Networking Advice Please

tnor_fo_tkcab

Hi Y'all.

Hopefully someone can offer a bit of guidance with the following :

(i asked similar questions some time ago but now i've got the time/cash to actually get this sorted )

I'm trying to update my network at home so that all files are stored on an external drive that will allow multiple computers to access the files, both via wired and wireless. Also, all computers will still need to access the internet.

I've got Virgin Broadband running via a Netgear Rangemax WPN824 v2 (802.11) to my main PC (XP SP3), to my laptop (XP SP3) and to my sons laptop (Vista home basic). Both laptops are wireless but the main PC is wired as it is in an outbuilding far away from the router.

Ideally the new "drive" will be located close to the router where it will be more secure as it is inside of my house and the PC (in the less secure outbuilding) will access files & save files back to the new drive. The main reason for doing this, other than not having to transfer files by flashdrive etc all the time, is for security. i.e. if some scrote should have it away with my PC then I've still got all the important files etc in the house.

Any advice on what to buy & where's currently good to buy from would be much appreciated. Just as a thought, do I need to do anything to the 3 computers before installing the new drive ?

Many thanks, Jac

ps. Just moved the router up onto a shelf as its been sat on a tumble dryer for the last year or two and apparantly large metal surfaces confuse them somewhat !
(if I'd been sat on a tumble dryer for 2 years I reckon I'd be pretty confused too ! )

Taffybiker

If you have a sharing network already set up, it is an easy matter to just share the drive between computers.
I share my 2nd hard disk with all PC's on my home network, and each machine has full access to it. Mine is mounted internally and of course the machine it is connected to does need to be on.

diable

Check out Buffalo NAS drives.

timbim_2

If you happen to have an old computer lying around, you could set that up as a NAS by bunging in a new HDD or two, and installing freeNAS.

tnor_fo_tkcab

timbim ~ good idea except 1) i'm not bright enough, 2) i've next to no room to put a large(ish) brain & 3) i've not got an old PC lying around

diable ~ buffalo's look good and i've seen some linksys as well that i reckon will do the job. (the more plug & play the better !! )

thanks for the input, Jac.

timbim_2

Fair enough, but on the info given, its a good MSE suggestion. Very low cost.

tnor_fo_tkcab

just been looking at a Western Digital 1TB my world edition shared storage and also a Iomega 500 GB shared storage media server.
Other than the obvious brain size are these similar and would they do the job ?

I've only seen these items on the PC World site so far and that site is a little lacking in technical info.
Someone suggested CCL Computers in Bradford which is close enough for me to actually call in and window shop but has anyone had any bad experiences with them ?

ta, Jac.

made2fade

This will do the job and it's nice and cheap here at the mo.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/139061

I've got one myself, never given me any problems.