How to Share Files and Printer in the Local Area Network

How to Share Files and Printer in the Local Area Network Computer networking provides the flexibility to share the data and resources with the other computers in your network.  You can share your files and folder, access the internet, share the printer, CD-ROM, play games and communicate with your friends and colleagues.   In this article you will learn that how you can share your printer and files in your Ethernet based LAN network.

Sharing Printer: In a computer network you can share a printer with the other users through the following steps. Turn on your computer and make sure that the printer is properly attached with the printer. Install the latest driver of your printer through the CD or download the install the driver through the manufacturer’s website. Your newly installed printer’s icon can be seen in the Printer and Faxes in the Control Panel. Right click your printer name and click “Sharing”. Select the radio button “Share this printer” and provide the shared name of your printer and click Ok. Again right click on your printer name in the “Printer and Faxes” in the control panel and select click on “Set as default printer”. Your computer now has been shared and can be accessed by the authorized users. From any other computer go to start > Run and type IP address or computer name of your printer server and shared printer name like\\192.168.1.120 or \\printserver\hpoffice. Your client computer will be connected with the print server and now you can send the printing requests. Alternatively, you can go to control panel > Printer and Faxes and on the left side click “Add a Printer” and click next. On the next page, select this option “A network printer or a printer attached to another computer and click next. On the next page, select the option Browse for Printer or select the option “Connect to this printer” and provide the shared name of your printer and click next. On the next page make it your default printer and click next. You’re done.  Now you can connected with the printer that is attached with another computer. Sharing Files Sharing files and folders with the other users is very simple in the Windows based computers.  Just right click on any file or folder that you want to share with others > click Properties and click sharing.  In the Windows XP Professional, on the sharing tab select, “Share this Folder on the network.  Now the other users will be able to share the folder that you have shared.  You can set the rights and permissions and can set the Read, Write and Modify permission for the users.