Will this work as file server?

I now have a laptop connected to a docking station, which is in turn
connected to my cable modem via ethernet cable. When I take the laptop
off the docking station, I use a wifi card to wireless router.
Question: the docking station has a USB plug on it. If I plug a USB
external hard drive into it, can I use that drive as a network file
server? Will it matter if the laptop is docked or not? Running Win2k.

[POSTED TO alt.internet.wireless - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <(E-Mail Removed). com> on 26 Oct 2005
05:35:03 -0700, (E-Mail Removed) wrote:

>I now have a laptop connected to a docking station, which is in turn
>connected to my cable modem via ethernet cable. When I take the laptop
>off the docking station, I use a wifi card to wireless router.
>Question: the docking station has a USB plug on it. If I plug a USB
>external hard drive into it, can I use that drive as a network file
>server? Will it matter if the laptop is docked or not? Running Win2k.

The drive can provide network storage, but only with a storage server, which
would be the laptop. The alternative is a standalone network storage device.
<http://www.dlink.com/products/category.asp?cid=65&sec=0>

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

John Navas wrote:
> [POSTED TO alt.internet.wireless - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]
>
> In <(E-Mail Removed). com> on 26 Oct 2005
> 05:35:03 -0700, (E-Mail Removed) wrote:
>
>> I now have a laptop connected to a docking station, which is in turn
>> connected to my cable modem via ethernet cable. When I take the laptop
>> off the docking station, I use a wifi card to wireless router.
>> Question: the docking station has a USB plug on it. If I plug a USB
>> external hard drive into it, can I use that drive as a network file
>> server? Will it matter if the laptop is docked or not? Running Win2k.
>
> The drive can provide network storage, but only with a storage server, which
> would be the laptop. The alternative is a standalone network storage device.
> http://www.dlink.com/products/category.asp?cid=65&sec=0

Read reviews of Network Attached Storage (NAS)
http://www.pcmag.com/category2/0,1874,677853,00.asp
There are cheaper model that have come out since the review. I have a
"SimpleShare 160GB" that retails for $250. It works great. Pay attention to
details on security. Some of these drives have no security capabilities. At
least it should provide password protection.