Network Share

When your computer is hooked up to a network of local users (LAN) or long-distance group members (WAN), you automatically will be sharing certain services and documents. For example, Internet access is shared, possibly through a DSL or dial-up connection or another type. This means the actual connection to the Internet may take longer since more people are using the same channel to get there—in other words, the road can get crowded at busy times! Another way that your network system will require each user to share resources is through the printer, if you have fewer units than there are members. For example, when four computers are linked to a network that connects to just one printer, all print jobs must take their turn, so to speak, when getting processed. This means you may have to be patient when waiting for your document to be printed, and it could take a while if another network user is downloading and printing a multi-page document. Sharing documents or registries is another way in which network computer users access common resources. For example, several employees in the same company department may be able to access documents in a common file that all are working

on. However, there might be other files in the department, some potentially used by other employees that not everyone has access to. Restricted entry by registration enables sharing of files when needed while keeping others hidden or inaccessible for other staff members. These are some of the ways in which sharing resources serves a valuable purpose to a networked system of computer users. There are other sharing needs as well, so potential conflicts need to be worked out so that each person has equal access to the shared utilities. A department with many users doing different things on the network may want to create a policy handbook to address potential conflicts before they occur.