How to install and configure a file and print server

This step-by-step article describes how to configure your Windows Server 2003 as a file and print server.

Applies to:   Windows Server 2003
Original KB number:   325860

Install File and Printer Sharing

By default, a Windows Server 2003-based computer is installed with Client for Microsoft Networks, File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks, and TCP/IP.

You can create a Windows Server 2003 file server and print server manually, or you can use the wizards that are provided in the Configure Your Server Wizard administrative tool.

How to install a file server on Windows Server 2003 by using the Configure Your Server Wizard

1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Configure Your Server Wizard.
2. Click Next.
3. Click Next.
4. Click File server in the Server role box, and then click Next.
5. On the File Server Disk Quotas page, configure any quotas you need to control disk-space usage on the server, and then click Next.
6. On the File Server Indexing Service page, click the indexing configuration that is appropriate for your server, and then click Next.
7. Click Next.
8. Click Finish.
9. The Share a Folder Wizard starts. Click Next.
10. Click Browse, locate the folder that you want to share, and then click OK.
11. Click Next.
12. Type a share name for the folder, and then click Next.
13. Click one of the basic permissions for the folder, or click Customize to set custom permissions on the folder. Click Finish.
14. Click Close.

How to manually install a file server on Windows Server 2003

1. Click Start, and then click Windows Explorer.
2. Locate the folder that you want to share.
3. Right-click the folder, and then click Sharing and Security.
4. Click Share this folder, and then accept the default name or type a different name for the share.
5. Optionally, configure the number of users who can connect, configure permissions for this folder, and then configure the caching options.
6. Click OK.
7. A little hand is displayed in the Windows Explorer window to indicate that the folder is being shared.
8. Quit Windows Explorer.

Install a Windows Server 2003 Print Server

How to install a print server on Windows Server 2003 by using the Configure Your Server Wizard

1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Configure Your Server Wizard.

2. Click Next.

3. Click Next.

4. Click Print server in the Server role box, and then click Next.

5. On the Printers and Printer Drivers page, click the types of Windows clients that your print server will support, and then click Next.

6. Click Next.

7. On the Add Printer Wizard Welcome page, click Next.

8. Click Local printer attached to this computer, click to clear the Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer check box, and then click Next.

9. Click the port for your printer, and then click Next.

10. Click the printer make and model or provide the drivers from the printer manufacturer media, and then click Next.

    Note

    If you are prompted to keep or not keep your existing printer driver, either keep the existing driver or replace the existing driver. If you replace the driver, you must provide the manufacturer driver for this printer. Click Next to continue.

11. Accept the default name of the printer or provide a different name, and then click Next.

12. Click the Share as option, type the share name, and then click Next.

    Note

    This step is optional because you can share the printer later.

13. You may provide the location of the printer and a comment to make it easier to locate. Click Next to continue.

14. Click the Print a test page option, click Next, and then click Finish to quit the Add Printer Wizard. Your printer appears in the Printers and Faxes folder.

How to share a printer

1. Click Start, and then click Printers and Faxes.
2. Right-click the printer that you just installed, and then click Sharing.
3. Click Share this printer, and then type a share name for the printer.
4. Optionally, click Additional Drivers, click the operating systems of the client computers that may attach to this printer, and then click OK. By adding drivers for these operating systems, users on client computers can connect to the print server and automatically download the appropriate drivers for this model of printer without having to configure anything.
5. When you're prompted to do so, insert the Windows Server 2003 CD-ROM.
6. Click OK to close the printer properties.
7. Close the Printers and Faxes folder.

How to manually install a print server on Windows Server 2003

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
2. Double-click Add Printer to start the Add Printer Wizard.
3. To complete the Add Printer Wizard, repeat steps 7 through 14 in the "Install a Windows Server 2003 Print Server" section of this article.