Configure File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks: Networking and Communications

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Open Network Connections.
Right-click a connection, and then click Properties.
Do one of the following:
- If this is a local area connection, on the General tab, in This connection uses the following items, click File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks, and then click Properties.
- If the connection is a dial-up or VPN connection, on the Networking tab, in This connection uses the following items, click File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks, and then click Properties.
- If the connection is a incoming connection, on the Networking tab, in Network components, click File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks, and then click Properties.
Do one of the following:
- To optimize the server for a small number of clients, click Minimize memory used.
- To optimize the server for a mixed usage of file and printer sharing in addition to other services, such as serving as an interactive workstation, click Balance.
- To dedicate as many resources as possible to file and print server services, click Maximize data throughput for file sharing.
- To optimize server memory for distributed applications that perform their own memory caching, such as Microsoft SQL Server, click Maximize data throughput for network applications.
To specify that LAN Manager 2.x clients on your network can browse for shared resources on this computer, select the Make browser broadcasts to LAN Manager 2.x clients check box.

Notes

To open Network Connections, click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Network Connections.
You can only configure File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks on a server.
To share local folders, you must enable File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks. For more information, see Related Topics.
The File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks component is the equivalent of the Server service in Windows NT 4.0.
This feature is not included on computers running the Microsoft® Windows Server® 2003, Web Edition, operating system. For more information, see Overview of Windows Server 2003, Web Edition.

Information about functional differences

Your server might function differently based on the version and edition of the operating system that is installed, your account permissions, and your menu settings. For more information, see Viewing Help on the Web.