When you enable a power-on password but do not use network server mode, you enter the password before the computer loads MS-DOS. Once you load MS-DOS, anyone can access your system by typing commands on the keyboard. However, if you enable a power-on password and turn on network server mode, you can load MS-DOS before you enter the password. This allows other computers in the network to access the system, but prevents unauthorized users from entering commands at your keyboard and using any network server access privileges.

When you boot the computer in network server mode, you do

not see the key prompt ) to tell you when to enter the password (as you would if network server mode was turned off). The password prompt is hidden to prevent unauthorized users from knowing that a password is required.

You do not have to set a password or enable network server mode to use your computer as a network server, but it prevents unauthorized access to your computer when it is operating in this special situation.

See “Setting the Power-on Password” in Chapter 2 for instructions on how to set a power-on password and enable network server mode.

Note

If your hard disk drive has a partition larger than 32MB, you must use the MS-DOS SHARE command to install file sharing and locking protection in a network environment. See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for more information about SHARE.

If you do not install SHARE, the following message flashes on your screen after you install your networking software and reboot your computer:

WARNING! SHARE should be loaded for large media

4-10 Enhancing System Operations