Peer to Peer – Network
Sharing
File Sharing Over Peer To Peer Networks
Peer-to-peer networks can be implemented locally
or via the use of the internet.
What are Peer to Peer (P2P) Networks?
When it comes to the term peer-to-peer network, also known as P2P
networks, a picture appears – of a couple of computers connected
directly to each other. They can be connected via USB or via Ethernet
cables.
• In Windows-based P2P networks, the public folders are
already shared. They are visible under My Network. If not,
go to each computer and share the files and peripherals
you wish to share.
• You can select which folders to share by right-clicking on
the folder and going to the Share tab. The Share tab may
be named differently in different versions of Windows. You
enable folder sharing by ticking the check box. In the drop-
down list that appears on the share tab, select Everyone.
You can also select computers from the drop-down list on
the Share tab and click Share to share a folder with select
computers.
• Open command
prompt [1] and then
use the command
<cd Desktop> to
change into the
desktop directory.
This step is simply
for convenience so
that it is easier to
find the folder you're
going to be working
with .
Step 2: Create Your Folder
• Use the command <md
*folder name*> [2]. Make
sure that it is visible on your
desktop.
• [2] The command md allows
you to create a new folder.
After tying md press space
and type the name of the
folder you want to create. If
the folder has more than one
word in the name make sure
to put the name in quotation
marks.
Step 3: Navigate to the Folder and
Open the Properties
• Open the file explorer and
go under the Desktop
section. Left-click then
right-click on the folder.
The left-click highlights
the folder, and the right-
click opens a menu of
options. Once the menu
of options pops up click
on the properties. When
you open the properties
window go to the sharing
section.
Step 4: Choose Who You Want to
Share With.
• Type <Everyone> and click
add [3]. Once you're done
with that click share and
then go to the advanced
sharing.
• [3] The default setting for
the folder is set to only
read. This means that if a
person accesses the folder
they will only be able to
view the files and not
actually be able to write to
the folder.
Step 5: Sharing the Folder
• Press the box that
lets you share the
folder and then go
into the permissions
section.
Step 6: Permissions
• Make sure to give
full control to the
people that have
access to the
shared folder. Click
Apply then click
OK. Once you press
OK you'll be back
at the advanced
sharing page. Press
Apply and OK on
that page too.
Step 7: Open Control Panel
• Navigate into the
control panel and
click on the
Network and
Internet section.
Step 8: Network and Sharing
• Navigate into the
Network and
Sharing section.
Step 9: Advanced Sharing
• Navigate to the
advanced sharing
settings.
Step 10: Choose Home and Work /
Public
• There are
many
settings that
need to be
changed in
both of the
options.
Step 11: Select All Options
• There are going to
be many options,
the ones you need
for the sharing to
work are pretty
common sense like
making sure that
your device is
allowed to be
discovered. And
turn off password
protected sharing.
Step 12: Go Into Network
• Go onto
another
computer
and open the
file explorer.
Go into the
Network
section found
on the left
hand side at
the bottom.
Step 13: Find the Device
• Find the
original device
that the file
was shared
from.
Step 14: Find the Folder That Was
Shared
• Once you click on
the device you will
find all the files
that were shared
from it. You can tell
that the folder is
shared over the
network because it
has the green
crossroads looking
thing under its
name.
