help me setup file server

[rob3rtz]

Hi guys, I'm trying to learn about networking

in the past:
I have 3 comp, running xp pro, and I have setup sharing folder on each comp so that each can see and change the files (same domain and XP automatic set this for me)

now:
I change my setup, so one of the comp will be running server 2003 with AD to handle all 'file server' management and will try to set a user policy later on

do you guys know how to do this, I have install the server 2003 and AD,
but how I make the other 2 computer somehow connected with the server and able to see this shared file, (they running XP pro, wireless connection)

I'm kinda new in server 2003 so I may not know some stuff here and there, but I'm learning

Thanks in advance

[Mr.Guvernment]

the XP system need to log into a "domain" so you need a Domain Controller on that AD system i recall.

You might want to take a run over to WindowsNetworking.com

[jajmon]

setting up AD on a home network? whatever for, sorry I see no sense in this except for learning. Maybe what you want to do. It just kills me how people just 'seem' to have a several hundred dollar OS that they can install. Maybe you shelled out the $ for such an OS, good for you if that's the case. With that said, you need to have your XP boxes join the domain (AD) in order for you to do what you want policy wise. If you have NO IDEA, do some research. MS site and Google the rest. Don't be lazy

[rob3rtz]

yeah, this is mainly for learning.. I'm trying to become a network admin
so i guess i have to learn this sooner or later

thanks for the windowsnetworking.com. I do read quite some article about server and AD, just haven't really implement those and I guess I have some missing point here,

now I just need to know how to make XP join my server domain (I have setup all the required user etc2)

in the mean time, I'll go read those article in windows networking (seems lot of great tutorial there), but just if you guys know how to do this in simple step by step that would be great

Thanks

edit : I found a link about this already, will try this and post again if I got any problem

[Mr.Guvernment]

^^ it is worth learning.

um not completly sure on making XP join a domain, but i know in your control panel / system / Computer Name tab / "change" you can modify that to tell it to join a domain - once you do that and reboot you should be able to log into the domain (AD) with the account you made on the AD server.

[gorilly]

-set up the domain on the server

go to the add user wizard, add the user you want

-go to the computer of which is going to use the user account you just added, type in an IE browser http://domainname/connectcomputer

well thats what you do with sbs too. i have 2 servers at work now, one is sbs2003 the other is just s2003 but i think its all the same, sbs handels my main stuff.

servers are fairly easy to manage untill you start playing with group policies as it can get confusing.

btw make sure indexing is off as your server will be slow if its on