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Martian · 06-26-2009, 07:51 PM

For external filesharing, you're looking at setting up an FTP server. This may be more involved than you want to get into. It's not overly difficult, but the idea of configuring and maintaining a server is daunting to some. It will require, among other things, a DNS registration, although services like DynDNS do simplify this and eliminate the need for a static IP.

Sharing internally across the network is much simpler. A NAS server is the easiest option; had you mentioned the desire for this in the previous thread, I would've suggested something like the WRT160NL, which has NAS capability built in. As it is, you can add a network storage device for the function; a cursory glance indicates that they start around $80-$100.

If you want to do this on the cheap, it's possible to share files over a local network from a Windows machine using the Windows SMB implementation. The Windows SMB implementation is not generally very good, however, so it can get a bit messy. I'm certain that OSX has similar functionality (it's fairly trivial in BSD), but having virtually no experience with OSX it's hard for me to advise you any further on this.

EDIT - I should note also that sharing a printer is very different from sharing actual files. That is to say, both are done using a standard protocol (typically SMB, which is what Windows uses), but printers don't require all the mucking about with permissions that Windows seems to make so needlessly difficult. If you want a smart solution you can buy network-aware printers that have the capability themselves, but making a printer network accessible from a localhost is fairly straightforward as well.

06-26-2009, 07:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	For external filesharing, you're looking at setting up an FTP server. This may be more involved than you want to get into. It's not overly difficult, but the idea of configuring and maintaining a server is daunting to some. It will require, among other things, a DNS registration, although services like DynDNS do simplify this and eliminate the need for a static IP. Sharing internally across the network is much simpler. A NAS server is the easiest option; had you mentioned the desire for this in the previous thread, I would've suggested something like the WRT160NL, which has NAS capability built in. As it is, you can add a network storage device for the function; a cursory glance indicates that they start around $80-$100. If you want to do this on the cheap, it's possible to share files over a local network from a Windows machine using the Windows SMB implementation. The Windows SMB implementation is not generally very good, however, so it can get a bit messy. I'm certain that OSX has similar functionality (it's fairly trivial in BSD), but having virtually no experience with OSX it's hard for me to advise you any further on this. EDIT - I should note also that sharing a printer is very different from sharing actual files. That is to say, both are done using a standard protocol (typically SMB, which is what Windows uses), but printers don't require all the mucking about with permissions that Windows seems to make so needlessly difficult. If you want a smart solution you can buy network-aware printers that have the capability themselves, but making a printer network accessible from a localhost is fairly straightforward as well. __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame Last edited by Martian; 06-26-2009 at 07:59 PM..