Configure Sharing and Discovery in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2

Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 7

You can use this procedure to configure specific sharing and discovery options for each network profile that you use on your computer. Following are the three network profile types that might be available for you to configure in Network and Sharing Center:

• Home or Work. Configure this profile for networks that have a network location of Home or Work. This profile and network location should be used only in circumstances where you trust all of the computers on the network.

• Public. Configure this profile for networks that have a network location of Public. This profile and network location should be used for all networks that include computers that you do not own or trust, such as public networks at coffee shops and airports.

• Domain. Configure this profile for networks that have a network location of Domain. This profile and network location should be used and is available only for network connections that connect to a domain.

After you select a network profile to configure, there are multiple options that you can modify. The following table displays the options that are available for each network profile.

Option below is available on:	Home or Work	Public	Domain
Network discovery	Yes	Yes	Yes
File and printer sharing	Yes; printer sharing available only if a printer is connected	Yes; printer sharing available only if a printer is connected	Yes; printer sharing available only if a printer is connected
Public folder sharing	Yes	Yes	Yes
Media streaming	Yes for Windows 7 only	Yes for Windows 7 only	Yes for Windows 7 only
File sharing connections	Yes for Windows 7 only	Yes for Windows 7 only	Yes for Windows 7 only
HomeGroup connections	Yes for Windows 7 only	No	No
Password protected sharing	Yes for Windows Server 2008 R2 only	Yes for Windows Server 2008 R2 only	Yes for Windows Server 2008 R2 only

Membership in the local Administrators group, or equivalent, is the minimum required to complete this procedure.

To configure sharing and discovery options for network profiles

1. Start Network and Sharing Center.

2. In the Network and Sharing Center left pane, click Change advanced sharing settings. The Advanced sharing settings folder opens.

3. In Advanced sharing settings, in Change sharing options for different network profiles, click the arrow next to the network profile that you want to configure, and then select the options that you prefer.

See Also

Concepts

Manage Network Discovery, File and Printer Sharing
Administer Network and Sharing Center