# User's Guide |

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# Creating a Shared folder

Create shared folders to organize content on your HP Media Vault. Folders can have public or private permissions. Private folders have more security and require a user name and password to log on.

| To create a shared folder

1. At the computer, click Start, All Programs, HP Media Vault, and then Control Center.
2. On the Tools tab, click Customize HP Media Vault.
3. You are prompted for an administrator name and password if you set one up. For additional information, see Editing System Settings.
4. On the Shared Folders tab, click Create Shared Folder.
5. In the Folder Name box, type a descriptive name.
6. Typing a Comment is optional.
7. Select Public or Private Folder Access.

- Public - Public folders give everyone on your network equal access. However, you can check Protect Shared Folder and create a shared folder password to add some security. With password protection enabled, all network users enter the same password to access the shared folder.
- To browse shared folders from an Internet browser on a computer within your home network or remotely, the public shared folders must be password enabled or the folder must be set to private (see below). For additional information, see To use network addressing to browse. For instance, if you registered MyFamily.hpshare.net for your HP Media Vault, you would use this address to connect to your server using remote access.
- Private - Private shared folders are the default. They are more secure since you create network users on the Users tab and you define "access privileges" for each user for each shared folder. It is recommended that you use private shared folders if you are using remote access since each user is assigned a password, increasing the security level of your Media Vault. For additional information, see Creating a User.

8. Select where you want the shared folder to reside.
9. The options available to you depend on how your Media Vault is setup. The HP Media Vault is initially set up with one non-mirrored drive.

- Mirrored - A mirrored share automatically stores an exact copy of files on a second hard drive. Using a mirrored share reduces the chance of you losing critical files if one hard drive fails.
- Non-mirrored - A non-mirrored share is stored on a single hard drive. The HP Media Vault does not automatically maintain a copy of these files on a second hard drive.
- USB - You can add external USB storage devices to any of the HP Media Vault’s USB ports. Small USB devices, such as key disks and jump drives, can be attached. Likewise, portable devices, such as cameras and phones, can be attached if the Media Vault detects those devices as USB storage devices. If you have any questions, check with the USB manufacturer to verify that the device is classified as a USB storage device.

| Note
| USB devices only appear on this page if they were formatted using the HP Media Vault Administration Console.

10. For additional information, see Formatting an External USB Device.
11. Check Enable Media Streaming to share the folder’s contents with a DMA-enabled device or iTunes.
12. Streaming to DMA-enabled Devices. Check this box if you have a Digital Media Adaptor (DMA) and want to stream photos, music, or videos in this folder to your television or stereo. Media streaming looks for files of a certain type—photos, music, or videos—within the specified folder. Therefore, music must be placed in the music folder or a sub-folder of the music folder. Photos must be within the Photos folder. Videos must be in the videos folder.
13. For example, if a .jpg (a photo file format) is placed in the music folder it will not be streamed as a photo. It is ignored since it is not in the photos folder.
14. Streaming to iTunes. You can also check Enable Media Streaming if you are placing music in this folder and want to listen to it using iTunes. Only music files that are not DRM-protected can be streamed to iTunes. Music purchased from the iTunes store or some other online stores cannot be streamed to iTunes from the Media Vault. Likewise, photos or videos cannot be streamed to iTunes, just music files.
15. Click Save.

See Also

#

- Creating a User
- Streaming Media to your Entertainment Center

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