Using a network drive

apeZ · 5 Apr 2009 at 00:02

After being asked by my brother on numerous situations, and needing to access files from around the house, I think I might set up a network drive to share files.

My understanding of a network drive is that it essentially a hard drive that can be accessed from any computer in the home network. We have 2 computers connected, as well as 3 laptops - all of the laptops are wireless, and the computers are wired.

I was planning to install a second hard drive in my computer (500GB or so) - but can I set this to be a network drive, so that everyone can access it and add files, whether it is music, video or pictures?

If so, how would I go about doing this? Many thanks in advance.

Also, we have a mixture of Vista, XP and Linux (on the netbook).

Any more questions, please ask. All suggestions are welcome!

Edit 1: Just to clarify, this seems similar to a file server, but I want to do it without needing another PC, i.e. just running it from a spare HDD on my current PC.

wij · 5 Apr 2009 at 00:20

The main thing with the method you have suggested is that you will need to have your PC switched on so people can access the drive, that may not be practical and is also probably a big waste of electricity. To achieve it that way though just install the disk in your PC, format it and set up some shared folders on that volume.

Best thing for you would probably be to buy one of the cheaper NAS enclosures that you can get form Overlockers (such as the Icybox) and just stick a drive or two in it.

apeZ · 5 Apr 2009 at 00:25

Thanks, I will have a look into that!

5abr3 · 5 Apr 2009 at 11:09

You can also get pre-built NAS solutions, it depends how much functionality you require as to what you should consider getting.

apeZ · 5 Apr 2009 at 14:09

Hmm, well, I looked at the NAS boxes, and they seem pretty expensive, not something I can afford at the moment.

How easy (or difficult) would it be to just set up a folder on my hard drive, and allow people on the network to access it?

wij · 5 Apr 2009 at 14:27

As easy as making the folder and then right clicking and setting up some sharing.

Plenty of guides around if you struggle with it.

5abr3 · 5 Apr 2009 at 15:37

Sometimes certain machines cannot see windows folders, mostly down to firewall and workgroup configurations but all in all it is an easy process and the uncooperative machines can be persuaded to work (usually with direct addressing).