This article describes the most efficient way to avoid the limit in number of computers that can simultaneously access one computer for files with non-server Operating Systems. Note that we will not provide any instructions that can make your Windows 2K or XP Home/Professional the true server OS. The aim of this article is to show the most cost effective way (from our point of view) to share different files in the LAN with a PC that is running under 2K or XP PC.

Here is the problem we are going to discuss. You have, for example, about 20 computers on the network in a workgroup environment. You want all 20 computers to be able to access one computer for files. However, if ten computers are accessing files on this main computer, the 11th one gets an error saying the limit of connections has been reached. Once one of 10 connections is finished, then other PCs can connect as long as the total is 10 or less. The limit (10 computers per time) was introduced by Microsoft to prevent 2K and XP being used as servers.

For a rather long time the only possible solution was to upgrade the computer to 2003 Server. Besides additional cost, this solution required a lot of time to install and configure new OS. That made you predict server load in advance to select appropriate OS.

Today you may use special software for file sharing called My Remote Files. This software does not use Windows file sharing, so that aforementioned limit is not applicable to it. My Remote Files works on Windows 2K, XP. It creates HTTPS or HTTP server that can be accessed from usual web browser. There is no need to install any additional software or services, or setup My Remote Files on client’s PC. Once it has been installed and configured on server, the program starts providing file sharing functionality in the way that users know the best, i.e. by any web browser. Interaction between user and server is performed in usual for online services manner: login, remote file operations, logout.

It supports numerous user accounts with different user permissions. Files can be downloaded or uploaded to the server. My Remote Files is distributed as shareware, so you may try it on any available PC and test whether it can solve file sharing tasks that your company have. Note that the program can not help, if you need more than 10 simultaneous connections to a network printer.

You can make all kinds of web-based file sharing systems – from file storages to upload servers, with few accounts with simultaneous access or many unique accounts for every user, heavily loaded or not. In all cases, the program provides very high speed of transmitting and receiving data and high stability.

My Remote Files package has two independent executable files: Windows service that performs file sharing functionality, and interface part that configures server. Service can work without interface part after it has been started from main window at least one time. Although using them both gives some advantages, for example ability to kick connected user.

My Remote Files can work in LANs with static or dynamically assigned IPs. In the later case, the program can detect new IP address and correct its configuration to work with new address.

My Remote Files was strictly tested many times. In our tests we simulated usual user activity cycle: login, download a file, upload a file, logout. We found out that the program can continue providing file sharing services after 100000 cycles. Moreover, the server has an ability to monitor its state and restart itself immediately when something is wrong.

My Remote Files is protected from user’s errors and illegal actions. Resources and operations that are not available for current user are blocked even when user tries to access them directly, bypassing web interface. File server stops accepting authorization requests for a few minutes after several unsuccessful attempts to login, thus substantially reducing risk of fitting password. Even if user name and/or password do not match any account, the program will not inform user what exactly is wrong. Also, if user forgets to logout, he will be automatically logout after timeout.