Safe home / office file and printer sharing network setup?

[Chris Wilson]

I don't remember all these dire warnings under Windows 2000, but now I want to set up file and printer sharing under XP Pro the thing is warning of world war III and Armageddon if I turn it on. I have a Netgear DG834 router on an ADSL line and my main PC connects to one of its ports. The workshop PC and sometimes mine and my wife's laptops are also connected either via a cable or ethernet over the mains gizmos to the other ports. There are 3 printers on the system, too. 2 laser jets on ethernet cables, and a USB inkjet printer / scanner. I want to share files and printers over this network, but when I use the Windows utility to set it up and describe the system as all PC's can see the internet it warns of potentially dire consequences. At our last house, under Windows 2000, there was never an issue and I don't recall any dire warnings, either. We were on optical cable there though. What do I need to do to set this up, there's nothing hugely secret on the whole setup, but nonetheless I don't want Tom, Dick and Harry using the printers or browsing the directories. Especially Harry...

 

Finally, there aren't enough ports on the Netgear so thanks to Ian C I now have a D-Link 10/100 ethernet switch with plenty of ports. How do I connect this in? I would like to use ports on the Netgear *AND* on the D-Link, to minimize unsightly cable runs. Thanks.