Setting up home file server

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ajemoney

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Dec 11, 2015
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Hello all,

I would like to set up my old laptop (Win 10, so not THAT old) as a file server. I have fiddled around with using Windows 10's built in FTP and used it for awhile, but I always seemed to have issues. I am open to any solutions and I am writing this to see if anyone has a solution that accomplishes everything I need. Also just an FYI I only need local access through a network.

First of all, I would prefer the server be accessed by hostname if possible so as I travel between my house at school and my house in my hometown, etc., I could just connect the laptop to the network and have it accessible regardless of IP. Not sure if this is possible, but this is one of the biggest issues with things I have tried in the past.

Also, a big reason I want to use the laptop is because it used to be my daily driver and has many files I need on it. With the built in FTP I was able to use the hard drive as storage without losing the files already on there. This is very important, and I cannot install a new OS or wipe the drive or anything like that.

Those are the two big things I need and anything else would just be a bonus. Thanks in advance for your help!
 
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T
If you want to take the laptop from place to place and use it on the local network and use FTP just a Hostname will not work. I you use UNC or SMB then hostname would work. If the proper shares and permission were set.

First I would look at other FTP Clients and servers that will work better and run on Windows 10 and be compatible with your needs. (I use FTP in my phone and tablet, it works great.)

Next I thing you may be able to make the FTP work by hard coding a IP address on the laptop. (e.g. 10.2.4.3) access the laptop using that IP. You should be able to set up multiple hardware profiles that use or do not use the hard coded IP(s) depending on your needs.

Another option would be to use a Live CD/DVD or USB Stick to boot the...
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jsmithepa

jsmithepa

Polypheme
Jun 14, 2014
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Slow down, your brain is tripping over your hands to type! :D Yeah man, you said local and then school, unless you are being home-school, school is not local, you want access from the Internet?

To access an ftp server from the Internet, you Port Forward your router port 21 to your laptop which should have a static LAN IP.

To access this box with a name, you need to register a domain, then have that domain POINT at the static WAN IP you own.
 
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tiredteck

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Jun 29, 2009
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If you want to take the laptop from place to place and use it on the local network and use FTP just a Hostname will not work. I you use UNC or SMB then hostname would work. If the proper shares and permission were set.

First I would look at other FTP Clients and servers that will work better and run on Windows 10 and be compatible with your needs. (I use FTP in my phone and tablet, it works great.)

Next I thing you may be able to make the FTP work by hard coding a IP address on the laptop. (e.g. 10.2.4.3) access the laptop using that IP. You should be able to set up multiple hardware profiles that use or do not use the hard coded IP(s) depending on your needs.

Another option would be to use a Live CD/DVD or USB Stick to boot the laptop from. I have had good success using a Linux Mint 18 DVD to access files on a hard drive with corrupted windows dll files. There are also windows live CD/DVD USB options.


tt/2

 
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