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Scheduling file share availability times

Last post 07-21-2008, 14:29 by CalmYourself. 9 replies.
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  •  07-21-2008, 9:22 13509

    Scheduling file share availability times

    Not sure if this is possible but...

    Is there any way to limit the times that a shared folder is available between certain daily times?

    We have a download server which downloads series and stuff for us at work but some of the junior staff are watching movies and series during the day.  We have spoken to them about it but they are still watching during the day.  We pick it up every now and then by viewing the open sessions on the PC but don't want to have to do that all day long.  Ideally we'd like to be able to only open the share between say 16:00 and 17:00 each day, but it would be nice if we could automate that process.

    It's a standard WinXP SP2 box, simple file sharing, not on an AD.

    Any ideas?


    Why go against tradition when we can admit defeat, live in decline, be the victim of our own design?
    http://dotnet.org.za/calmyourself
  •  07-21-2008, 10:26 13510 in reply to 13509

    Re: Scheduling file share availability times

    Look at "net share /?" and schedule it using the built in XP scheduler
  •  07-21-2008, 10:43 13511 in reply to 13510

    Re: Scheduling file share availability times

    Thanks, that worked perfectly. I stuck the commands in a batch file.

    Another (more complicated Stick out tongue) option: One of the guys on our team wrote a Windows service which calls the WMI methods to control shares.  He doesn't mind sharing the code out if anyone's interested.


    Why go against tradition when we can admit defeat, live in decline, be the victim of our own design?
    http://dotnet.org.za/calmyourself
  •  07-21-2008, 11:20 13512 in reply to 13511

    Re: Scheduling file share availability times

    ...was bound to happen.  You had better stop him before he starts adding too many features Smile
  •  07-21-2008, 12:06 13514 in reply to 13509

    Re: Scheduling file share availability times

    CalmYourself:

    Is there any way to limit the times that a shared folder is available between certain daily times?...

    Ideally we'd like to be able to only open the share between say 16:00 and 17:00 each day, but it would be nice if we could automate that process.

    Wouldn't opening it for a limited time cause a rush on the folder?  Why not leave it open after hours?


    Unscrambling Eggs: Decompiling ASP.NET
  •  07-21-2008, 12:48 13517 in reply to 13514

    Re: Scheduling file share availability times

    I'm not terribly concerned with slow copy speeds or crashing the PC or anything.  It's a privilege we're providing and it's getting abused so if it does crash... that's fine with me.

    Why go against tradition when we can admit defeat, live in decline, be the victim of our own design?
    http://dotnet.org.za/calmyourself
  •  07-21-2008, 13:47 13524 in reply to 13517

    Re: Scheduling file share availability times

    CalmYourself:
    I'm not terribly concerned with slow copy speeds or crashing the PC or anything.  It's a privilege we're providing and it's getting abused so if it does crash... that's fine with me.

    What I meant was that if everyone tries to copy during that hour, the network may even degrade for people not abusing the share.


    Unscrambling Eggs: Decompiling ASP.NET
  •  07-21-2008, 13:59 13527 in reply to 13509

    Re: Scheduling file share availability times

    Closing the share for certain hours would not prevent them from coping the movies to the local PC and watching it there... in work hours. Maybe you should just give them written warnings... Surprise

    Any way you look at it, some day you'll know I was right... well... I'm not left...
  •  07-21-2008, 14:23 13529 in reply to 13524

    Re: Scheduling file share availability times

    ProfK:

    What I meant was that if everyone tries to copy during that hour, the network may even degrade for people not abusing the share.

    Ah yes, point taken. We'll see how it goes.  If it causes problems then we'll make a plan.


    Why go against tradition when we can admit defeat, live in decline, be the victim of our own design?
    http://dotnet.org.za/calmyourself
  •  07-21-2008, 14:29 13531 in reply to 13527

    Re: Scheduling file share availability times

    mot256:
    Closing the share for certain hours would not prevent them from coping the movies to the local PC and watching it there... in work hours. Maybe you should just give them written warnings... Surprise

    100% correct, and they have already received verbal warnings for it.  Our HR department has told us though that we are obliged to make it as difficult as possible for them to do so lest they claim they "accidentally" tripped and clicked on the movie.  If we don't do that, then we cannot give them a written warning.

    We had the same problem with telephone abuse. Our telephones are wired into AD, but even if we track someones usage we cannot prove that it was actually them that was dialling the numbers and using the phone (even if we physically see it - CCMA, go figure).  Only once we implemented PINs and made them sign documents saying that they were resposible for the usage of their PINs could we start making people accountable for their phone usage.

    Ideally though, these people would grow up, realise they're wasting everyone's time and money and actually start doing work without needing babysitters... I can guarantee that none of the people involved read SADev... it's a different mindset


    Why go against tradition when we can admit defeat, live in decline, be the victim of our own design?
    http://dotnet.org.za/calmyourself
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