Windows 7 HomeGroup facilitates home network sharing

Microsoft has devoted enough attention to all developing networks, including home networks, and has added new features for home Networking in Windows 7 to simplify the sharing of files and external devices (such as printers) in a network connection-homegroup. In this article, we will show you how to simplify the task and how it homegroup value.

What is homegroup? What's the difference between it and home network?

Windows 7 homegroup provides a way for other users on your home network to share files, folders, photos, and printers. Instead of replacing the home network, it adds a feature to it, then assigns permissions to the shared content, as well as users ' rights to those files: Allow/Disallow group members to Exchange files, modify files, and so on.

When Windows 7 is installed on the computer, if there are no other homegroup, the system creates a default homegroup, and if there is already a homegroup, then the computer will recommend you to join the existing group.

What is HomeGroup's request?

All computers joining the group must have Windows 7 installed. (Note: Any version of Windows 7 can be added to a homegroup, but computers running an entry-level or family based version cannot create HomeGroup.) )

Computers that join HomeGroup must be connected to a home network.

HomeGroup is password protected and users need to type homegroup password before entering.

Although its configuration is not as complex as those using NTFS licenses and policies, HomeGroup provides a great deal of security for users in the home network. It allows users to easily share their own document libraries and other files with others.

Content and devices that are included in homegroup or shared can be used on a home network. This does not require the file or folder to be published to the server. With HomeGroup, other group members that appear in the system can be considered as available resources. The license configuration of the file owner determines the permissions that other people have to access their resources.

If we are configuring a custom library on a computer, you can create a library that points to another computer in homegroup.

Note: A library's point is a folder or filegroup.

How to join HomeGroup?

Open the Control Panel of the computer that is ready to join HomeGroup.

Click HomeGroup settings.

Choose "Join Now" to join an existing homegroup.

Note: If you do not appear to join immediately, you may need to create a homegroup for the network. If you have already created a group and there are shared items in the group, the HomeGroup option appears, as shown in the following illustration:

In this dialog window, if permission is granted, we can also adjust the content to be shared and change the homegroup password.

Can I add multiple homegroup?

We can exit a homegroup and join another group, but we can't add multiple homegroup at the same time. The reason for this setting is that we can make sure that we only share resources from one home network at a time. By writing down each homegroup password, you can exit a homegroup and then add another homegroup. If you want to access another home network, you can access printers and other resources on other networks.

Note: When we leave a homegroup, all connection and resource access to the homegroup is invalid and will not take effect until you rejoin the group.

Share homegroup resources

When we share resources in HomeGroup, Windows 7 simplifies shared operations. We can right-click a resource and choose to share. The shortcut menu offers three options: Disabled (Nobody), read, read/write.

Select Read to have the HomeGroup member view the shared file, but not modify the file. Select read/write to authorize other people to access and modify files, select Disable, and no one else can use shared resources. This setting is simple for a home network.

Conclusion

Since some people use the Internet and computers all day long, the concept of homegroup seems to attract attention, which simplifies the access and maintenance of resources on the home network. Facilitates home users who need to consistently share files and other resources.