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I got 3 machines in a lan and I don't leave any of them on all the time. and I work on all 3 machines in different times.
it's kinda a pain in the *** to keep files in one system and then have to turn on a particular system to get the file.
is there anything that is small and cheap that will plug into my router (always on) RJ45 that act as a netowork storage drive?
so I can access my files for all 3 machines whenever I use it?
100-200 megs should be fine.
Just get an old computer and leave it ON all the time...
(486 or Pentium would serve your files great!)
But anyways, why do you shut down your computers?? You don't need to!
I don't use it 24hrs about a few hours a day, so I don't see any sense in leaving it on all the times. waste of eleccity and wears out the system.
I thought aobut the 486 thing, but find it a pain in the ***. as in configuring it and accessing in. I was thinking of something small that I can put in a little corner of the desk.
What you're looking for is called Network Attached Storage (NAS), but I don't think you're going to want to spend the amount NAS units sell for.
The Linksys EtherFast GigaDrive EFG80 is one of the least expensive NAS units I'm aware of, and most of the listings on pricegrabber.com show it for about $500 shipped.
Hey!
I don't use my computers 24/24 neither... I go to school during the day!
But still I leave my 2 computers running 24/24 365/365! :)
I have actually calculated the cost of leaving the computers on and it is ridiculous... Even more if you consider that they almost shutdown when not in use...
As for the 486 thing as you said, configuring such a thing, would be easy! Just install Windows 95 or 98 and connect it to your existing network, share your drive(s) and leave it in a closet... You're all set... Configuration takes about 5 minutes once Windows is installed!
screw that NAS gadget it's too expensive.
for $500 I an built one of those Mini-ITX system and slap in a 120 gigHD :)