Javier:
Windows XP Professional can support up to 10 simultaneous connections and
this is built in, so that this should work just fine for your needs
provided you won’t be storing confidential or sensitive information on
that windows box.
You want to first prepare your windows xp pro box "server" by
1. Set a very strong and complex password on the administrator account.
2. Make sure all the latest updates are installed / set to install
automatically, the windows firewall is functional and make sure there is a
functional antivirus that is set to scan regularly and get signature file
updates.
3. Disconnect machine from network and turn on file sharing, and then going
into windows firewall and allowing connections to windows file sharing from
only the ip addresses of the two or three mac computers you wish to allow.
(note individuals can still spoof an ip address and get past the windows
firewall)
4. Run mmc.exe and apply the securews template to secure the settings on the
PC.
5. Set your workgroup to something you like by right clicking on my computer
-> properties computer name tab -> change button (note the workgroup name)
6. Create users on the windows XP pro box for each mac user with long and
complex passwords on your server (record this information as you’ll need
it later)
7. Turn off simple file sharing create shares and set permissions on your
shares: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307874 (note the share names)
8. Reconnect the machine to the network.
9. Go to a command prompt and get the ipaddress of the xp box by
starting a command prompt typing ipconfig <enter> or clicking on the support
tab for the network card.
Now attempt to mount the drive on each of the macs:
Start Finder
Go Connect to server:
enter this in the following format:
smb://workgroup_or_domain_name;username@ipaddress_of_windows_box/sharename
example:
smb://hc;[log in to unmask]
When the file server is set up correctly and functioning you will be
presented with a screen or dialog box that has most of the connection
information filled in. You just have to enter in the password and click
save password in keychain.
If you have problems connecting then:
Go into Local Policies, then Security Options, and ensure the policy
entitled "Microsoft Network Server: digitally sign communications (always)
is DISABLED
This works just fine with Windows 2003 file servers and will work with
Windows XP Pro file server too. Provided the preceding local policy is set
correctly.
You can find a lot of this xp pro setup information here:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/1/f/51fab90a-629f-49ec-8231-4184625
4d949/StepbyStepGuidetoSecuringWindowsXPProInSMB0828.doc
LD
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