setup for a cloud storage

[david622]

This image is the layout of my home network, I have a spare “Internal 1T Hard Drive” that I would like to setup for a cloud storage for both computers. My question is:
Where would I install the hard drive?
How would I install it?
Once installed how to set it up so both computes can us it ?
Thanks In Advance!

 

[samuria]

Does the router or switch have a USB port so you could put the drive in a USB enclosure so it's always on? How much data do you need to backup the simple safe way is to use free Google drive install the sync app and tell it what to backup then forget it as it will do it automatically

 

[david622]

The router has 2 usb ports but the switch dosen't, I do have Google Drive but I don't use the paid gb's.

 

[mrjimphelps]

When you say "cloud storage", do you mean your own personal cloud for your network only, or do you mean putting it on a cloud service?

• If you want only your own personal cloud, all you need to do is make the drive shareable (this is done from the computer it is installed in), then map a drive to it from each of the other computers (so that they can access it).
• If you want the contents of the drive shared to a cloud service, then you would simply subscribe to that service and make that drive part of the cloud service.

 

[david622]

Thank You!

 

[mrjimphelps]

Looking at your diagram above, you don't have any way currently to install an internal hard drive on this network. Also, you don't have a router, you have a switch. So I'm not sure how you are able to get on the internet with both computers. One computer might get on in the current configuration, but not both. The same goes with the wireless access point. You need a router in order to connect multiple devices to the internet from one actual internet connection.

Here is an example of a router which has a USB port:
https://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-Wireless-TEW-812DRU-Certified-Refurbished/dp/B016WVHQ52/ref=sr_1_10?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1518803456&sr=1-10&keywords=router+with+usb+port&refinements=p_n_feature_four_browse-bin%3A5662324011

You could plug in a USB hard drive to this router, and then share it over your network. This would likely be the easiest way to share a drive. But since your drive is an internal drive, you would have to convert it into a USB external drive, such as by using a docking station for the drive. Something like this would be your best bet:

https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matter...ons&keywords=sata+drive+docking+station&psc=1

I'm not familiar with this particular dock, but this would be your easiest and most successful way to share your drive over your network.

 

[samuria]

Google gives you 15gig free and you can use ms inscribe for another 15 Google photos are separate and totally free and unlimited I have 86,000. As stated get a USB caddy for the drive and plug into the router so it allways on

 

[david622]

Thank You,
I'm thinking about trying a Addonics NAS40ESU NAS 4.0 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter, it might be what I need I can hook it up at the switch, I think, I'm still researching.

 

[samuria]

A switch is dumb a router isnt it should have setting for a HD the switch wont

 

[mrjimphelps]

Ok, I just looked again at your setup and noticed that you have a "Comcast/router modem". For some reason I didn't notice that you have a router.

With this in mind, here is the easiest way that you can connect your internal drive to your network as a shared drive: Get a docking station which will connect to your network. Something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-Wireless-Docking-SuperSpeed/dp/B00KNCVFL8

As best as I can understand, you can either use an Ethernet cable or wifi to connect this docking station to your network; once you have done that, you can access it from all computers which are connected to your network.

 

[david622]

ThankYou, I'll check into that

 

[david622]

Ok Thanks for the help

 

[Barman58]

I would actually suggest that rather than the open Caddy style connection unit you go for a suitable enclosed case with a USB connection, this would give better knock protection and also better prevent dust access to the Drive internals, and may also be a bit more economic

CiT 3.5 inch USB 3.0 U3PD SATA HDD Enclosure: Amazon.co.uk: Computers Accessories

I have a Dock on my desk to temporarily access customer drives for files transfer Etc , (USB3 & eSata connections ), but my "NAS" drives are all in enclosures for their protection

 

[david622]

Oh Yes!Thank You!