Best way to set up a WinXP machine to allow computers access to its files?

[BigToque]

I've got a laptop that will be my main computer and a tower that will be acting as a file storage/backup server.

What is the best way to allow the laptop full control of the files on the server both connected to a LAN at home and over the internet while I'm away?

I'd like to keep WinXP if possible because I still use it as a 2nd workstation sometimes.

 

[SalladDazed]

The quick & dirty method would be to use XP Pro on both machines and use the same username/password on both. You can then use Remote Desktop to access the tower remotely (you'll have to direct the appropriate port, #3389 by default) to target your tower first if you have a router on your home network which I'll assume you have.

You also need to enable remote access on the tower.

For my money, and ease of access etc. etc. I really like Logmein Pro, though there are other alternatives that are cheaper or free. It really simplifies sharing and moving files, printers, etc.

 

[Tarrant64]

A good solution here would be to share the hard drive(s) on the tower that you want to control. You can actually map that hard drive using My Computer/Explorer.

Once this is done and you have given yourself the appropriate rights(using Sharing and Security tab to set this up), you can easily access files and do what you need to with them.
Be sure to enable Simple File Sharing for this.


The next step to access them over the internet would be to setup the PC also as an FTP server. You can access what you need via FTP and change files from there. This is relatively simple as well and there is free FTP software out there that will allow you to do this. Another thing you can do is install a VNC service(such as TightVNC or RealVNC), and use this to just remote into the desktop to change whatever files needed. Now, if you need to actually pull files from that PC, you will most likely need to go the FTP route.

 

[SalladDazed]

I don't disagree with Tarrant, but mapped drives will not work when you are not at home. Also, if you are using XP Home or even Pro with no server, mapping drives can be somewhat clumsy, but should still be doable.

If your concern is keeping data synched/current, there are third-party data synch tools (LogMeIn Pro, again, will do this for you) that could make this feasible. If your concern is direct access to the live files, you could employ a combination of file sharing and FTP.

I still say the best way to do this is LogMeIn. It's free (as is VNC). It uses uses 128-bit AES encryption over SSL (or maybe it's 256-bit? I can't recall...) and provides drag-and-drop file sharing, background access to processes, services, the task manager, and some performance metrics as far as I recall, and also simplifies printer sharing. You could also use LMI to provide remote streaming. I don't know that VNC does these things, but maybe someone who knows more about it could chime in.

I would also caution against using FTP unless the data is not important or senstive. FTP over an open connection is not secure; sFTP is but can be difficult to set up and configure, typically requires a purchase, and by the time you've done it all, it would have been cheaper and faster to buy a year of LogMeIn Pro (it's available for $69.95/year, but can be found for less I think). Try the demo for free, too.

I will say that VNC wins if you are doing different operating systems, however. But if you're doing Windows-to-Windows, I still side with LMI v. any VNC or simliar options.

Propoganda sheet on LMI:

http://www.cadnetpro.com/LogMeInITReach_vs_VNC.pdf

For the record, I can do everythying LMI does without it and save the money, but the cash is worth the time I save and the brainpower I don't have to use (plus I buy a lot of seats for other purposes and get a discount). The other added benefit for those less technically-inclined is that LMI licneses (apart from the free edition) come with toll-free tech support.

I know that many folks don't like to pay for something they can do for free--but I consider time = money and the cost justifying itself in that regard. LMI is server-based, so it keeps pace with my ISPs change of IP addresses and eliminates the need to use DynDNS or something similar.

Maybe it would be best to try both for free and see which works?