install and configure File Server on Windows Server

I will teach you today how to install and configure the file server in Windows Server

In this article, we will see how to install and configure a file server on Windows Server, how to install the necessary roles, configure shared folders, manage permissions, and how security is ensured

How to install and configure the file server in Windows Server

Suppose your company has several digital files that need to be shared across different departments and locations, and you use file sharing on your network. In such a case, you will need to set up a Windows file server. If you are interested, the simple process of installing and configuring a file server on a Windows server is covered here.

Can you tell me what is a file server system?

A file server system is that computer or server that stores and controls files and folders and allows users on the network to access them to share and save data efficiently. It provides a central location where users can download, edit, and organize files without the need to store them locally on separate devices.

What is the procedure to install and configure a file server on Windows Server?

If you want to install and configure a file server on Windows Server, follow the steps mentioned below:

The file server must be installed.
Declare network file share.
Configure advanced options for access to shared network files.
Assign and access the network folder. Let's get started.

1. Install the file server

Installing the file server role on your computer is the first step. With this role, we will be able to manage shared folders and give users network access to files. To do this, follow the steps below.

Open Server Manager, choose Add Roles and Features, and then click the Next button.
Click Role- or Feature-Based Installation, then click the option to select a server from the server pool, choose a host to add services to, and finally click the Next button.
To access the file server, navigate to Services > Files and Storage > File and iSCSI Services, and then select the file server option. Press the Next button after each step to continue.
Now, choose one or more features to add to the installation on the selected server, such as .NET Framework 4.7 Features, if required.
Finally, press the Install button and once you are done, click the Close button.

Wait a moment for your system to deploy those features.

2. Set up a shared folder for network files.

Once the server file is installed, the next step is to set up basic network file sharing. This way, network users can access the folder and collaborate on shared files thanks to this.

To share a folder, navigate to it, right-click on it, and then select Properties.

On the Sharing tab, click the Share button and then select the users or groups you want to share access with.
In the window titled "Network Discovery and File Sharing", select one of the available options and then press the "Done" button to set the access permission.

When you are prompted to choose people to share with, you can use the “Everyone” clause if you want to grant permission to everyone.

3. Enable advanced settings for sharing files on the network.

Users who want more control over files and even more elaborate permissions and access can do so through the advanced settings. These settings ensure fine-grained control over who can access and modify files, improving both security and ease of use.

To share something, right-click with your mouse, choose properties and scroll down to the “Sharing” tab.
To share a resource, click on the Advanced Sharing button, in the new window find the Share button and then in the “Share Name” field insert a name for your share.
To remove the default option, click on the Remove button after selecting Permission if you do not want to add Everyone.
Now, click on the Add button, enter the user names and click OK.
Press the “Done” button after you have set the necessary permissions for the added users.
Click on the right side of the screen and then select Properties. Scroll down until you see the Security tab, where you can add the NTFS access permission.
Click Advanced Sharing, disable inheritance if necessary, and finally select Convert inheritable permissions to explicit permissions on this object.
Then, to removee user or group names in the appearing window.
More specifically, click the OK button to save the changes and set special permissions.
Following these steps, shared and NTFS permissions are configured.

4. Dedicate and access the network folder.

Users can map the shared folder to a letter using File Explorer so that they can access shared folders on the network. Just like a local drive, this allows easy and permanent access to the folder. Here's how to do it.

Press Win + E to open File Explorer, then right-click on Network and select the option to map a network drive.
Select the drive letter you want in the Drive field, enter the path to the shared folder in the format, and then hit the Finish button.
Last but not least, enter your credentials when the user authentication prompt appears on the screen.
The shared folder will be accessible once authenticated.

On the other hand, users can also grant direct access to shared folders without assigning a drive letter. How to do this is explained here, or do the same:

To open the Run dialog, press Win + R. Then, type the shared folder and the network path in the following format:

server name (share name)

Press "Enter" and, if prompted, provide your credentials when the user authentication prompt appears.
The shared folder can be opened once authenticated.
Depending on the permissions granted, users can now read, write, or modify files within the shared folder.

How to install and configure File Server on Windows Server