I'm running Appleshare IP 6.3 (over MAC OS 9.1) on a blue G4 tower. 
I've enabled Windows file sharing.  Our Windows 98 machines are able
to see the server and interact with it, but our Windows XP machines
are not (they are able to see other services running on the same
machine, e.g. a Filemaker Pro server, so it's not a hardware
networking issue).

What precisely do I need to do to get the Windows XP machine to see
the file server as seamlessly as the Windows 98 machines do?  Do I
need a third-party product (e.g. Dave) and if so is it sure to work
with the setup we have (even the folks at Thursby weren't sure if Dave
would work in conjunction with Appleshare IP 6.3).  Ideally I'd like
to hear from someone who has actually made this work in their own
environment.

What I've used with great success in the past is PC MacLAN from
Miramar Systems.  However, I didn't have Appleshare IP 6.3 (I had an
older version of AppleShare), so I can't confirm that particular
configuration.  My impression from their web site is that they support
all AppleShare up through MacOS X.

The good news is that they have a free downloadable demo, so you can
make sure it works before you purchase it.  Note that there is an
NT/XP version that you should download in this instance.

If you purchase it, it is $189. (online price)

This is the link to the PC MacLAN product description:
http://www.miramar.com/MiramarWeb.nsf/web/prod_nav_nt_index

This is the link to register for the free download:
http://support.miramar.com/demovers.nsf/ntdemo?OpenForm

I hope you find this information useful.  If you need further
clarification, do not hesitate to ask.

---

Request for Answer Clarification by dbalbert-ga on 05 Aug 2002 16:16 PDT

Thanks, I'll try it tomorrow.  Do you know why Appleshare IP 6.3 works
fine with Windows 98 but not with Windows XP?  I would have assumed
that anything 98 can do, XP can do too.  Did they take out some
functionality?  Or isn't it possible that there is some setting I need
to adjust within XP to get it to work without additional software?

---

Clarification of Answer by snapanswer-ga on 05 Aug 2002 21:39 PDT

It does seem odd and confusing, doesn't it?  However, it is important
to remember that Windows XP is a bit of a merging between Windows NT
and Windows 95+.  Much of the core of XP comes from the Windows NT
family, while many of the "kind and gentle" features spring from
Windows 95+.  Also, in reading some of the information available in
the macwindows.com link provided below, it is speculated (and this is
only conjecture) that Microsoft changed their implementation of SMB
and that AppleShare IP would need to be modified by Apple for them to
work together.

A sample chapter from a book on Windows XP networking (links and
excerpts provided below) from Microsoft Press does seem to confirm
that a third-party product, such as PC MacLAN is required for what you
are trying to do.

Home Networking with Microsoft® Windows® XP Step by Step, by Matthew
Danda and Heather T. Brown(October 31,2001)
http://www.microsoft.com/mspress/books/sampchap/5417c.asp
"If you want to use your Macintosh computer only to take advantage of
Windows XP’s Internet Connection Sharing feature, you do not need to
purchase any networking software. Just make sure that the TCP/IP
networking protocol is installed on your Macintosh and that your
network settings are configured to be automatic. Then configure your
Internet browser to use the LAN to connect to the Internet. (See the
documentation that came with your Macintosh computer for specific
configuration instructions.) If you want to take advantage of shared
files or shared printers, you need to purchase a third-party software
product such as PC MACLAN or DAVE."

Apple indicates that their built in support works with Windows
95/98... apparently not NT-derived operating systems, such as Windows
XP.  Miramar System's document suggests that NT servers only offer
limited built-in support for Apple.  Microsoft's Knowledge Base seems
mute on this topic... a search for AppleShare or AFP for the Windows
XP product returns 0 documents.
Apple AppleShare IP 6.3 FAQ Document
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=24558#faq8

Apple AppleShare IP 6.3 FAQ Document
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=88012#faq3

Miramar Systems PC MacLAN NT/2000/XP FAQ Document
http://www.miramar.com/MiramarWeb.nsf/web/prod_nav_nt_faq#2

Macwindows.com, "AppleShare IP Server Cross-platform Issues" (Updated
May 21, 2002)
http://www.macwindows.com/ASIP.html

An interesting article from the Mac perspective.  I included it mainly
for interest you may have in background and Apple vocabulary
information.  However, something in the article may inspire a new
guess at ways to work around this issue on XP.  (Based upon the book
from Microsoft Press, however, I simply think XP does not have the
built-in functionality).
Seattle Times "OS X puts all file-transfer procedures in one place,
although few users find it", by Glenn Fleishman (April 22, 2002)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/practicalmac/134439845_ptmacc20.html

Search Terms: AppleShare IP Windows XP
Search Terms: PC MacLAN XP Review

I hope that helps.  Please let me know if anything remains unclear.

Thank you!  I'm still trying to get PC-MACLAN to work (configuration
in our environment was not as simple as I'd hoped), but I'm partway
there, and it does seem to be the right answer.  I greatly appreciate
all the additional information you sent me as well.