Using Your Computer as a Network Server

A network sever is the master computer in a network and provides storage space for the other computers connected to it. It can also write files to and read files from the other computers.

Even if no one is typing commands at the network server keyboard, the server can process commands sent to it from other computers. If you use your computer as the network server, you may want to prevent unauthorized users from entering commands at the keyboard. To provide this security, you can enable a power-on password in network server mode using the SETUP program.

If you set a power-on password but do not turn on network server mode, you enter the password before the computer loads the operating system or the network software. Once you load it, anyone can access your system by typing commands on the keyboard. However, if you set a password and turn on network server mode, you can load your operating system or network software 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 password prompt ( _ ), as you would if network server mode was turned off. The prompt is hidden to prevent unauthorized users from knowing that a password is required.

You do not have to set a password in network server mode to use your computer as a network server, but it is helpful. See “Setting the Power-on Password” in Chapter 2 of the Setup Guide for instructions on setting the password and enabling network server mode. Then read the next section to use your network password.

Enhancing System Operations 2-7