Networking mystery.

[boggom]

Scenario: 4 Computers, all running XP Professional & XP Home (2 each I think) with service pack 2. Let's call them PC A, B, C & D. A (running XP home) is the server running a Pastel Express with 3 user license. Computer B & C have both been registered to this server no hassles. I was asked to have a look when they couldn't get PC D to register to the server. I have given all the pc's a static IP address now and changed them all to the same workgroup.

In order for me to register the Pastel running on PC D to the server I need to map the Pastel folder on the server (PC A) as a network drive on PC D. I can see the server (and all other computers on the network) on PC D but once I click on it to get to the Pastel folder to map it I get the error: "Server is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the admin...". This is also the case when trying to explore any other PC from PC D. I can access PC D from all the other pc's without any problems. Basically everything on all pc's are shared and I have shared everything on the server at least 3 times again.

Is there anyone who can help me with this - I'm doing it as a favor for a friend who works at an Auditing company and I'm not really a network boff. I would really appreciate any assistance.

 

[|tera|]

I'm assuming PC D has a username and password configured?

If so, you need to make sure that the username is added to the network share as PC D + Username on the Server.

 

[Dimpie (JIGSAW)]

Firewall ???

XP home is bitchy with networking .... ensure that the guest account is enabled and has been granted appropriate access permissions

 

[ChilliGirl]

as said before D needs permissions on the server...

 

[bubbatentoe]

I hate sharing Pastel on XP.
Done it enough times to realise it works MUCH better on Windows Server + SQL (sadly it all costs LOTS of $$$)

Sounds like you may be running into an inbound connection limitation on XP Home edition.
it's funny sometimes, it remembers connections for a while (even if they've been disconnected)

Max inbound connections:
XP Pro - 10
XP Home - 5

I'd say rather place Pastel on a XP Pro machine and have the other 3 access it there.
As computek says: XP Home is temperamental with shares (at best).

Does your 3 clients all connect to \\pastelPC via ODBC connections?
If yes,(if memory serves) then each ODBC connection counts as +1 inbound connection.
So that's 3 mapped drives + 3 ODBC connections = 6 (1 too many connections for XP Home)

or,

Try and use administrative shares instead (to try and fool XP Home).
Un-share the Pastel folder on the XP Home machine. (don't share anything)
On each of the client PC's map the following drive:

net use L: \\pastelPC\C$ /user:pastelpc\administrator /persistent:Y

you'll be prompted for the PastelPC admin password.
This uses the "administrative" share on PastelPC.
Each client PC will have drive L: mapped to the \\PastelPC C: drive and (MAYBE) the PasterlPC will be happy with 3 inbound drive mapping s + 3 inbound ODBC connections.