Setting Up a Small Network in C#

Create Universal Product Code version A in C# Setting Up a Small Network

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Even with network discovery turned off (on your computer or the target computer), you can access undiscovered network resources . Although they re not visible in the Network folder, if you type the name of computer preceded by two backslashes in the Windows Explorer Address bar and press Enter, you ll see that computer s shared resources . (For example, to view the resources on a computer named Sequoia, type \\sequoia .) If you \\sequoia . type another backslash at the end of the computer name, a list of shared resources appears in the Address bar; you can use this trick to drill down through a folder hierarchy .

Sharing settings on the other computers on your network might prevent you from finding anything of interest on those computers. For information about sharing settings, see 13, Managing Shared Folders and Printers.

With computers that connect to different types of networks such as a corporate domain, an internet caf , and a private home network, often within the same day using the same network security settings for all networks would lead to security breaches, severe inconvenience, or both. Windows Vista uses network locations to identify a type of network, and then applies appropriate security settings. When you initially connect to a network, Windows asks you to select a network location.

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Home or Work The only functional difference between the first two location options is the default icon that Windows uses to represent your network. Select one of these options when you re connecting to a trusted network, such as your own network at home or your company network at work. You should select Home or Work only for a network that is protected by a residential gateway or comparable internet defense, and one where you re confident that malicious users aren t connected. With this choice, Windows turns on network discovery, which lets you see other computers on the network and lets other users see your computer. Public Location Use this option for networks in public places, such as wireless hotspots in coffee shops, hotels, airports, and libraries. This type of network typically has a direct connection to the internet. Network discovery is turned off for public locations.

If you have a mobile computer that connects to multiple networks, keep in mind that Windows keeps three groups of network security settings: one for private (home or work) networks, one for public-location networks, and one for use when your computer is joined to a domain-based network. As you can see by visiting Windows Firewall With Advanced Security, Windows Firewall maintains three profiles: Public Profile, Private Profile, and Domain Profile; each is associated with a network location type.

For more information about Windows Firewall, see Blocking Intruders with Windows Firewall, in 10, and 31, Advanced Security Management .

This is important because, for example, when you are connected to a public network and Windows Firewall is turned on, some programs and services ask you to let them communicate through the firewall. Consider carefully whether you want to unblock such programs; if you do, that program is unblocked for all networks identified as public location networks. Rather than creating a firewall exception that remains enabled at all public hotspots you visit, you might consider instead changing the location type of the current network to a home or work network. (Alternatively, you can open Windows Firewall and disable the exceptions when you re through using the program or service.) Table 12-1 shows the default settings for each location. Any changes you make to the current network apply to all networks of the same location type.