Networks

Ask something
Discussion Locked

One HDD for 4 PC?s

0 helpful
12 replies

by cyberghost_1

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

Is it possible to have 1 HDD in a PC, that is a shared HDD. I mean, I have 5 PC?s with Win XP PRO. 1 is acting like a Server PC, although the other PC?s don?t connect through the Server PC. All PC?s are connected to a Switch.
My Q is: Can I set all the user PC?s(WHEN TURNED ON) all will turn onto the same HDD stored inside the Server PC? I have doubt, becuase that means that everyone will be accessing the same HDD at the same time....

12 replies

by carlos0463

If I am correct are you talking about Mapping the drive on the other computers on bootup ? IF so, just use the NET USE command as a batch file for all the other pc's on logon. Make sure you have permissions set correctly and all should be fine.

by cg it

have to be a little more explicit in what you are trying to achieve.

If your talking thin client, ya you can do that but response time will be slow.

remember log on is either local or a domain [with thin client log on to a domain via terminal services]. Users will boot up and log on locally and access a shared drive for files and folders, or users will bott up and log on to a domain with terminal services providing the programs they run [which are stored the server] and all documents generated are stored on the server. [use SCSI drives].

If you want storage, you can do that to. You can redirect the my documents and my pictures to a network share.

by m.r.

You can attach up to 10 PCs to an XP Pro system acting as a file share server. As mentioned earlier you can either use the NET USE command or you can manualy map each client to the "server" with reconnect selected. You can also redirect folders (My Documents) to a different path (the server pc) so that users can still use that link.

Thin client or BOOTP has also been mentioned but I don't think that is what you intend. A little beyond the hardware you have described.

Performance could be slow if these 5 users are power users and the "server" is only your average PC but if it's typical usage you will probably be OK. Remember you "server" will have to be running at all times.

by cyberghost_1

NOTE: What my boss wants to achieve is this...to have 4 PC BOOT into ONE HDD located inside a "Server PC" This HDD will only have the basics, XP PRO, Internet, Office XP and NOD32. The Primary HDD's in each PC will only be BOOTED into when the User PC's want to access Client Programs for a program that is the Database Server. The Database is installed in the Server PC and the program is olso installed in the User PC(Client Version) Located in the Server PC's OTHER HDD...Hopefully I am not confussing anyone. Basically: Server has 2 HDD's, 1 that everyone BOOTS to for normal use, and 1 when User PC's want to BOOT into for Database access. Which will mean that the User PC's will have to BOOT into their OWN HDD's to ACCESS the programs located in the Server PC's ORIGIONAL HDD.

by jojoberry82

You'll probably be better off running something like MS Terminal services. Thats exactly what that OS is designed to do.

by cyberghost_1

Anymore information available? The goal is to have 5 PC's BOOT into 1 HDD for normal use, i.e. Internet, Office, Works and printing. And the OPTION to BOOT into their LOCAL HDD's for access to the programs that are on the SERVER PC's ORIGIONAL HDD. The choice of which HDD to BOOT to...

This discussion is closed to new replies.