My family is asking for me to set up a file server at my house where we can share pics, videos, et cetera. I have a decent box for the task that is ready for to have any OS installed.
I am not sure what program/service I should install to make this possible. Preferably I would like to give my IPaddress:port number to my family so they can use a browser to access a welcome page where they can log in to upload or download files.
Any ideas on what I would use to make this work?
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Do you have a static IP at your house? And is there a reason you don't just settle with sharing pics and videos on a webservice for that purpose, like Flickr or Picasa or even Facebook?
I ask this because I have a home media server that I use for my home, but since I don't have a static IP (and all the "what's my IP today" services haven't proven all that helpful), it's been much easier for me to share things using free and publicly-available services.
Posted by Xann. (Member # 11482) on :
You could use dropbox for this kind of thing, share up to three gigs free.
Posted by Eduardo_Sauron (Member # 5827) on :
Hi. Dropbox is awesome, but if you really want to set a file server up, you could try Ubuntu Server Edition . I'm assuming, of course that you know how to work a server using the linux command line.
Posted by lem (Member # 6914) on :
I have worked servers on command line before, but I don't use linux servers enough to be proficient. I always have to download the instructions. I have set up plone before and have used linux a few times, particularly for rescue disks and personal use.
I like linux and read a lot on linux, but my work is strictly Windows and most of my servers are 2003.
I do subscribe to Linux Format and I like to go through their tutorials. What prompted this thread is I read a tutorial a while back that sounded perfect for what I wanted to do for my family, but I couldn't remember what it was. I was hoping someone would recommend it and jog my memory.
After going through all my old magazines, I think I found it. My next project is to set up Tonido.
Tom has got me thinking about whether I have a static IP address--I need to check with my Internet provider. Whatismyip isn't reliable? It seems to stay consistent.
I am particularly excited to try the webshare app and THOTS (I recently deleted my Facebook account--too many third party apps and the privacy thing put me over the edge).
Photos and jukebox seem cool. My work uses Google and I have a MyTouch phone, so I doubt I will use Workspace. I don't use torrents and I don't need the money manager, but overall I think Tonido will do everything I am looking for.
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
quote:Tom has got me thinking about whether I have a static IP address--I need to check with my Internet provider. Whatismyip isn't reliable? It seems to stay consistent.
My guess is that if you haven't requested this specifically, you don't. It could stay the same for weeks, yet still be subject to changing whenever the DHCP lease expires. It's just more convenient for the ISP to use DHCP IP address assignment instead of static IP addresses.
My current provider wants an extra $10 a month for static IP. Luckily aside from some goofing around I don't really need it.
Posted by Eduardo_Sauron (Member # 5827) on :
The thing is: you really don't need static ip from your ISP to set up a home server.
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
Perhaps reading too much into it, but I thought the hosting request was coming from people outside the household (and presumably outside the private network segment).
Posted by lem (Member # 6914) on :
quote: Perhaps reading too much into it, but I thought the hosting request was coming from people outside the household (and presumably outside the private network segment).
You are right scifibum. My primary goal is to make it super simple for my brother and I to transfer files back and forth, and not just videos or pictures. I use Photobucket for camera pics and vids.
I tried Tonido and liked it. For simple testing I installed it on my Windows box. I wanted to verify I could set up my router and the program before I set up a entire new computer.
It was wild to see all my pics and stream all my music at a friends house. I could download and upload files fine, but I never set up the drag and drop functionality. The instructions indicated a Linux box would be more stable.
The downside for my Windows box is that you have to be logged on as an Administrator and have Tonido running for it to work. I only ever use Limited accounts for my day to day needs, so I wouldn't use it on Windows.
I think I am going to get a raid card and run raid 1 on my Linux box with two terabyte hard drives. I will stuff it in an attic or corner and it will do what I want it to do with basic redundancy.
I have an external Hard Drive I keep out of my house. I sync it about once a month with my home files for better redundancy.
Hopefully I can set up Tonido and Linux before I go to Japan next week so I can show ALL of our pictures to my in-laws and easily transfer files to my home computer.