Configure your Windows Network Profile

The Network Profile feature was introduced with Windows Vista and was carried over to later versions of Microsoft Windows. In Windows 10, the default Network Profile settings will prevent Maitre'D from working correctly by disabling File & Printer sharing and forcing Password Protected Sharing. This topic explains how to configure these settings to allow Maitre'D to operate normally.

Change Network Profile from "Public" to "Private" or "Domain"

By default, on a new Windows 10 installation, your Network Profile will be set to "Public". This is the most secure setting, and is intended for use on public networks, such as public WiFi provided at airports, coffee shops, etc. This setting will "hide" the PC from other devices on the network, which will cause issues with Maitre'D. This profile also hides settings that need to be enabled for Maitre'D to work correctly. This needs to be changed to either Private or Domain.

Procedure

1. In the Windows Notification area, click on the Network Connection icon, then click on the network connection you wish to configure. (there could be more than one.)

Notification Area

1. This will bring up basic settings. Click on the Network connection (again).

Ethernet - Basic Settings

1. The Network profile options will be displayed. Select either Private or Domain.

Network Profile Selection

Domain or Private Network Profile, which one to select?

If your Maitre'D Main Back-Office PC is part of an Active Directory Domain, your Network Profile needs to be set to "Domain". If the PC is not on a domain, this option will not be available, therefore your Network Profile needs to be set to "Private".

If you believe that the PC should be using the Domain Network Profile but this option is not available, please ask your network administrator for advice.

Change Network Profile Options

Once the profile is set to either Private or Domain, some additional options need to be changed:

1. Just like before, in the Windows Notification area, click on the Network Connection icon, then click on the network connection you wish to configure. (there could be more than one.)

Notification Area

1. This will bring up basic settings. This time, click Change advanced sharing options.

Ethernet - Basic Settings

1. Under the Private (or domain) profile, make sure that:

a. Turn on network discovery is selected.

b. Turn on file and printer sharing is selected.

Private Network Profile Options

1. Click on the down-arrow next to All Networks. This will display more options.

2. Scroll down to the Password Protected Sharing section and select Turn off password protected sharing.

Common Network Profile Options

1. Save changes.

This configuration needs to be done on the Main Back-Office PC, all Auxiliary Back-Office and Backup Server PCs, as well as on all POS workstations.

Test Connectivity

The connectivity between the Main Maitre'D Back-Office PC and other components of the Maitre'D network can easily be tested. For the example below, we are testing connectivity to a PC named "MAIN-BACK-OFFICE".

1. From any PC or POS on the Maitre'D network, right-click the Windows Start button and select Run...

Right-Click Windows Start Menu

1. In the Run... box, type two back-slashes (\\) followed by the name of the PC you want to connect to. For example:

\\MAIN-BACK-OFFICE

Windows Run Dialog

1. Click OK.

a. If the Maitre'D Back-Office is already installed, you will see the MaitreD shared folder on the PC named MAIN-BACK-OFFICE.

Remote PC with shared folder

b. If the Maitre'D Back-Office is not yet installed, you will see an empty folder on the PC named MAIN-BACK-OFFICE.

Remote PC with empty folder

c. If the network settings are not configured properly, you will see an error message.

Error message accessing remote PC

The network settings now allow communication between all the components of the Maitre'D Network.