Given that Windows Server 2008 is a ''server'' operating system it is not surprising that a primary function of this operating system is to serve files to users on other systems on a network. The primary focus of this chapter, therefore, is the sharing of files and folders on Windows Server 2008.
== Standard and Public File Sharing ==
Having specified which users will have access to the folder the next step is to enable the sharing of the folder, specify ''share permissions'' and configure a ''Share Name'' by which the folder will be referenced and accessed. In addition caching of shared files can be configured. Caching allows users to maintain local copies of shared files so that they can be accessed ''off-line'' (for example when the server hosting the files is not available to the user's local system). With caching configured, local copies of shared files are stored on the user's local system so that they can be accessed without a connection to the server. When a connection is re-established, any changes made to the local copy of the file are syncronized synchronized with the original copy on the server.
To configure these settings, click on the ''Advanced Sharing'' button to display the following dialog:
In this dialog, set the ''Share this folder'' option to enable the sharing of the folder. Once this has been selected the ''Share name'' field and associated button will activate enabling a share name to be entered. By default the name of the folder being shared will be displayed, although this may be changed to another name if desired. If the number of concurrent users accessing a shared folder is of concern, modify the number of simultaneous users accordingly. Enter optional comments about the share before clicking on ''Caching'' to configure the ''off-line'' file settings. This will invoke the ''Offline Settings'' dialog where a number of options are available including allowing each user to specify which files they would like to be able to access off-line, only having files that user's users actually access available off-line and disabling off-line sharing all together:
== Creating Shared Folders on Remote Servers with Computer Management ==
Windows Explorer provides an excellent mechanism for configuring shares on the local system. This approach falls a little short in terms of convenience, however, when it is necessary to configure shares on a remote server. Fortunately Windows Server 2008 addresses this need by allowing shares to be configured from the ''Computer Management'' tool. One point to note is that while this section will focus on the remote configuration of file shares, the steps outlined here may equally be used to share files on a local server. In fact, the ''Create A a Shared Folder Wizard'' can be invoked on a local machine either from ''Computer Management'' or by entering '''shrpubw''' at the command prompt or in a Run dialog.
After starting Computer Management on the local system, right click on ''Computer Management'' in the left panel tree and select ''Connect to another computer...'' In the resulting dialog box either enter the name of the remote computer or click on ''Browse'' and then ''Advanced...'' to search the network or domain for the remote system. Once a connection has been established to the remote server the Computer Management interface will refresh and the ''Computer Management'' link in the tree will also display the name of the selected remote server.
