2. Establishing workgroups

One benefit of networking computers in your small office is that everyone can use certain files, folders and a printer. This happens when the owner of a computer makes files, folders or a connected printer available to others on the network through a process called "sharing." Once files, folders or a printer are shared, others on the network can then access them.

To facilitate this multi-user access, all of the computers that are sharing or accessing shared resources must first be members of the same workgroup.

Once a workgroup has been created, it is visible when you open My Network Places. (Click the My Network Places icon on your desktop.) The ability to see a whole workgroup simplifies the viewing and accessing of shared resources.

To specify a computer's workgroup in Windows XP operating system:

1.	Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click System. If you don't see a System icon, click Performance and Maintenance, and then click System.
2.	Click the Computer Name tab.
3.	Click Change, and then in the Workgroup box, enter the name of the workgroup you want to join or create.

Naming conventions are important to keep in mind when you set up or add computers to workgroups. A workgroup name must be:

•	The same for all computers in the workgroup
•	Different from any computer name in the workgrou

Computer names, meanwhile, must be unique:

•	No other computer in the workgroup can have the same name
•	The computer name must also be different from the workgroup name

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