Choose Start ➪ Programs ➪ Accessories ➪ System Tools ➪ Backup. The Microsoft

Part VI ✦ Managing the Network Figure 22-7: Use the password to access another computer’s shares.

5. Click OK. The selected server’s shares appear in the Net Watcher window, as shown in

Figure 22-8. Figure 22-8: View shares on other computers. After you’ve accessed a server using the password, Windows adds it to your password list. You have to enter the password only once to access each server. Disconnecting a user You can disconnect a user from the server you’re monitoring at any time. Before you discon- nect the user, however, you should make sure that user has closed all open files from his or her computer. You can disconnect a user only in Show Users view. To disconnect a user, select the user and then choose Administer ➪ Disconnect User. A warn- ing dialog box appears. Click Yes to continue. Net Watcher doesn’t warn the user when you disconnect him or her. When the user tries to access the computer, however, the drive is not available. Closing a file As with disconnecting a user, you must be careful when closing a file that is in use. You should warn a user before you close the file so that the user can save changes. If the user doesn’t save changes, he or she will lose unsaved data. Note Chapter 22 ✦ Using Network Management Tools To close a file, select the Show Files view. Select the open file and then choose Administer ➪ Close File. A warning dialog box appears. Choose Yes to close the file. Again, Net Watcher doesn’t warn the user. Working with shared folders You can share folders on any server computer to which you’re attached with Net Watcher. You can open any drive and share any folder; the remote administration password gives you the permission you need to perform these tasks. To share a folder, follow these steps: 1. Open Net Watcher and then open the computer you want to monitor. 2. Change to Shared Folders view. 3. Choose Administer ➪ Add Shared Folder. The Enter Path dialog box appears. 4. Enter the path or use the Browse button to locate the folder on the server computer. 5. Click OK. The Share dialog box appears. 6. Choose Shared As and then enter the share name and access type.

7. Click OK to close the Share dialog box.

Preventive Maintenance to Optimize Your Network The purpose of network “watchers” and system monitors is to locate problem areas on the net- work and try to alleviate traffic tie-ups and bottlenecks. Before you get to that point, however, you can lessen many problems by performing some preventive maintenance tasks. Just like keeping a printer clean or the files on your hard disk orderly, keeping your network in top shape can help performance and efficiency. Periodic checks of equipment and configurations will contribute to optimum network performance. Think about the following aspects of building and maintaining a network: ✦ Consider the quality of your networking hardware. If you use cheap network cards and second-rate cabling, your network performance suffers. ✦ If the cabling is out in the middle of the floor where people trample it and kids run toy cars over it constantly, you’re putting your network connections at risk. Check the cabling periodically for damage. ✦ Periodically check all connectors, routers, hubs, and so on to make sure that connections are secure. ✦ Install and configure all programs — such as browsers, e-mail, and other shared applica- tions — the same way so that maintenance and troubleshooting is easier. ✦ Use a UPS on each computer to prevent damage from power surges, brownouts, and power outages. ✦ Keep backups of your data, and from time to time, test the backups to make sure that they’re reliable. ✦ Clean network printers regularly.