Cannot Turn on Network Discovery for Windows Server 2016 VM Sharing a Folder

Experimenting with VM Network Sharing: Sharing a Folder between a Main PC (WinServer 2016 Set as Domain - Main) and a Domain-Joined VM

In this article, we will discuss how to share a folder between a main PC running Windows Server 2016, which is set as the domain controller, and a domain-joined virtual machine (VM) using network sharing. We will cover the key concepts and provide detailed instructions to help you understand the process.

Network Sharing Overview

Network sharing is a feature in Windows that allows users to share resources, such as folders and printers, over a network. By sharing a folder, other users on the network can access its contents and collaborate on files. In this experiment, we will share a folder on the main PC and access it from a domain-joined VM.

Setting up the Main PC

Before we can share a folder, we need to ensure that the main PC is set up correctly. Follow these steps to prepare the main PC:

1. Install and configure Windows Server 2016 as a domain controller.
2. Create a new user or use an existing user for testing purposes.
3. Create a folder that you want to share.

Sharing the Folder

Once the main PC is set up, you can share the folder by following these steps:

1. Right-click on the folder you want to share and select Properties.
2. Go to the Sharing tab and click on Advanced Sharing.
3. Check the box next to Share this folder and click Permissions.
4. Add the user you created earlier and grant them Read or Read/Write access as needed.
5. Click OK to close the Permissions window, then click OK again to close the Advanced Sharing window.

Accessing the Shared Folder from the Domain-Joined VM

Now that the folder is shared, you can access it from the domain-joined VM by following these steps:

1. Open File Explorer on the VM and click on Network.
2. Look for the main PC in the list of available network resources.
3. Double-click on the main PC to access its shared folders.
4. Enter the credentials of the user you created earlier when prompted.

In this article, we discussed how to share a folder between a main PC running Windows Server 2016, which is set as the domain controller, and a domain-joined VM using network sharing. We covered the key concepts and provided detailed instructions to help you understand the process. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily share folders between your main PC and domain-joined VMs.

References

• Advanced Sharing
• Net Use
• Setting up a Virtual Domain Controller