Limit the Number of Users of a Shared Folder

Applies To: Windows Server 2008

You can share folders and files with others on your network or you can share your entire hard disk. For more control, you can specify the number of users you allow to simultaneously connect to the shared folder.

The maximum number of users allowed to connect to a shared folder is limited by software licensing terms.

Limit the number of users of a shared folder

• Using the Windows interface

• Using a command line

To limit the number of users of a shared folder by using the Windows interface

1. Open Computer Management.

   • In Windows Vista: Click Start, click Control Panel, click System and Maintenance, click Administrative Tools, and then click Computer Management.

   • In Windows Server 2008: Click Start, click Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools, and then click Computer Management.

2. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Continue.

3. In the console tree, click System Tools, click Shared Folders, and then click Shares.

4. In the details pane, right-click the shared folder, and then click Properties.

5. On the General tab, under User limit, specify the limit you want:

   • To set the limit at the maximum number, click Maximum allowed.

   • To specify a number for the limit, click Allow this number of users, and then type the number of users in the box.

To limit the number of users of a shared folder by using a command line

1. To open an elevated Command Prompt window, click Start, point to All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.

2. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Continue.

3. Type:

   net share <sharename> /users:<number>
   

   For example, to specify a limit of three users who can simultaneously connect to your shared folder named myshare, type:

   net share myshare /users:3
   

Value	Description
Net share	Creates, deletes, or displays shared folder.
<Sharename>	The network name of the shared folder.
/users:<number>	Sets the maximum number of users who can simultaneously access the shared folder.

Note

To view the complete syntax for this command, at the command prompt, type: net help share

Additional references

Command-Line Syntax Notation