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Sharing BIBLIO on a LAN (Local Area Network) using Windows XP

Practical cases
Let’s suppose there are 2 types of users who need to access “remotely” (through a different computer on a LAN) to Library DB (Database). These users are referred to as Librarian and Student. Let’s also suppose a simpler case, in which only Student need to access “remotely”, to a centralized Library DB. Also, youhave 2 different types of computers: • • Librarian computer, where Library DB is shared. (this computer is referred to as SERVER) And the rest of computers to make searches on a LAN (these computers are referred to as Clients)

Different users
BIBLIO is thought to be used, by Librarian and Student, with different access levels, in any of the following cases: 1.- Librarian and Student shared theSERVER, the computer where the Library DB is. It is not recommended, but it is possible. 2.- Librarian uses the SERVER and Student can access to it to make searches about Library data, t hrough other computers on a LAN (Clients) 3.- Librarian and Student share the same Client on a LAN so that: When a Librarian uses a Client computer can make modifications on the SERVER. This situation allows severalLibrarians, at the same time, to add new items from several computers (from SERVER and from other Clients). When Student use a Client computer, they can only make searches.on SERVER.

Different versions of Windows
With Windows 98, security and folder sharing on a LAN, was very easy and was based on passwords. That it, a folder could have different access passwords depending on the users whowanted to use it. According to the password, a user could be granted access, just to read information (Student) or to modify information (Librarian). With Windows XP, security systems becomes more powerful on networked computers on a LAN (and therefore, the complexity to configure them). Now, security and shared folder access are not defined by passwords, like in Windows 98, but by the “privileges”that each user has in their accounts. Therefore, the possibility to work from BIBLIO with remote computer data (SERVER) means to configure properly, every single computer on a LAN (This was not necessary with Windows 98).

Requirements to share folders and grant privileges with Windows XP
First of all, you must be confident that your Windows XP system is on an NTFS formatted hard disk. (itused to be usual). It is possible, in some cases, to find a hard disk not formatted with NTFS and still keeping Windows 95/98 file system, called FAT32. If so, you should change it to NTFS format, and if it is not possible, you can always create a new partition, on the same hard disk, with NTFS format. To find out if your hard disk(s) is/are formatted with NTFS format, click My PC, right-click harddisk and click Properties. As you can see, in the figure on the right, this hard disk is formatted using NTFS.

BIBLIO installation
Installing a new program under Windows XP means to start a session as Administrator. If you try to install a program and you do not have Administrator privileges (f.e. if you do it using a Guest or Limited account) BIBLIO could be not installed properly. When BIBLIOis installed, by default, uses C:\Biblio folder (It is not recommended to change it). NOTE: To use BIBLIO on a LAN, it is necessary to install it, on every single LAN computer in which it is going to be used (SERVER and Clients). Once BIBLIO be installed, the first thing to do is, specially if it is going to be used by Librarian and Student, to change or set up access passwords for each user. Tochange or set up access password, do the following: 1.- From Windows XP desktop, click Start, select Programs, select Biblio entry and then BIBLIO 2.- Select English language by clicking the British flag. 3.- Enter access password. By default, biblio 4.- Click Settings Menu and then click Edit access passwords 5.- Change Librarian access password, by default is biblio and is known by everybody....