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Zainal062797

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connecting to Windows Server without setting up active directory

Hi, I installed a second computer with Windows 2000 Server. I intend to use the send computer as a file sever. My question is this, can I connect to the server without being a member in the Active Directory? My concern is that if I set it up like that then the server would be a domain controller which will change the way I log in my computer (it changes even the welcome screen). I would like to connect to the "file server" as if it was, for example, a Linux file system (which is typically done using SAMBA). Is this possible or I am stuck with the active directory and all the other annoying stuff?
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William Elliott
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as long as you know the ipaddress, and a good username and password you shouldn't have any issues connecting to the pc.

just map a drive
where x: is the driverletter you want to use
net use x: \\secondserver\sharename
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ormerodrutter
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Yes you can connect in just the same way as you would connect to another windows machine on a peer to peer basis but if you do then you're stuck with all the limitations of that method including a 10 concurrent  user limit and lack of central admin.

However, I am concerned that you may have wasted your money on a Windows 2000 server if you can't be botherted with 'Active Directory and that other annoying stuff'' you may a well have just boughr a standard Windows 2000/XP machine rather than a server.
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Zainal062797

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ormerodrutter: You said I need to set up accounts on the server as Local Administrator. since I am setting up accounts for a number of users which I want to limit them to certain shared drives, and I want to limit other users to other shared drives (multiple accounts and groups), etc. then would this Local Administrator be able, since he is an administrator,  to look up stuff in other groups' folders?
@ KCTS: do you mean that there is a 10 connections limit when windows server is used in a workgroup?
NO! I am not talking about that at all. I am saying the answers above assume that this server is used by one user, where I intend to have it used by a number of users (regardless of their number). I want to "restrict" access of some users to certain shared directories, where I would "restrict" others to another set of directories. If the connection is made by an administrator account as advised above, would the users be able to "freely" lookup stuff anywhere on the server?