If you want to configure access to files over the network for one or more users, you need to configure file sharing on the computer on which these files are stored. A common way to deploy a shared resource for storing files is by configuring a Windows file share. In this case, we are talking about a Windows SMB share, and this file share can be configured on any Windows version.
This blog post explains how to configure a Windows file share on Windows Server 2019 to allow multiple users to access this share.
What Is a Fileshare
A file share is a directory on a computer, server, or virtual machine that contains files and directories that are accessible to other users via the network by using one of the supported file sharing protocols. A file share can be configured on any operating system supporting the appropriate file sharing protocol, for example, SMB or NFS. We have already covered the SMB protocol and its dialects.
Both client Windows versions (Windows XP, 7, 8, 10, etc.) and server Windows versions (Windows Server 2003, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2019, etc.) support Windows file sharing via the SMB protocol. However, Windows Server versions provide more capabilities compared to the client versions. For example, the maximum number of concurrent connections. Recently, we have compared a file server and NAS. In this blog post, we will explain how to set up a server for file sharing in Windows or, in other words, how to configure a file server.
Our Window Server Environment
We configure a Windows SMB share in Windows Server 2019 that is in a workgroup. The configuration principle for Windows machines in an Active Directory domain is identical, but you need to specify (determine) domain users and local users on computers when setting share permissions.
The parameters of our Windows file server are:
- IP address: 192.168.101.209
- Computer name: Win2019
The workflow in this article can be used for older Windows Server versions. As for client Windows versions, you can mostly follow the same Windows file sharing workflow for top editions like Windows XP Pro, Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 10 Pro, etc. However, note that there may be certain limitations.
Creating Users and Groups
First of all, we need to create users. Using existing user accounts in Windows for file sharing is technically possible, but this approach is not recommended for security reasons. That is why, we will not use the existing administrator and user accounts to configure a Windows file share, and we will not provide these credentials to users accessing the share.
We will create special accounts for users who need to access the file share server. If a username and password on a file server are the same as a user’s username and password on a remote client computer for Windows logon, then credentials are not prompted when accessing a Windows SMB share. This feature makes accessing a file share more convenient for users and optimal for administrators.
Open the Computer Management window, which you can access by going to Server Manager > Tools > Computer Management. Alternatively, you can simply run the compmgmt.msc command in CMD.
Note: In an Active Directory domain, you need to open the Active Directory Users and Computers window on a domain controller to create domain users and groups. You can do it by running dsa.msc in the command line or the Run (Win+R) prompt. Use Active Directory Users and Computers instead of Computer Management on a domain controller.
Creating users
- In the Computer Management Window that opens (that can also be called a collection of Microsoft Management Console snap-ins), go to System Tools > Local Users and Groups > Users.
- After selecting Users, right-click in the empty space of the right pane and click New User in the context menu.
- Enter a user name, which will be used for user authentication when accessing a Windows file share. Keep in mind that this account can also be used for login on the current Windows Server machine. The name of our user is user1.
- If your file server is a domain member, the created domain user accounts can be used to log in to domain computers.
- Enter a password and confirm the password.
- Click Create
- We create more users the same way. The users that we create for accessing the file share server are:
- user1, user2, user3, user4
- user11, user12, user13, user14
Creating groups
When you need to configure access with the same settings for several users, it is more convenient to manage groups of users.
We create two groups in our fileshare server configuration example:
- Group_A – for providing full access to the file share (Read, Write, Change). The group contains the following members: user1, user2, user3, user4.
- Group_B – for providing read-only access to the share. The group contains the following members: user11, user12, user13, user14.
You can create a group, add users to the group, and configure access to a Windows SMB share for a group rather than adding each user separately in the share configuration and configuring the same settings for each user manually.
To create a new group:
- Right-click Groups in the Computer Management window and click New Group in the context menu.
- Enter a group name (which is Group_A in our case) in the New Group window (see the screenshot below).
- Click Add to add users to the group.
- In the Select Users window, enter a user name such as user1, then click Check Names. When the user name is entered correctly, this user name is underlined and displayed as a full name (ComputerName\UserName or DomainName\UserName). To continue adding users, press Space or add semicolon and enter the next user name, then click Check Names, and so on.
If you want to set access for a local user account created on the computer that is a domain member, enter the full user name manually, like this: ComputerName\UserName. You can similarly enter the full name of a domain user.
- After entering all needed user names and checking them, click OK to save settings and close the Select Users window.
- Click Create in the New Group window to finish group creation.
Windows File Sharing Setup
Once we have created the needed users and groups, we can move forward to set up the Windows file share.
- Select the directory that you want to share or select a new directory. We create a new directory in our example and the path to this directory is:
E:\share
- Right-click this directory (folder) and in the context menu, hit Properties.
Setting up sharing permissions
- Select the Sharing tab in the directory Properties window and click the Advanced Sharing button.
- Select the Share this folder checkbox in the Advanced Sharing window and click Permissions.
You can see that everyone can read the contents of the shared folder by default. Everyone is the default group containing all users on the current computer. In our example, we select Everyone and click Remove because we need to create a custom configuration.
- Click Add to add the needed users and groups for configuring access to the Windows SMB share for them.
- The Select Users or Groups window is opened.
- Enter the name of users and groups for which you want to configure access. In our case, we enter Group_A.
- Click Check Names like you did when adding users to a group. An entered name is underlined and displayed in the full format if the name is correct (and exists). You can enter multiple user or group names if needed.
- Click OK to save settings and close this window.
- We can see Group_A in the list of group or user names in the Permissions window for our share folder.
- Select this user/group (Group_A in our case) and select the Allow Full Control checkbox.
- Then we add Group_B just like we added Group_A. Let’s keep the read-only sharing permissions for Group_B.
- We also add the built-in Administrators group and enable full access for administrators. (If a computer is a domain member, you can use the Domain Administrators group).
- Click OK to save permissions for the Windows file share and close the Permissions window.
Setting file system permissions
We have now configured file sharing permissions for the shared folder. In addition to that, we must configure file system permissions for this folder to set the appropriate access for users. NTFS is the file system we use on Windows volumes.
- Select the Security tab in the Properties window for the shared folder. Default NTFS permissions are set for CREATOR OWNER, SYSTEM, Administrators and Users.
- Click Edit to set permissions for a folder on the file system level.
- As you can see, users in the Users group have read access to this folder by default.
- Click Add to add the needed group or user and set permissions for them at the file system level.
- The Select Users or Groups window opens.
- Enter the name of the user or group that you want to add (Group_A in our case).
- Click Check Names.
- Hit OK to save settings.
- Select Group_A in the list of users and groups. Select the Allow Full Control checkbox to grant full access to Group_A.
- Add Group_B just like you added Group_A.
- We preserve the default permissions, which include Read & Execute, List folder contents, and Read for Group_B.
- Click OK in the Permissions window. Click OK in the shared folder Properties window.
We have configured sharing permissions and file system permissions for the shared folder. Similarly, you can create other shares on file sharing servers.
Accessing a Windows SMB Share
Now users can access the Windows file share (SMB share) from their computers.
To access the Windows SMB share from another computer, open Windows Explorer (click the My Computer or This PC icon) and enter the network address of the file server in the address bar in the format: \\Server-IP-Address or \\Server-Name
We enter the path:
\\192.168.101.209
We access this file share from a Windows machine after logging in as user1.
We can see a shared folder with the name share on our shared file server.
Double-click the shared folder to access its contents. We see the files in the shared folder. Our user1 is a member of Group_A and has full access to the shared folder contents. This user can write, edit and delete files in this shared folder.
The workflow to create a hidden Windows SMB share is the same. The difference is in the file share name. Append the $ character at the end of a share name to make this shared directory hidden, for example, share_h$. A hidden file share is not displayed when you browse a file server over the network by adding the server IP address or name (\\192.168.101.209 or \\Server2019, for example).
To access a hidden file share, you must enter the full path to the share, for example:
\\192.168.101.209\share_h$
Note: There are hidden shares created by default in Windows for system purposes and administrative access.
- C$ for a system volume and similar shares for each disk volume
- Admin$ – access to the %SystemRoot% directory (usually C:\Windows)
- IPC$ – remote IPC used in named pipes
Advanced Sharing Settings
There are advanced sharing settings in the Network and Sharing Center in the Windows GUI.
To access these settings, go to Control Panel > Network and sharing center > Advanced sharing settings.
If you want to make a Windows machine visible over the network when sharing files and allow users to access shared resources, select the following options in the network profile you are using:
- Turn on network discovery
- Turn on file and printing sharing
These settings impact Windows Firewall settings to allow ICMP and SMB traffic.
TCP ports 445 and 139 must be opened in the firewall on the server for file sharing. Ensure that the File and Printer Sharing (SMB-In) rule in Windows Firewall is enabled to avoid issues.
Note that the Server service must be running in Windows to make a Windows file share work.
How to Map a Network Drive
As mentioned above, users can enter the path to the share to access shared files and folders. It is also possible to make shortcuts to the shared folders. However, this way may not be the most convenient for some users. In this case, you can map a file share as a network drive and access this network drive in My Computer or This PC (Windows Explorer) just like you would access local disk volumes.
Do the following to map a network drive:
- Access the file share server in Windows Explorer as explained above. Enter the server name or IP address in the address bar, for example, \\192.168.101.209
- Wait until the list of shared folders is displayed. You may need to enter a username and password if the credentials on the client and server don’t match.
- Right-click a shared folder you want to connect as a network drive and click Map network drive.
- Set the network drive parameters for the shared folder in the opened window.
- Select a drive letter, for example, H:
- The path to the shared folder has been automatically selected.
- Reconnect at sign-in – the shared folder is connected automatically when a user logs into Windows on a client machine.
- Connect using different credentials – use this option if the credentials of the user account you use to log in on a client computer don’t match the credentials of the user account configured on the file server to access the file share. An alternative use case is using the credentials of a user who has more permissions than the current logged-in user.
- Hit Finish to save settings and close this window.
Now you can see the mapped network drive in Windows Explorer and use it for accessing the folder on the fileshare server (file server).
How to Check the Windows SMB Share Status
Configuring a Windows file share is the main point for setting up a file server. However, you need to know how to monitor shared resources, including shared folders, connection status, and opened files. This information is also useful for troubleshooting.
You can get Windows file sharing status in the Computer Management window, which you can access by running the compmgmt.msc command in CMD.
Go to System Tools > Shared Folders in the Computer Management window. There you can locate three items: Shares, Sessions, and Open Files.
- Shares. This item shows you all folders shared on the current Windows machine, including hidden shares.
- Sessions. This item displays all active sessions by showing connected users, computers and connection time.
- Open files. Displays which files stored in shared folders are opened and in which mode (read/write).
You can right-click the needed item, such as an opened session or file and close this session or file (disconnect a connected user and remove the file lock).
Configure Windows File Sharing in the Command Line
Actions we made in the graphical user interface (GUI) to set up a Windows file share can also be performed in the command line interface (CMD). Knowing how to configure a Windows SMB share in CMD can help you automate the configuration process.
Let’s configure a file share with settings identical to the settings we configured before in the GUI.
- Press Win+R. In the Run prompt type cmd and hit Enter to open Windows Command Line.
- Add a user with setting the username and password.The command syntax is:
net user username userpassword /addWe add user21 in CMD:
net user user21 Password-21 /add - The command to add a group is as follows:
net localgroup groupname /add.We add group2 in this case:
net localgroup group2 /add - Add the user to the group by using the command like:
net localgroup groupname username /add.In our case, we add user21 to group2:
net localgroup group2 user21 /add - Now we need to create a new directory, which we will share. We go to drive E: and create the share2c directory (c means command line or console for more clarity in our directory name).
e:md share2c - List directory contents to ensure that the directory has been created:
dir - Share the share2c directory by setting the folder path, user or group name and permissions for this user or group. The general command syntax is:
net share sharename=folderpath /grant:username, permissions.Permissions can be read, change, or full. In our case the exact command is:
net share share2c=e:\share2c /grant:group2,full.We grant full permissions to group2.
- Set NTFS permissions for the shared folder with
icacls. - We set full permissions to group2 for the E:\share2c directory:
icacls "E:\share2c" /grant group2:(OI)(CI)F /TYou can see how these settings applied in the command line are displayed in the GUI in the screenshot below.
- Check the Windows file share status.
- Check existing file shares:
net share - View sessions opened by users connected to the shares:
net sessions - View files opened by users over the network:
net files
- Useful commands to manage working Windows file shares.
- Close the files opened by users by defining the file id (the id is displayed with the net files command that you can see in the screenshot above):
net file id /close - List opened sessions for the appropriate computer name:
net session \\ComputerName - Disconnect incoming SMB connections for the selected machine:
net session \\ComputerName /delete - Connect to a file share and map the file share as a network drive using the logged-in credentials:
net use H: \\FileServer\SharedFolderIf a file share contains spaces, you must enclose the path in quotes (“path”).
- The alternative command:
pushd \\FileServer\SharedFolder
Conclusion
Configuring a server for file sharing is not difficult, especially on Windows Server 2019. Keep in mind that with access granted to multiple users, files on Windows SMB shares as well as NFS shares can get corrupted or permanently deleted. Make sure to use a dedicated solution to backup Windows servers and file sharing servers. The best choice is a solution that supports multiple platforms like NAKIVO Backup & Replication.
One of the easiest ways to access your media and files over a network is to setup an SMB file share on Windows. With the proper setup, you can access your media files through other devices using the SMB protocol. Windows has SMB file sharing built into its operating system.
With a few quick configurations on Windows, you will be fully setup with SMB file share enabled so you can access your files or media from other devices on your network. First, ensure SMB is enabled on your Windows operating system. After confirming SMB is enabled, select the folders and files to share over the network. Follow this guide for step-by-step instructions to get SMB file share working on Windows.
How to Enable SMB on Windows
By default, SMB should be enabled on Windows 10 and 11. The SMB feature on Windows is called SMB Direct and is Windows’ name for the SMB 3.x file sharing protocol. The first step is to ensure this feature is enabled. If for some reason it is disabled, follow these steps to enable it. If you don’t have the SMB Direct feature available, make sure your Windows operating system is fully up to date.
Launch the Control Panel and select the Programs and Features option.
Once you have clicked on Programs and Features, on the left menu bar, at the top, look for Turn Windows Features On or Off. Go ahead and click into that.
Clicking on Turn Windows Features On or Off will bring up a new small window with a list of checkboxes. These should be listed alphabetically. Scroll down and find SMB Direct. Make sure this box is checked. You may also see SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support.
If you do have this option, make sure it is unchecked. This is how you enable SMB 1.0, but SMB 1.0 has some vulnerabilities associated with it. If this feature is enabled, your machine and entire network could become compromised. I highly suggest turning this feature off, if enabled, and leaving it off, it disabled.
After turning SMB Direct on by checking the box, your Windows machine should be good to go and have SMB enabled. Now all we need to do is setup SMB file shares on Windows and assign the correct users to the shares.
Before beginning with setting up the SMB file share, I would strongly encourage you to create a new user on Windows specifically for sharing. It only takes about 30 seconds and provides a lot of extra security. You can choose to skip creating a new user, but then anyone who has access to your network will have access to the SMB file shares you create.
If you are not going to create a new user, you will need to go into Control Panel -> Network and Sharing -> Change Advanced Sharing Options -> All Networks ->then enable Turn Off Password Protected Sharing. Again, this is not ideal and exposes you to anyone who may have, or will have access to your network. Replace the word kodi in my screenshots with the word Everyone (that is a preexisting user you can select).
I am using a user I named kodi to setup SMB file shares. Use the user’s name that you created in place of kodi as seen in the provided screenshots.
First navigate to the folder you wish to share. Go ahead and right click on the folder and select Properties at the bottom.
Once the folder’s Properties window is open, navigate to the Sharing tab.
From there, go ahead and click the Share button to open another window.
Another window will open and you will want to click on the dropdown bar and select your user. I selected the user I created named kodi.
Once you have selected your user, click the Add button to the right of the dropdown bar.
Once your user has been added to the list, click on the Share button.
This folder you just set up is now ready to be shared via the SMB protocol. Repeat this process for any other folders you want to share. Once all folders are shared, you are finished with setting up SMB file share on Windows.
With that, a congratulations are in order, you have officially setup SMB file share on Windows. You can now move on to the devices you wish to access files on. Remember to use the user you created as the credentials when setting up SMB on those devices.
If you chose to use Everyone rather than create a new user, that user does not have a password. Some applications, such as Kodi, for example, require a password even if there isn’t an actual password. For cases such as this, use a single space as the password. If you have any questions or get stuck, please leave a comment and I’ll do my best to assist!
Connecting to an SMB share in Windows 11 is a straightforward process that allows you to access shared files and folders over a network. To do this, you’ll need to know the network path of the shared resource and have the necessary login credentials. Once you have this information, you can map the SMB share to a drive letter, making it easy to access from File Explorer. Follow the steps outlined below to get connected.
This guide will walk you through the steps to connect your Windows 11 computer to an SMB share, enabling you to access files and folders shared over your network.
Step 1: Open File Explorer
Open the File Explorer application from your taskbar.
You’ll find File Explorer, the app you use to browse through files on your computer, on the taskbar. Just click the folder icon to get started.
Step 2: Click on ‘This PC’
Navigate to ‘This PC’ from the left-hand menu.
Once you’re inside File Explorer, look over to the left-hand side and find ‘This PC’. This is where you can see all your drives, including those that are connected over the network.
Step 3: Map Network Drive
Click on the ‘Map network drive’ option found in the ribbon at the top.
In the top menu, you’ll see an option called ‘Map network drive’. This is your gateway to connecting to a network share. Go ahead and click it to start the mapping process.
Step 4: Choose a Drive Letter
Select a drive letter from the dropdown menu.
You’ll need to pick a letter that will represent your network share. This letter will act like a shortcut to your shared files, making it easy to access them later.
Step 5: Enter Folder Path
Type the network path (ServerShare) into the folder field.
This is where you’ll enter the path of the SMB share. You’ll need the exact network path, like ServerNameSharedFolder, to successfully connect.
Step 6: Provide Credentials
Enter your username and password for the network share, if prompted.
Some network shares require a login. If that’s the case, a window will pop up asking for your credentials. Type them in and hit OK.
Step 7: Finish the Setup
Click ‘Finish’ to complete the process.
Once everything is set, click ‘Finish’. Your SMB share should now be mapped as a drive in File Explorer, ready for you to use.
After completing these steps, your network share will appear as if it’s just another drive on your computer. You’ll be able to access it from File Explorer just like you would with any other folder, making it simple to share and collaborate on files.
- Ensure the SMB share is enabled on the host computer or server.
- Double-check the shared folder’s network path and credentials.
- Make sure both devices are connected to the same network.
- Set your network to ‘Private’ for better security when accessing SMB shares.
- If experiencing issues, restart your router and check firewall settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an SMB share?
An SMB share is a way to share files and folders over a network using the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol. It allows for easy access and collaboration.
Do I need special permissions to connect to an SMB share?
Yes, you’ll usually need permission to access the shared folder, which might require a username and password.
Can I connect to an SMB share on a different operating system?
Yes, SMB is cross-platform, so you can connect to shares on macOS, Linux, or other operating systems that support it.
What should I do if I can’t connect to the SMB share?
Check the network connection, ensure the SMB service is running, and verify that the correct credentials and network path are used.
Is it safe to connect to an SMB share?
As long as you trust the network and have set it to ‘Private’, SMB is generally safe to use for file sharing.
Summary
- Open File Explorer.
- Click on ‘This PC’.
- Map Network Drive.
- Choose a Drive Letter.
- Enter Folder Path.
- Provide Credentials.
- Finish the Setup.
Conclusion
Connecting to an SMB share in Windows 11 can significantly streamline how you access and manage files across your network. By following the steps outlined above, you’ll be well on your way to tapping into shared resources with ease. Whether you’re collaborating on a project or simply need to grab a document from another computer, understanding how to establish this connection is an invaluable skill.
Moreover, this process is not only applicable to personal scenarios but also crucial in professional environments where sharing and accessing shared drives is a daily routine. If you encounter any issues, refer to the tips and FAQs provided to troubleshoot and resolve common problems. For those looking to deepen their understanding, exploring more about network settings and permissions can further enhance your ability to manage SMB shares effectively.
Remember, a smoothly set up network can be as satisfying as a perfectly organized desk—everything in its place, ready for you to dive in and get things done. So go ahead, connect to that SMB share, and make your digital workspace more efficient.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.
Read his full bio here.
Companies and workgroups may need to share documents or files within one network. Windows includes a network-based File Sharing/Directory Sharing option in the Windows Servers Operating System to solve this problem. Only network-connected users can access shared folders. At the setup time, the administrator must assign specific permissions within the workgroup and secure the network with proper security practices. In this article, we will cover how to create and access shared folders in Windows server through computer management.
1. To start off, log in to your Windows server then search and open Computer Management.
2. Once the Computer Management window is open, expand System Tools and Shared Tools, then right-click Shares and click New Share.
3. Next, the Create A Shared Folder Wizard window will open, and click Next to move forward.
4. In this step, you can select a folder you’d like to share or create a new folder. You can do this by clicking Browse.
5. For the purposes of this guide, we will be creating a new folder in the Local Disk (C:) as seen below but you may select a folder to share. Click OK once you have selected or created a folder to share.
6. Once you are done selecting the folder, click Next
7. Here, you can find Share Name, Share Path, Description, and offline settings. You can also fill out a description in the description text field, once done click Next to move on.
8. (Optional) You can change the offline settings if files and/or programs are accessible offline by users and/or administrators.
9. In the Shared Folder Permissions tab, you can select the appropriate permissions for the end-user who can access the shared folder in Windows once you are done click Finish.
- All users have read-only- access.
- Administrators have full access; other users have read-only access.
- Administrators have full access; other users have no access.
- Customize Permissions: Using this option, you can grant all the (Full Access) permissions to the users. We recommend knowingly carefully choosing the permission options.
10. Congratulations! You have successfully created Shared Folder in the Windows Server. You may close out of the wizard by clicking Finish.
Now we have created a shared folder that is accessible by every other user associated with this windows server. To access the shared folder, you need to map it as a drive in the windows machine providing the path. Want to know how? Follow the below steps,
1. To start off, log in to your Windows server then search and right-click This PC. From the menu that appears, click Map network drive.
2. On the Map Network Drive window, you can specify a drive letter and you will need to specify the folder in the format \serversharedfoldername. Once you’re done click Finish.
3. Now you can find the shared folder by going to File Explorer and clicking This PC and it will appear similar to the below image.
Updated on February 15, 2023
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Creating an SMB (Server Message Block) shared folder on Windows Server 2022 allows multiple users to access and share files efficiently within an organization. This guide will walk you through the steps to set up a secure and effective SMB shared environment, streamlining file sharing and collaboration within your business.
Understanding SMB on Windows Server 2022
SMB is a network file sharing protocol that allows applications to read and write to files and request services from server programs in a computer network. In Windows Server 2022, SMB facilitates resource sharing, such as files and printers, making it easier for users to collaborate and share information.
Visit Microsoft to learn in detail how to set up SMB sharing on Server 2022.
Key Features of Windows Server 2022 for SMB:
- Enhanced Security: Advanced security features, including SMB over QUIC, to protect data in transit.
- Performance Improvements: Optimized for better file sharing performance, especially in distributed networks.
- Ease of Management: Simplified management tools to streamline the creation and management of shared resources.
Table of Contents
Step 1: Open Server Manager
- Launch Server Manager:
- Click on the Start menu and select Server Manager from the list of available applications.
- In the Server Manager dashboard, navigate to File and Storage Services.
- Navigate to Shares:
- In the File and Storage Services section, click on Shares to view all existing shared folders.
- Click on Tasks and select New Share to initiate the process.
- Select Share Profile:
The New Share Wizard will appear. Choose SMB Share – Quick as the profile for creating a standard SMB share and click Next.
Click on Shared and click on Tasks and New Shared.
The new share wizard will be displayed; select SMB Shared – quick and click next.
In the share location window, tick the box “Type a custom path” to select the folder to share.
Find your shared folder and choose select folder.
Click next.
Specify a share name and click next.
Verify the configured share settings and click next.
- Select the Folder to Share:
- In the Share Location window, select Type a custom path to manually choose the folder you want to share.
- Click Browse to navigate to the folder on your server that you want to share. Once selected, click Next.
- Name Your Share:
- In the Share Name window, enter a name for the shared folder. This name will be used by users to access the share over the network.
- Click Next to proceed.
- Review and Configure Settings:
- Review the default share settings. If needed, adjust the settings according to your requirements.
Click Next to continue.
Click on the share tab.
In the Share tab, click on Add.
Click on Select a principal link.
Type domain users and click OK.
Step 5: Specify Permissions to Control Access
- Set Access Permissions:
- In the Specify Permissions window, click on Customize Permissions to define who can access the shared folder and what actions they can perform (read, write, etc.).
- Modify Share Permissions:
- Under the Share tab, click Add to include users or groups who will have access to this shared folder.
- Click on Select a Principal to choose the users or groups. For example, you might type Domain Users for general access and Domain Admins for administrative control.
- Set the required permissions (e.g., read, write) and click OK to apply the changes.
- Advanced Security Settings:
If you need to set more granular permissions, click on the Advanced Security Settings link. Here you can modify permissions at a more detailed level.
Click on the change link.
Choose to select a principal.
Type domain admins and click OK.
Click ok
- Finish and Create the Share:
- After configuring permissions, review the settings once more and click Create to finalize the setup.
- A confirmation page will appear. Click Close to exit the wizard.
- Verify the Shared Folder:
- The new shared folder should now appear under the Shares section in Server Manager.
You can also verify its creation by navigating to Network in File Explorer. The shared folder should be visible and accessible to the users you have granted permissions.
Click Create to complete the process.
Choose Close.
We see the shared folder.
In File Explorer, go to Network Options, and there you will see the shared folder.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you can create an SMB shared folder on Windows Server 2022, enabling efficient and secure file sharing within your organization. This setup not only improves collaboration but also ensures that your shared resources are managed effectively. For more detailed information on setting up SMB sharing on Windows Server 2022.
With any of the above methods, we are able to create shared folders on Windows Server 2022.
Jamilhttp://jamiltech.com
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