looking for a network storage solution to share files between offices

June 14, 2007 7:02 AM

I'm looking for a shared network drive solution for three offices physically distant from one another - something with 10-50 gigs of storage space and that could easily be intergrated into Windows for ease of user use.

Setting up a VPN between the offices isn't an option due to security reasons and lack of IT staffing at the two branch offices.

So I'm looking at something basic, akin to Xdrive or ibackup - but that is more intended for file storage/exchange rather than backup, and is more geared for small businesses with multiple users instead of just for the home.

Cost isn't a huge issue, but intergration into Windows is - thus, an FTP site would not be a good solution.

posted by jare2003 to travel & transportation (9 comments total)

I'm not aware of anything that integrates directly with Windows Explorer (but I could be missing something).

My suggestion would be to use some sort of online "team collaboration" tool such as Basecamp or something similar to that. My google-fu is failing me this morning, I cant find other examples of good team-collab tools. (which is sad, cause I'm working on a project just like this for my company :P )
posted by jmnugent at 7:27 AM on June 14, 2007

Would Tubes be an option? Also, I'm not really sure if FTP integration is that hard in Windows Explorer, since you can enter any FTP URL directly into the explorer address line using the syntax ftp://username:[e-mail]. Good luck!
posted by Herr Fahrstuhl at 7:31 AM on June 14, 2007

It sounds like you need webDAV hosting. See bingoDisk for example of said.

Also, I use a product called webdrive which hides all that weird FTP stuff behind Virtual Disk Drives. All my online folders can be found in a folder called "W:\var\www\" The FTP is hidden.

B.T.W. If you do go for the webDrive option and you're working in a shared environment, make sure you tick the "Expire Files / Directory Listings" checkboxes in the settings.
posted by seanyboy at 7:42 AM on June 14, 2007

Bingo by Joyent looks promising. Combine it with WebDrive (which I used to use extensively before I switched 100% to Macs - it lets you map FTP and WebDAV sites as actual drives, instead of using the kinda-not-really-mounted Network Place feature XP has). If you're not adverse to installing a client utility, WebDrive will actually let you work with pretty much any hosting service - pretty much all of them support WebDAV and/or FTP nowadays.
posted by mrg at 7:46 AM on June 14, 2007

I am quite aware that one can enter ftp://whateverwhatever.com into Windows Explorer, but I am looking for something that can be mounted as a drive on Windows. It all needs to be about ease of use and clarity - our users arent too tech savvy and our offices are in three different countries. And Im only working in one of them, so the solution for our two other ones needs to be pretty simple.

Actually, either a third party service or one that works with our existing FTP site would be fine. But i figured the third party service might be able to finetune user rights and security more.
posted by jare2003 at 8:21 AM on June 14, 2007

As far as I know, Basecape uses Amazon S3, and so could you.
posted by BorgLove at 8:24 AM on June 14, 2007

*Basecamp, of course.
posted by BorgLove at 8:24 AM on June 14, 2007

Hey!

Disclosure: I work at Tubes, saw traffic coming from this site and wanted to register and stop by - hope that's OK.

Someone suggested Tubes and I just wanted to swing by and say that we are rolling out new premium account offerings (That will go up to 50GB) just next week. And if you have any questions, please drop me a line at donigman [at] tubesnow.com

We have a page discussing business uses for Tubes, here.
posted by DaveoatTubes at 11:33 AM on June 14, 2007

You can only map a drive letter to a CIFS/SMB share (so useless for separate offices), unless you use a third party utility like WebDrive.

But a webDAV share is just as easy for the end user. Easier, really. I wouldn't dismiss the Network Place feature mrg alluded to.

Instead of mapping a drive letter, you "Add a network place". You can then copy the created web folder from "My Network Places" to the desktop and name it whatever you want. The user interface behaves just the same as if it were a local folder, other than prompting for a username and password. It's really not a bad option. As a bonus, you can download files through a browser if you're not at your computer.
posted by team lowkey at 4:03 PM on June 14, 2007