External USB HDD as network device

Olympus 300mm f/4.0 IS PRO M.Zuiko Digital ED

05/31/2008 03:19:17 PM · #1

Does anyone know how to hookup a USB based external device to network? so that i can access my HDD over network from multiple computers? I think there are some network enabled HDD enclosure our in the market but the prices are pretty high.

Phocal

Olympus OM-1

05/31/2008 03:43:51 PM · #2

I am not 100% sure but I don't think you can hook up a USB external to the network for others to use unless it is one that is set up for that (and yes they are more expensive). The only way to do it is by setting permissions on the drive from the computer it is hooked to for sharing, but now the computer it is hooked to has to be on and logged into for others to access it.

brownt

Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

05/31/2008 03:56:53 PM · #3

You need to set it up as a shared folder.

The compute rthat you have it plugged into is where you do all of the work to share it.

Plug it in and it will be displayed in My Computer. Right click on the icon and select Sharing. You can do all kinds of things here, share it for an individual person of for everyone. If it's just your network at home, everyone will do.

You will need to know the ip address of the computer that has the USB device plugged it (on the computer, type cmd in the run menu to bring up a DOS box. Then type ipconfig and it'll tell you it there)

Then, when you are on the other computer, go to the Start menu, click Run then type in \\ipaddress then press return. A window will open and it will show you the shared folder, smply open it as normal and you can access the folder.

05/31/2008 05:17:09 PM · #4

Originally posted by brownt:

This is interesting, I will try this approach tonight and let you know the outcome and yes I do have to keep my desktop running all the time!

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

05/31/2008 05:17:39 PM · #5

Originally posted by Kobba:

Yes I will try this tonight!

rocket

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

05/31/2008 06:00:49 PM · #6

Originally posted by pgirish007:

I think there are some network enabled HDD enclosure our in the market but the prices are pretty high.

Lots on ebay. $45 including shipping. Item #150253459870 (just fit your own drive)

BHuseman

Nikon D750

Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | S

05/31/2008 07:15:10 PM · #7

I know linksys makes a SANS device that you plug the HDD into and connect to your network.

I bought a SmartDisk Network Drive for 140 dollars. It is 400GB and is amazingly simple to get up and running. I have all of my photos backed up there and it works very well. It can also be used as a standard USB drive for quick back up. I prefer this over trying to share a drive from my computer. My home network can be finicky and not always recognize all of the computers or like to allow me to file share. With this set up it is never an issue. When the computer boots p it automatically maps the netowrk drive for me.