network storage
 

i got a network at work with like 6 comps usein the normal ethernet and cat 5 cables. What is the eastest way 2 make it so 1 comp can access the network files with out having the main comp on. Like network storage.

theres little machines that are basically a network card, maybe a raid and a few hardrives, they act as network stores, often more expensive than a pc though, depending on the system they'll appear as windows or unix shares.

well i have a 20gig hd sitting around if i could hook it up or a zip drive cuz i only need a small amout of storage. just need 2 be able 2 acess with all comps when that is the ONLY one on. id just use the main comp HD but then it would half 2 be on for all the others 2 acess it.

Well, about the only solution is to set up a computer as a dedicated file store and keep it on nonstop.

is there any small storage drives like the 60 gig onces that cost 400 dolla? thats maybe old and used someone wants 2 sell? run off ethernet.

you won't be able to hook up a harddrive to your network, you'll need a server for it.

if you're willing to spend a couple hundred bucks, pick up a cheapo box, something like a p3, 450mhz (you'll often hear them referred to as Barebones PCs). you need a motherboard, power supply, a network card and the harddrive(s).

then it's just a matter of setting up the permissions and inserting it into your network.

that's the easiest way that i can think of. and you can modify the storage space as you see fit.

works for me...I have a Gateway2000 PIIII 650 with a 30 GB and 80 GB running win2k pro (downgraded from win2k server because of my f'ing stupid DSL setup)

If you are running Windows 2000 or higher, is this something that you could use Offline File support for?

Make a share on the source machine, and on the client right-click the desired folder and select Make Available Offline. This will make the client machine cache the files for when the source machine is unavailable.

I use this on my laptop for when I travel. When I get back home and connect, the laptop syncs the files.

Try this link

NAS

Here's another decent looking one
NAS2


There are many more like this - this is just an example

Offline File support is, from my experience, pretty twitchy. But at the same time, it's easier just to set up an always on machine and not have to deal with it, just so you don't have to go to the hassle of caching the files from the network server all of the time, especially if there's a lot of files.

tks eveone for ur info. im either gonna buya barebone PC that i found for like 130$'s. or the network Hd thing for 270$. how do u hook the bare bone up if it dont have a video card and stuff that is needed on a normal PC?

If you were considering a 100 or 250 mb zip drive, why not just get a 256mb usb key? They are like $50-75 and you just pop the thing in a usb port and bam, new drive in windows with 256mb of space.

you could use the onboard video to set it up and then unplug the monitor, tuck it away in a corner and your sweet,

get a gigabit lan if you can cause then the hard drive on the network computer will be as fast as local harddrives, you can just keep adding hard drives and pretty soon you could have terabytes all at the same speed as your local hard drives.

but the usb flash ideas good as well

the nas box doesn't need a monitor, or keyboard or anything, it works straight out of the box. You access it through a web browser. I've set up those before (Iomega has some really nice ones, although expensive). All you have to do is move the files you want everyone to share to the nas (docs, etc.)

Never mind.

Sombody already said what I wanted to.
:)

This is more work, but its pretty cheap.

I took an old p2 350 system w/ 128M ram, updated the bios to support large drives (60G). Popped in an ethernet card, and let <a href="http://www.knoppix.org/" target="_blank">knoppix</a> run off the CD drive. I formatted the drive with fat 32 (for compatability) and setup samba under knoppix. Since the os runs off the cd/memory, I can use the entire drive for files. Makes it easier to add it to a windows system if I need to later on.

A bonus: If you set up your network correctly you can ssh files remotely (from work or your friends house) into your file server.
A caveat: Some knowledge of linux helps...but you can try knoppix w/o installing anything. If you don't like it, eject the disc and reboot.

another question. I got all my stuff for my network 2 day and gonna set it up soon. Now if i put these comps on the net is there any way 2 acess with network from computers on the net outside our network. Beacuse are Payroll Lady does it at her house and she has 2 come in and back up all the files ever 2 weeks.