File and print share via router?

marlot

I have a variety of machines connected to a Linksys WRT54g. One running XP, a couple using Win7. The XP machine is wired, the win 7s are wireless.

I'd like to buy a device (NAS?) to allow common file sharing (mainly for backup). And ideally to share the printers also. The device can sit next to the router, and I have a spare port.

Any recommendations on the best device to do this? I reckon I need abut 1TB

Thanks in advance!

squinty

Try a HP Proreliant Microserver which is currently available with £100 cashback see (for example)

http://www.dabs.com/products/hp-proliant-microserver-g7-n40l-nhp-eu-svr-7RMD.html?q=microserver&src=16

You will also need to add a extra HDD and an OS

sillygoose

I recently went down this route as moving files between computers was getting a pain.

This is excellent (link below), comes without drives at £51 I put two 2gb drives in so its working as a RAID providing extra security. You can of course use it the simple way so drives are just added together or striped for more performance and put whatever drives you like. Mine is setup so that after a couple of hours of no use it goes to sleep, only takes about 8 seconds to start up 1st time after that. Very quiet - temperature controlled cooling.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/D-Link-ShareCenter-Network-Storage-Enclosure/dp/B004AIWOXY

I also had the same router as you but it caused problems. The Linksys has only 10/100mb ports and files these days are large. Basically the router caused a big bottleneck in speed moving large files. This is not down to the NAS ability but the router so will apply to any NAS.

The NAS drive above has a 1000mb (Gigabit) port and so has my computer. I got a 'reconditioned' Belkin F5D8235-4 Router off Ebay for £23 !!! which due to its N-mode wifi has not only doubled my typical wifi speeds but due to the Gigabit ports has increased the NAS file transfer from 5mb/s to 29mb/s which makes it an entirely more usable setup.