SULTAN QABOOS UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS
COLLEGE OF ECONOMICS and Political Science
INFS 4421: Business Data Communications & Networking
FALL 2021
Estimated completion time: 2 hours
Lab 4: Setting up a File Server
Introduction
This lab will introduce students to setup a Windows File Server: The Windows File Server role allows
customers to share files using attached storage and integrates seamlessly with Active Directory
Objectives
Perform some initial configuration tasks on a new member server
Add a file service role to the server
Map a drive on the server to a workstation.
Add client to the domain
Required Resources
● Physical Computer
● Oracle VM VirtualBox Manager
● Windows Server 2012 Virtual Disk Image (Available at Shared Drive File name: Windows Server
2012.vdi
● Windows Client (Windows 7 NETWORKING.vdi)
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File Server:
In this part of the lab, the server will act as a “member” server for other computers on your network.
This lab will focus on the server, but you will use at least one other workstation to test the server
configurations. We will assume the workstation(s) are running Windows 7 You should cable your
network to resemble figure 1.
Internet
Connection
(optional)
Hub or
Switch
Internet Firewall
Inside IP:
192.168.1.1
Server
192.168.1.20
`
Client 1
192.168.1.100
`
Client 2
192.168.1.101
Figure 1: File Server Sample Network Topology
1. Open Windows 2012 Machine
In the previous Lab 3, we created a Windows Server 2012. Since a Windows Server can have more than
one role we will use this server to add a File Server on the same machine. After starting the 2012 Server
you should see the “Server Manager” window appear. We will use this window to set up a file server.
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2. Creating a File Server
Click on the “Add roles and features” link in the Server Manager to start the Add Roles wizard. The first
screen is informational, so click the “Next” button. In the second screen select “Role-based or feature-
based installation” and click “Next”. From the third screen, select the server you’ve been working with
and press “Next”.
From the “Server Roles” screen, scroll down to “File and Storage Services (Installed)” and expand the
services as shown in Figure.
Check the box for “File Server”. On this screen, you will also see additional file services that your
server. We will add “File Server Resource Manager” before clicking the “Next” button. If you get a
popup window asking to confirm the addition of related features, accept the additional features.
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This will bring you to a screen that allows you to select additional file server features to install. Click next
to proceed. Most likely you will be advised that the server may need to be restarted after the
installation is complete. Click the “Install” button.
After the installation and restart you should be able to see a new role in the server manager. Click on
the “File and Storage Services” link on the Server Manager.
Click on the “Shares” option to begin setting up a new file share. If you already have shares in Active
Directory, you can simply right-click and then select “new share wizard”.
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Select the default (SMB Share – Quick) which works well with Windows clients. Press “Next”. We use
the default server and volume.
Press “Next” to configure the share name, and enter: “Documents”
Step through the remainder of this wizard on your own (you can accept the defaults).
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2. Adding a new Client to the Domain
Now we will add our Windows 7 Client to our existing Domain using the testuser we have created last
time (Lab 3).
Open the Windows 7 Client and go to Control Panel. Click on System and Security and the System.
Click on Change settings.
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After that click on change and select Domain as your member. Type in the Domain of your Server
infs.edu.om or INFS).
After that you will be asked to log in as the user you have created (testuser).
After that you need to restart your computer and check if you client is now successfully added to the
Domain:
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3. Mapping a shared drive to the workstation
To make the shared drive permanently accessible to the workstation, start the Windows Explorer
application on the workstation by selecting Start ► This PC. Expand the Network item, followed by
TESTSERVER.
You can see the shared directory on the server. It is labelled “Documents” under the server,
TESTSERVER. Right-click this folder and select “Map network drive…” from the popup
menu. Accept the defaults and ensure that “Reconnect at Logon” is checked. When you have
clicked “Finish,” the shared directory appears as a drive on the workstation.
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Exercises
1. Add another client (Client 2) to the Server
2. Login from client 2 to server and Access server resources from
client 2
