often you cannot grant different permissions different people. More importantly, you typically can't sync files between systems on your local network without having to upload the same data to the cloud, where, again, you're faced with potentially having to pay for storage.
There is no one-size-fits-all way to share data
To provide access to files and folders—to yourself and others—you'll likely use different methods for different purposes.
Using home groups allows you to easily share data located in specific Windows folders, especially if you don't need to set different permissions for each file and folder for different users.
Manually specifying shared files and folders - and even drives - is the best option when you want to tightly control access or if you prefer to store data in your own directory structure.
Finally, cloud storage- ideal for synchronizing files and folders on multiple devices and when you are not connected to a local network. As a bonus, you also have the ability to backup important data remotely.
Why do you need customization? home network? It would seem that a laptop, a computer and a couple of smartphones are working at home and are periodically used to access the Internet. What else is needed? But remember how often you have to transfer files from one device to another? You have to copy it to a flash drive and back or use Bluetooth.
Even if you do this no more than once a month, with a home local network everything will become much easier. In addition, its customization will open up a lot of new opportunities. For example, files can not be transferred, but can be launched directly on another computer or even a TV (if it has the ability to work on a local network with Windows 10). It will be possible to run games “on a grid”, print documents from any computer on one printer, and use many other features.
Basic Concepts
A home local network is several computers connected by one network cable for data exchange. Today, most apartments have routers that distribute Wi-Fi. Thanks to them, setting up a local network has become a simple task.
An approximate diagram of a home local network with Windows 10 might look like this:
As you can see in the figure above, the Internet is supplied via an Ethernet wire to the router, to which the PC is connected via a patch cord (the same wire with double-sided connectors). Laptops and smartphone are connected to the router via Wi-Fi. Of course, such a connection does not create a local network by default. Specific settings are required on each device. In the above example, the various machines and gadgets, if they are not configured properly, will not be able to “see” each other.
The most important term in this whole process is the so-called groups. A Windows 10 workgroup can include a maximum of 20 machines, which are nodes of the same level, that is, they cannot control each other. In other words, in such a network all computers are equal - there is no main server.
In addition, there is the concept of a home group, which can be formed if computers already belong to a work group. HomeGroup makes it easy to share photos, music, movies, and documents from other devices. This group, unlike a working group, has a password, but you only need to enter it once to add a new device.
Creating a local space step by step
Working group
First of all, make sure that all computers have same name working group. It can be anything - you set it at your discretion. On Windows 10:
- Open Start and go to Utilities.
- Launch the classic Control Panel.
- Open “System and Security”.
- Go to the “System” section.
- On the left, select “Advanced system settings.”
- A small window will open in which you need to select “Computer name” and click on the “Change” button.
- In the new window at the bottom there will be an item “The computer is a member of...”: select “workgroup” and enter the desired name.
This setup must be done on all computers with Windows 10 (for 7 and 8 everything is done in the same way) that will be on the home network.
Visibility of computers on the network
The fact that computers with Windows 10 or other versions of the OS are part of the same group is not enough for them to start “seeing” each other. Required additional customization. To enable visibility, follow these steps on each machine:
- Open Control Panel.
- Select “Network and Internet” and go to the Network and Sharing Center.
- Open “Change advanced settings...”.
- Turn on file and printer sharing and network discovery.
- You need to do this in all profiles, and also enable the “sharing” option so that network users can read and write files in shared folders.
- Place a checkbox next to “Disable password protected access.”
- Save.
Sharing folders
Settings Windows network 10 ends with sharing specific folders. To do this, just open the folder properties (with the right mouse button - as always), then select the Access tab and go to Advanced settings. Check the box next to “Share” and click on the “Permissions” button.
Where for full access Just check the boxes next to “Full access”, “Change”, “Read” in the “Allow” column. But you can leave some boxes unchecked and thereby limit the capabilities of local network users.
Next to the “Access” tab there is “Security”. Here click the “Change” button, and in the new window that opens “Add”. In the empty box, enter the word “Everyone”, as shown in the photo:
Now the “Everyone” group has appeared in the previous window. Select it and in the “Allow” column, check all the boxes for full access. Save all changes and reboot. The setup is complete.
conclusions
After these manipulations, your Windows 10 should see the computers in its group and gain access to all open folders. This is how to briefly set up a local network using operating systems Microsoft. In reality, everything may look different: the article provides only general principles.
For example, without a router (with a DHCP server enabled and automatic distribution of addresses), two computers can be connected by a patchcord. In this case, after the first stage of setup, you will need to register IP addresses manually. This is done in properties network adapter and properties of Internet Protocol version 4. It's the same for Windows 10, 8, 7 and even XP.
An IP of the form 192.168.0.* is registered (for each computer the last digit is unique, except for 0 and 1. You can use, for example, 5 and 7, Subnet mask 255.255.255.0 and default gateway 192.168.0.1. 192.168 is indicated as DNS servers. 0.1 and 192.168.0.0 (additional). If the router has DHCP disabled, a similar setting must also be done.
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"Home Group" first appeared in Windows 7. By creating such a group, you no longer need to enter a username and password every time you connect; It becomes possible to use shared libraries and printers.
There must be at least 2 computers on the network running Windows 7 or higher (Windows 8, 8.1, 10). At least one of them must have Windows version 7 Home Premium or higher.
Preparation
Check if your network is home. This is important because the public and enterprise network will not allow the creation of a “Home Group”.
Process of creation
Let's take a closer look at the stages of creating a “Home Group”.
Our “Home Group” has been created. You can change access settings or password, or leave the group in properties by clicking on "Joined".
Change Password
Homegroup will allow you to share files between multiple computers, while other devices connected to the same network will not see them. We recommend spending a little time setting it up to protect your data from guests.
