SULTAN QABOOS UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS

INFS 4421: Business Data Communications & Networking

FALL 2021

Estimated completion time: 2 hours

Lab 4: Setting up a File Server

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

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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