media player and general network question

[andy_k]

Here's an interesting one for the experts

One of our XP (Pro) machines works pretty much as a home hub/server storing all our music, photos, system backups and work files. Which works well with simple file sharing enabled as only the "adults" can access it but we want to make a few changes if possible

so....

scenario 1, we want to let the kids have access to the audio files on their own machines in their rooms (they are already on the network but with very limited access for software updates etc) but we want to limit this access to avoid any of the "adult content" which obviously we don't want them hearing. Is there any way of stopping media player adding certain files to the library on one machine but not on another whilst keeping all the files in one location?

scenario 2, both Annie and me keep our own work files on this machine and so we need to be able to read/write to them preferably without having to mess about with passwords every time as some of the software auto saves whilst you are working but we don't want the kids to be able to see or access these files

controlling/denying unsupervised internet access to the machines in their rooms is easy but this has got me confused

Is there a more advanced share system built into XP? - the name "simple file sharing" implies there is a far more complex one lurking just under the surface

Does this system allow user types within a workgroup or do I have to set up the network as a domain and then create different workgroups?

Are we better off buying a copy of Windows Home Server and will that do all that I want it to?

Any suggestions in reasonably plain English would be gratefully received.

Current Hardware

5 PCs, 4 connected to a wired hub 1 running XP Pro, 1 Vista Ultimate & 2 XP Home

What we are aiming for is 5 PCs (1 XP Pro, 2 XP Home & 2 Vista Ultimate) + 1 laptop 2 of which (plus the laptop) will connect through a wireless access point

If it helps the two PCs on the wireless access point are the ones we want to restrict but to throw a spanner in the works, the laptop will need full read write access


Cheers


Andy

 

[Benzowner]

Maybe I am missing the point, but why do you not let your children load up audio files on their own PC's with Windows media, same with thier own pictures etc, deny all file sharing to your childrens PC's and presumably share internet connection.

 

[fredfloggle]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304040

May help a bit with levels and permissions.

 

[andy_k]

Because the stuff we listen to overlaps. Our boy wants to listen to a fair few of my albums and it tends to be that buys most of the music

I was just trying to keep "common files" in one central place which is easier for me to maintain and avoid licensing problems with downloaded music


Maybe it's me that's missed something

Andy

 

[andy_k]

Thanks Fred, I'd read bits of that before but Media Player is my main problem because I want some people to be able to access files and not others.

An age filter would be perfect because we could then just mark the ones we don't want them to play as "over 18"

Andy

 

[Ratz]

I think you are already learning that controlling this on file permissions is a bit of a nightmare(I am currently battling with Windows 2003 Server). The only way I can think of doing this practically is to have a separate folder for adult content which you can then limit access to. Media Player can make this appear pretty seamless because you can add the folder to your 'Library' (or not as the case may be) and the songs appear in media player just in a long list. Trying to apply permissions on a file basis is an administrative nightmare and if I am not mistaken XP isn't sophisticated enough anyway.

 

[andy_k]

thanks Ratz - I'd already looked at that but there seems to be no way of stopping them just adding more folders because Media Player finds them and if they are hidden on a non shared section of the network nobody can get at them

what's really annoying is that there is a setting to age restrict DVD playback!!

I'm going to have a look at doing it using playlists - maybe I can store the music in one folder and playlists in another

Andy

 

[Ratz]

Is this the case even if you create another shared folder with permissions only for you & your wife? If media player can't access a folder then it can't add it surely?

Are you trying to restrict by Shared access or Security as they are two different things. If I have a folder called Music, and within that a folder called Adult then I share the folder Music to be Read/Write for Everyone(Read Only is the default). I then go to the folder Adult and set it's Security so that only users 'Mum', 'Dad' & 'Administrators' have access. Everyone will then be able to access Music, but only Mum, Dad & Administrators will be able to access Adult. this of course means that user accounts for all users will need to be created on your 'server'.

 

[WLeg]

Upgrade to server, use NTFS permissions on the disk, then they cannot see the files.