I have a DSL or Cable Modem connection.  Can I access Windows shared folders from home?

October 8, 2001

The answer is "probably".  Networking is in a somewhat unique position of handling all communication pipes, but we do not support the devices on either end, especially when one end is provided by a non-Missouri State University entity.  Therefore, let us preface this discussion by saying that users desiring unique configurations or features should contact the technical support of their Internet Service Provider (ISP), not Missouri State University.  Your ISP's technical support is ultimately responsible for configurations that allow your connections to work.  This FAQ is provided merely as a courtesy and in no way implies responsibility for support or continued operation of services through a third party provider.

First, be sure the you have File and Print Sharing enabled on your computer.  If you don't have the feature turned on, it's not going to function on any type of connection!

For Windows File and Print Sharing to communicate properly, your Internet connection will have to have a NetBIOS or WINS name service information correctly configured.  For Missouri State University dial-up and on-campus users, this information is transparently sent to your computer when it connects to the network.  We greatly prefer that these people do not configure this information into their machines, but rather receive up-to-date information from the network each time they connect.   If the information changes (as it occasionally does) then no actions are required on the part of the users as the change is transparent.

People getting Internet service outside of Missouri State University, however, will not be able to locate any Missouri State University Windows Shares unless they point to Missouri State University's NetBIOS name server (or WINS) which AT&T, Southwestern Bell, and other ISPs don't configure by default.  This WINS facility is responsible for converting the names you use on Windows Shares into Internet addresses used to find the resource.  Without this conversion, your computer can't find the server to which you're trying to connect.  Windows is, thankfully, moving away from WINS, but it's still needed for the time being.

Since your ISP will not send your machine Missouri State University WINS values, you must configure these values on your computer.  WARNING:  Changing these values could cause some services offered by your ISP to stop working.  Again, please consult your ISP's technical support.  Other addresses may be hard coded in your machine as well, although this is also not recommended unless specified by your ISP.  The definitive information about all addresses required to allow your machine to function at Missouri State University on the dialup network (including WINS) are published in one spot only – all other locations can and will lag behind.  They are published at:

http://networking.MissouriState.edu/Dialup/DialupIP.htm 
 

Note that the Domain Name Server (DNS) section tells you addresses, in the preferred order, to use to convert Internet names into Internet Protocol (IP) addresses so that you can FTP or WEB to sites.  Don't use these address, but leave your machine configured as specified by your ISP.

The NetBIOS Name Server or WINS section (just another name for the same thing) gives you addresses that are required to convert NetBIOS names into addresses so that things like Windows file and print sharing works.  Try defining only the WINS information first.  If that fixed the Windows file and print sharing problem, be sure you can still browse the web.  If so, you’re done.  If not, try hard-coding the DNS section as well, but using addresses supplied by your ISP.  If that still fails, you'll need to call the technical support offered by your ISP and let them know what you've done and what you are trying to accomplish.

Changing these values varies a little between different versions of Windows.  You usually need to just right click on Network Neighborhood, My Network Places (or something similar), select properties, and poke around until you find places to enter the WINS addresses.  Windows help files or your technical support can also help you with that.

I still can't get it to work and I want to talk to someone about this.

For more information, please call your Internet Service Provider's technical support.  Only they can be responsible for the configuration of your machine connecting through your service.  If you want to talk to the author of this FAQ, you may phone Mark Harsen, the Networking Administrator in charge of Networking.