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One of the most common reasons for setting up a server and computer network is to set the server up as a file server.

Adding the File Server Role

Luckily, Microsoft Windows Server includes an easy to use Wizard to help you set up your server as a file server.

# Go to Start, Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Manage Your Server.
# Click the “Add or Remove a Role” link.
# On the Preliminary Steps screen, click Next.
# Under the Server Role heading, Click File Server and then click Next (Figure 1).
# On the summary screen, review the information and then click Next.
# The Add File Server Role Wizard will start. Click Next.
# Click next when prompted to install additional options. The Wizard will start configuring your server.
# After the configuration is complete, you will be prompted to reboot. Proceed and reboot the server to continue.

Configuring the Server

After the server restarts, you’ll want to set up some file shares and set permissions.

1. Log back into Windows.
2. Go to Start, Control Panel, Administrative Tools, File Server Management (Figure 2).
3. Expand Share Folder Management, Shared Folders, Shares.
4. You should notice a few Shares already exist – these are on all default installations of Windows. Under the Action Menu, select New Share.
5. Once the Share a Folder Wizard starts, click Next.
6. Select a location for the folder share and click Next.
7. Enter the name for your share and a description if you’d like. Click Next.
8. On the Permissions page, select the option you’d like – by default, you may choose to leave all readers with Read access.
9. Click Finish and then Close.

You’ve now shared your first user folder. End users can access this share by going to \\\ where is the name of your computer and is the name you gave the share in step 7 above.

From:http://www.brighthub.com/computing/windows-platform/articles/39793.aspx

AutoVirt, the emerging leader in fully automated online data migration solutions for mid-range Windows environments (www.autovirt.com). (PRNewsFoto/AutoVirt, Inc.)

Will Highlight AutoMove(TM) Automated Data Migration, AutoClone(TM) Lightening Fast Data Replication, and AutoMap(TM) Network Discovery and Mapping

NASHUA, N.H., May 18 /PRNewswire/ --

When: Wednesday, May 20, from 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. EDT

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081014/NETU030LOGO )

Where: To learn more, register and attend this live virtual event, please visit: https://www.techwebonlineevents.com/ars/eventregistration.do?mode=eventreg&F=1001561&K=MAA2.

What: AutoVirt will feature its industry leading data migration and replication solutions for Windows environments, including:

* AutoMove(TM) -- Automated File Server Virtualization Software: By leveraging advanced file virtualization technology, AutoMove, the industry's first continuous data migration (CDM) solution, allows IT management to fully-automate the data migration and management function across their entire Windows environment. By automating this process, businesses benefit from consistently optimized storage resources and the resulting dramatic decrease in capital and operational expenditures (CapEx and OpEx).
* AutoClone(TM) -- Fast and Efficient Windows Data Replication: AutoClone helps IT Management to dramatically increase the speed (up to 20 times faster than competitors) and efficiency of their Windows data replications, in order to ensure resource optimization, data protection, consistency and availability, as well as disaster recovery (DR) and business continuity.
* AutoMap(TM) -- Network Discovery and Mapping Tool: AutoMap helps IT Management discover under and over utilized Windows file server and network attached storage (NAS) resources, in physical, virtualized and mixed environments. Once identified, they are able to fine-tune these assets and defer additional server and NAS purchases.

Source:http://news.prnewswire.com/ViewContent.aspx?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/05-18-2009/0005028134&EDATE=

In the mid-1980s enterprises became increasingly interested in ways to connect a rapidly growing population of personal computers. Novell proposed an approach using software to connect each workstation to a network file server that would manage both the network and access to network resources. At the same time 3Com Corporation was creating Ethernet adapter cards, building hardware connectivity needed for such approach.

Novell grew upon the strength of its Netware operating system, used for file serving, and by the late 1980s had a 50% market share of local area networks. Seeing the potential growth in this arena IBM and Microsoft both introduced their own file server strategies.

Twenty years after its peak, Novell and 3Com have virtually disappeared from the Server market; today disk servers (a NAS or a SAN) supplied by one of the leading vendors such as EMC or NetApp are typically attached to a file server running the Microsoft Windows or Linux operating systems. Large data centers, that serve millions of customers (such as Google's), run server farms on specialized equipment with large, complex operating systems.

Types of file servers

A file server may be dedicated or non-dedicated. A dedicated server is generally designed specifically for use as a file server, with workstations attached for reading and writing files and databases. A workstation may share files with other workstations on the network directly however by turning on its "Server" service and then by creating a "Share" -- this process creates a non-dedicated file server that is primarily being used as a workstation.

File servers may also be categorized by the method of access: Internet file servers are frequently accessed by File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or by HTTP (but are different from web servers, that often provide dynamic web content in addition to static files). Servers on a LAN are usually accessed by SMB/CIFS protocol or NFS protocol. Database servers, that provide access to a shared database via a database device driver, are not regarded as file servers. Most file servers are simultaneously print servers too, as they provide access to printers via network. A single file serving computer may be accessible by multiple means: it may run an FTP server, an CIFS server, etc., serving the same files.

Design of file servers

In modern businesses the design of file servers is complicated by competing demands for storage space, access speed, recoverability, ease of administration, security, and budget. This is further complicated by a constantly changing environment, where new hardware and technology rapidly obsoletes old equipment, and yet must seamlessly come online in a fashion compatible with the older machinery. To manage throughput, peak loads, and response time, vendors may utilize queuing theory to model how the combination of hardware and software will respond over various levels of demand. Servers may also employ dynamic load balancing scheme to distribute requests across various pieces of hardware.

The primary piece of hardware equipment for servers over the last couple of decades has proven to be the hard disk drive. Although other forms of storage are viable (such as magnetic tape and RAM) disk drives have continued to offer the best fit for cost, performance, and capacity.

Storage

Since the crucial function of a file server is storage, hardware has been developed to operate multiple disk drives together as a team, forming a disk array. A disk array typically has cache (temporary memory storage that is faster than the magnetic disks), as well as advanced functions like RAID and storage virtualization. Typically disk arrays increase level of availability by using redundant components other than RAID, such as power supplies. Disk arrays may be consolidated or virtualized in a storage area network (SAN).

Filers

In 1990s, introduction of specialized file serving devices, the NetApp filers, popularized the concept of network-attached storage (NAS). To this time, file servers were still implemented with general-purpose servers and OSes. NetApp changed this with introducing specialized network appliances, with a proprietary software and scalable to multiple disk enclosures holding tens or hundreds of disks grouped in multiple disk arrays. Filers later extended to non-file protocols, such as iSCSI, but still NAS is popularly perceived as mainly a file serving technology.

Security

File servers generally offer some form of system security to limit access to files to specific users or groups. In large organizations, this is a task usually delegated to what is known as directory services such as openLDAP, Novell's eDirectory or Microsoft's Active Directory.

These servers work within the hierarchical computing environment which treat users, computers, applications and files as distinct but related entities on the network and grant access based on user or group credentials. In many cases, the directory service spans many file servers, potentially hundreds for large organizations. In the past, and in smaller organizations, authentication can take place directly to the server itself.

Source: http://www.answers.com/topic/file-server

Microsoft has launched Windows Small Business Server 2008, which is aimed at companies with up to 75 employees.

The software includes copies of Sharepoint and Exchange Server, which offer company-wide email, remote access to desktop machines, backup and restoration services, as well as file and printer sharing.

Small Business Server also allows employees with Windows Mobile-based smartphones to access their email, contacts and calendar remotely.

Unsurprisingly, security figures prominently in the feature list, with customers receiving a 120-day evaluation copy of Windows Live OneCare, and Forefront Security for Exchange Server, which scans messages for viruses, spam and spyware.

There's also a premium version of Business Server called Essential Business Server aimed at companies with 300 or more employees.

Essential Business Server customers receive a copy of the SQL Server 2008 database management software, and a one-year subscription to Forefront Security for Exchange Server and Microsoft Forefront Threat Management Gateway.

Source:pcpro

Several features are present in Windows Server 2008 to enable faster, more seamless access to file and print services on your network. Although the infrastructure of the file and print systems has not been completely redesigned, it certainly has been modified to provide for ease-of-use enhancements, increased data integrity, automatic and assisted backup, and other key features, including the following:

Distributed File System (DFS)

DFS is a feature in Windows Server 2008 that permits an administrator to create one logical filesystem layout despite the fact that shares can be scattered across the network on different servers. This makes it easier for clients to find and store files consistently, and it allows for better equipment utilization. One server can host multiple DFS roots, which are "starting" points for a hierarchy of shared folders. In addition, a Windows Server 2008 server can use Active Directory site topology to route DFS requests from clients to the closest available server, increasing response time.

Encrypting File System (EFS)

Native encryption abilities are built into the NTFS filesystem used in Windows Server 2008. By simply checking a checkbox in the Properties sheet for a file, you can easily encrypt and decrypt files and folders to protect their integrity. This feature is particularly useful for mobile computers, which have a greater risk of data loss and capture than traditional corporate desktop
machines.

Volume shadow copy

The volume shadow copy feature is perhaps one of the most useful features of Windows Server 2008. The server will take snapshots of files at specific periods during the day, thereby making available a library of previous versions of a file. If a user accidentally overwrites a file, saves an incorrect version, or somehow destroys the primary copy, he can simply click Previous Versions in the Explorer view of the folder and access a shadow copy version.

Windows Search Service

The Windows Search Service, new to Windows Server 2008, catalogs and indexes the contents of server hard disks, enabling users to search in files in different formats and languages for the data they need. The engine has been enhanced over several revisions of the product to accelerate the search process and to use less processor time when cataloging and indexing files.

Source:computingtech.blogspot.com/2008/05/windows-server-2008-file-and-print.html

The Sentry-go Quick File & Print Monitor allows you to quickly & easily monitor your Windows File & Print server, including local printers & print queues, changes made to both local and remote files, the contents of those files, directory changes & structure modifications, entries written to local Event Logs.

If problems are detected, it can either take automatic action, or alert you before end-users are affected. Using it's in-built web-based reporting, you also have immediate access to monitored information direct from your web browser.

Monitoring Features

• Monitor key services
• You can monitor key Windows & Print Spooler services running on the local server out of the box. In addition, custom services can also be added, monitored & automatically restarted.
• Check the status of local printers
• Print monitoring allows you to check for & be alerted to errors on local printers such as paper jams, out of paper errors, attention required etc.
• Check the status of local print queues
• Printer queue monitoring & print monitoring allows you to check for & be alerted to problems associated with a local print queue - e.g. excessively high queue length, print job size (higher than expected no. pages or job size) etc.
• Changes made to files & directories
• By monitoring files & monitoring directories, you can be alerted to changes in files, directory structure or the underlying file system. For example, files added, deleted, when files have been updated or not updated, directory/file count, directory/file sizes etc.
• Monitor Server & Print Spooler performance
• Out of the box you can monitor the threshold of important Windows & Print Spooler performance counters such as CPU usage, queue lengths, print job errors etc.
• Monitor errors written to the Windows Event Log
• Sentry-go allows you to monitor messages written to the Windows Event Logs based on error type, event ID, source or keywords & phrases within the text.
• Monitor messages written to custom log files
• In addition to Event Logs, log file monitoring can easily be performed using Sentry-go. Using this, you can also monitor the entries written to text-based log files such as those used for custom applications, based on keywords or phrases within the text.
• Ensure sufficient disk space is available
• To print, the print spooler needs adequate free disk space. Sentry-go can check this for you, clearing down temporary files automatically if free space becomes limited.

Respond Automatically or Alert

Quick Monitors allow you to respond in a number of ways, in the event a fault is detected ...

• Respond automatically by running a command, application, batch file or script
• Automatically restart a failed Windows Service or reboot the server
• Alert you via network messaging, standard or custom e-mails
• Different alerting methods based on day of week and time of day
• Alert you via the Quick Monitor Console
• Alert you via your SMS pager gateway provider Interface with external systems via SMTP, HTTP, or scripting
• Log details to a SysLog Server, database or text file

Web-based Reporting

The built-in web server provides access to the following information direct from your desktop browser ...

• Standard reports - for recent alerts, current status & performance history
• Real-time Printer & Print Queue Summary
• Real-time Printer & Queue Status

Source:sentry-go.com/qm-file-print-server-monitoring.aspx