Setting up a server to share files over the net

I've got an ADSL connection via a Netgear Modem router and an 'always
on' PC that acts as a server at home. I want to share one of the
folders on the server accross the net with a small number of people
who should be able to both read and write to the files that are on
there - ideally it should behave as a normal network drive so that
people cant edit files simultaneously.

It needs to be reasonably secure.

This may be blindingly obvious but none of the people i've spoken to
have actually done it - what's the solution?

On 19 Feb 2004 01:46:26 -0800, anthony james wrote:

> I've got an ADSL connection via a Netgear Modem router and an 'always
> on' PC that acts as a server at home. I want to share one of the
> folders on the server accross the net with a small number of people
> who should be able to both read and write to the files that are on
> there - ideally it should behave as a normal network drive so that
> people cant edit files simultaneously.
>
> It needs to be reasonably secure.
>
> This may be blindingly obvious but none of the people i've spoken to
> have actually done it - what's the solution?

You *really* don't want to share it as a normal network drive, there are
problems with that if you're using Windows. I would suggest that you set-up
an ftp server whatever operating system you're using, you'll have more
control and be more secure.

Regards

Bill

On 19 Feb 2004 01:46:26 -0800, (E-Mail Removed) (anthony james)
wrote:

>I've got an ADSL connection via a Netgear Modem router and an 'always
>on' PC that acts as a server at home. I want to share one of the
>folders on the server accross the net with a small number of people
>who should be able to both read and write to the files that are on
>there - ideally it should behave as a normal network drive so that
>people cant edit files simultaneously.
>
>It needs to be reasonably secure.
>
>This may be blindingly obvious but none of the people i've spoken to
>have actually done it - what's the solution?


right click on the drive and select 'Sharing'


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anthony james wrote:
> I've got an ADSL connection via a Netgear Modem router and an 'always
> on' PC that acts as a server at home. I want to share one of the
> folders on the server accross the net with a small number of people
> who should be able to both read and write to the files that are on
> there - ideally it should behave as a normal network drive so that
> people cant edit files simultaneously.

What OS is the server machine? I'll assume windows:-)

> It needs to be reasonably secure.

A good way of doing this is to set up a WEBDav service on your server.
You can do this with IIS (make sure it's patched and had had iislockd
run on it) or Apache as the server. You can password protect this and
also use SSL so it's encrypted.

Alternatively you can use an FTP server, either on IIS or using
something like Serv-U (make sure you get the latest version as there
some exploits out there for serv-u).

I wouldn't recommend MS file sharing for this, although it can be fairly
secured. However, it is extremely wormable, even if it is tightened up:-(

You will also need to map the necessary port thru' your router whatever
server type you decide on.

> This may be blindingly obvious but none of the people i've spoken to
> have actually done it - what's the solution?

Well, I'm doing straight http access via Apache, WebDav on IIS and FTP
on a Linux box here so many ways of doing it;-)

In message <(E-Mail Removed) >, anthony
james <(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>I've got an ADSL connection via a Netgear Modem router and an 'always
>on' PC that acts as a server at home. I want to share one of the
>folders on the server accross the net with a small number of people
>who should be able to both read and write to the files that are on
>there - ideally it should behave as a normal network drive so that
>people cant edit files simultaneously.
>
>It needs to be reasonably secure.
>
>This may be blindingly obvious but none of the people i've spoken to
>have actually done it - what's the solution?
If it's XP Pro you can set up a VPN with auditable user accounts. It'll
appear just like a Windows login with access to shared drives, files,
printers and other resources. Providing your drive is formatted NTFS you
have a fair amount of security (at least, you will if you set it up
correctly), if your router is any good you should be able to limit
incoming connections to specific IP addresses as well.

--
Clint Sharp

Nig wrote:

> What OS is the server machine? I'll assume windows:-)


WinXP Pro

Clint Sharp wrote:

> If it's XP Pro you can set up a VPN with auditable user accounts. It'll
> appear just like a Windows login with access to shared drives, files,
> printers and other resources. Providing your drive is formatted NTFS you
> have a fair amount of security (at least, you will if you set it up
> correctly), if your router is any good you should be able to limit
> incoming connections to specific IP addresses as well.

The router will need to support inbound PPTP and not all routers will
allow this:-( Not sure what model the OP has but if it does support it,
this would be a good solution:-)

Anthony James wrote:
> Nig wrote:
>
>> What OS is the server machine? I'll assume windows:-)
>
>
>
> WinXP Pro

OK, then the info I gave should suffice, tho' the VPN idea sounds cool.

This may help, tho' it's written for 2000:

http://www.analogx.com/contents/articles/ipsec.htm

"Nig" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:A8nZb.1666$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Clint Sharp wrote:
>
> > If it's XP Pro you can set up a VPN with auditable user accounts. It'll
> > appear just like a Windows login with access to shared drives, files,
> > printers and other resources. Providing your drive is formatted NTFS you
> > have a fair amount of security (at least, you will if you set it up
> > correctly), if your router is any good you should be able to limit
> > incoming connections to specific IP addresses as well.
>
> The router will need to support inbound PPTP and not all routers will
> allow this:-( Not sure what model the OP has but if it does support it,
> this would be a good solution:-)

NetBIOS Browsing over a VPN also runs like a 3-legged, freshly-run-over
dog... :-(
James

On Fri, 20 Feb 2004 15:53:35 -0000, "James"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:


>NetBIOS Browsing over a VPN also runs like a 3-legged, freshly-run-over
>dog... :-(
>James

That good eh? Never tried it myself, tho' know that IPSec into w*rk is
no problem but we don't use MS File and Print so couldn't say whether
running it over VPN has a detrimental effect or not. Anything else
based on tcp/ip is fine and I can't see why netbios would be any
different, TBH, tho' I could see it getting upset with the change of
network when the VPN comes up.