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File and Print Server

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Windows CE .NET supports the File Server and Print Server features. These features enable clients to access files and other resources, such as printers, from a server over a network using TCP/IP.

The File Server and Print Server features use the Common Internet File System (CIFS). This is an extension of the Server Message Block (SMB) file sharing protocol. CIFS enables a network-enabled application to access and manipulate files and directories on a remote server in the same way that it the application accesses and manipulates files and directories on the local system.

The File Server and Print Server features support user-level authentication. This means that any client attempting to access a share on a server must provide a user name and password. When authenticated, the user can then access all shares that are not protected by share-level security on a server.

Windows CE provides a Web-based network configuration utility to configure your server, and manage both share and user permissions. This sample configuration utility is located in the %_WINCEROOT%\Public\Servers\Sdk\Samples\Natadmin\smbprint directory. To access the Web-based configuration page for your server, type the following information in the address bar in your Internet browser:

Http://<IP address of your server device>/NetworkAdmin

You can also modify these settings using the registry. For more information, see SMB Server Registry Settings.

The File Server and Print Server features use the IOCTL_SERVICE_REFRESH I/O control (IOCTL) and device.exe to reload these settings if they are changed without rebooting the device.

To reload your server settings

  1. Call the CreateFile function to open a handle to the "SMB1" service.
  2. To send the IOCTL, call DeviceIOControl on the open service. DeviceIOControl then calls the service-related xxx_IOControl function, and passes in IOCTL_SERVICE_REFRESH as the dwCode parameter.

See Also

CreateFile | DeviceIOControl | xxx_IOControl | Controlling a Running Service | SMB Server Registry Settings

 Last updated on Saturday, April 10, 2004

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