Working with Different Versions of Windows on a P2P Network
A simple peer to peer network working on the Window’s desktop version can help you avoid the expense and complexity of using dedicated network operating systems. In general terms, Windows for workgroups acts more like an original “do it yourself” network, especially for the Intel-compatible personal computers. It was mainly designed to work with the Windows shell and Microsoft’s MS-DOS OS.
Over the past few years, several versions of Windows have been released with some advancements in technologies and features. The journey started from Windows 95, then came Windows 98 and then developers created Windows Millennium Editor that is suitable for home users. Furthermore, Windows NT and Windows 2000 are useful for business network users.
The most commonly preferred version of Windows in the market is Windows XP and it is currently available in two versions: Professional and Home. Windows Vista is the latest operating system that is being used by most of the users around the world.
The home version of Windows is usually designed for those who work from the small office or home only. They can easily connect to the workgroup by using peer to peer network of Microsoft. Furthermore, the Windows XP Professional provides easy access to many advanced features to ease the process for end-users. This OS is capable enough to serve clients on the server-based networks. Experts reveal that one should not use the Home edition if connecting to the client/server network is your first priority.
Generally, the peer to peer networking products of Microsoft are based on the workgroup idea. In this case, a set of computers are connected over a common group and they share resources with each other. The Microsoft based peer to peer networks are a versatile and reliable solution for workgroups as they allow connection with computers having any version of Windows.
At the same time, multiple workgroups can also exist over a given physical network. For instance, the members of the sales team can be associated with the SALES workgroup whereas the accounting team can share resources with the ACCOUNTS workgroup. There is always a single administrative user in all the workgroups, on all machines; hence, the central administration is restricted in these peer-to-peer network connections. But it is still considered a reliable administrative solution. Users can also use WhatsApp secure connection for information sharing between workgroups.
The peer to peer networking on the Windows platform is pretty straightforward. The computers that are using Windows XP OS are configured in such a manner that they can all connect to the same workgroup. Other than this, users can also use manual configuration to adjust the network setup as per the specific requirements of the teams. The wizard follows simple and convenient configuration options where you can easily add a few other windows computers as well. It is even possible to tune to the computers using earlier versions of windows as well.
The configuration can be started by opening the Windows Control Panel. First of all, you need to select the Network and Internet Connection Icon from the control panel and then change your small office or home network. The wizard screen can guide you better to choose the connection method. Once the workgroup is created, any user on the system can browse the workgroup to access shared printers and folders. This peer-to-peer network connection allows users to collaborate with other users in a friendly manner while sharing valuable data more safely.
The sharing task becomes easier with the Window p2p network workgroups. Users can even set passwords for some secure files to ensure authorized access only. Workgroups can easily administer the activities over these networks.