Storage solution for office?

[Guest Eric]

Does anyone have any suggestions on any storage solution for office? In

office, there is no backup system at all, and all shared drive are located on

different desktops. I would like to consolidate all shared drive into a

single storage system for office. Does anyone have any suggestions on what

kinds of system I should look for?

I expect that backup and shared storage system are integrated into a single

unit.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions

Eric

[Guest Frankster]

Re: Storage solution for office?

 

 

"Eric" <Eric@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:F645FCC7-F1A3-4C3A-AD7C-0FB2870B9619@microsoft.com...

> Does anyone have any suggestions on any storage solution for office? In

> office, there is no backup system at all, and all shared drive are located

> on

> different desktops. I would like to consolidate all shared drive into a

> single storage system for office. Does anyone have any suggestions on what

> kinds of system I should look for?

> I expect that backup and shared storage system are integrated into a

> single

> unit.

> Thanks in advance for any suggestions

> Eric

>

 

1) This may be perfect justification to buy a Windows server and and

external drive to back it up.

 

2) Just buy an external "network drive". These drives are connected via

Ethernet and are stand-alone file servers (essentially). They work fine.

However... you'll still need an external drive to backup these too.

 

-Frank

[Guest John John (MVP)]

Re: Storage solution for office?

 

You could stick a backup server in your peer network, a backup server

can be a Windows workstation with proper backup software. But quite

franky when you get to the point where you have to start delving into

these solutions the best thing to do is to move your network from a

workgroup model to a domain model.

 

John

 

Eric wrote:

> Does anyone have any suggestions on any storage solution for office? In

> office, there is no backup system at all, and all shared drive are located on

> different desktops. I would like to consolidate all shared drive into a

> single storage system for office. Does anyone have any suggestions on what

> kinds of system I should look for?

> I expect that backup and shared storage system are integrated into a single

> unit.

> Thanks in advance for any suggestions

> Eric

>

[Guest Eric]

Re: Storage solution for office?

 

Thank everyone very much for suggestions

Could you please tell me the different between workgroup and domain model?

What kind of OS should I use? Does Microsoft have any product on sharing

Server?

Thank everyone very much for any suggestions

Eric

 

"John John (MVP)" wrote:

> You could stick a backup server in your peer network, a backup server

> can be a Windows workstation with proper backup software. But quite

> franky when you get to the point where you have to start delving into

> these solutions the best thing to do is to move your network from a

> workgroup model to a domain model.

>

> John

>

> Eric wrote:

> > Does anyone have any suggestions on any storage solution for office? In

> > office, there is no backup system at all, and all shared drive are located on

> > different desktops. I would like to consolidate all shared drive into a

> > single storage system for office. Does anyone have any suggestions on what

> > kinds of system I should look for?

> > I expect that backup and shared storage system are integrated into a single

> > unit.

> > Thanks in advance for any suggestions

> > Eric

> >

>

[Guest Eric]

Re: Storage solution for office?

 

Thank everyone very much for suggestions

 

For the second option, all PCs in office are running XP, if I connect an

external "network drive" via Ethernet, does it have any limitation on access

abiility based on the number of users? For the network structure, do I need

a stand-alone PC under XP? and attached the external network drive with it.

The external network drive included a feature to backup itself.

Does it work this way based on your description? Could you please give me

more information on its structure?

Thank everyone very much for any suggestions

Eric

 

 

2) Just buy an external "network drive". These drives are connected via

Ethernet and are stand-alone file servers (essentially). They work fine.

However... you'll still need an external drive to backup these too.

 

 

Eric

 

"Frankster" wrote:

>

> "Eric" <Eric@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:F645FCC7-F1A3-4C3A-AD7C-0FB2870B9619@microsoft.com...

> > Does anyone have any suggestions on any storage solution for office? In

> > office, there is no backup system at all, and all shared drive are located

> > on

> > different desktops. I would like to consolidate all shared drive into a

> > single storage system for office. Does anyone have any suggestions on what

> > kinds of system I should look for?

> > I expect that backup and shared storage system are integrated into a

> > single

> > unit.

> > Thanks in advance for any suggestions

> > Eric

> >

>

> 1) This may be perfect justification to buy a Windows server and and

> external drive to back it up.

>

> 2) Just buy an external "network drive". These drives are connected via

> Ethernet and are stand-alone file servers (essentially). They work fine.

> However... you'll still need an external drive to backup these too.

>

> -Frank

>

>

[Guest John John (MVP)]

Re: Storage solution for office?

 

 

A workgroup is a logical collection of computers that share resources.

Normally, workgroups are composed of the computers within a single

department or a small company. Each computer can share resources with

all other computers. In essence, all computers are of equal status.

Within a company, different departments may be workgroups and each may

have a unique name to identify the workgroup. Because each computer is

independent, each computer is responsible for authenticating users.

 

Like a workgroup, a domain is a logical collection of computers that

share resources. One of the key differences is that there is a single

server that is responsible for managing security and other user-related

information for the domain. This server allows login validation, by

which a user logs into the domain and not into a single computer.

 

[end quote]

http://kb.iu.edu/data/adgs.html

 

In addition to the above, with a domain you can configure a file server:

 

 

A file server provides a central location on your network where you can

store and share files with users across your network. When users require

an important file such as a project plan, they can access the file on

the file server instead of having to pass the file between their

separate computers. If your network users will need access to the same

files and network-accessible applications, configure this computer as a

file server.

 

[end quote]

http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/library/72ad1371-25c2-458f-9639-77889d78a9761033.mspx?mfr=true

 

With a file server it is much easier to secure and control access to

your important or sensitive files and data and it is much easier to back

them up as they are stored in a central location.

 

The drawbacks of having a domain is that it is more complicated and

expensive to set up than a peer workgroup, but once properly set up it

is easier to maintain than a workgroup. You might be able to lessen the

cost by using free server software but if you have never setup a domain

you will (may) need to pay a competent person to help you set up your

domain properly and to help you if you run into maintenance problems or

need assistance with complicated issues.

 

On the other hand, if you think all of this is more than you really need

or want to tackle, then just get good backup software and assign one of

the machines in your workgroup as a backup server.

 

John

 

Eric wrote:

> Thank everyone very much for suggestions

> Could you please tell me the different between workgroup and domain model?

> What kind of OS should I use? Does Microsoft have any product on sharing

> Server?

> Thank everyone very much for any suggestions

> Eric

>

> "John John (MVP)" wrote:

>

>

>>You could stick a backup server in your peer network, a backup server

>>can be a Windows workstation with proper backup software. But quite

>>franky when you get to the point where you have to start delving into

>>these solutions the best thing to do is to move your network from a

>>workgroup model to a domain model.

>>

>>John

>>

>>Eric wrote:

>>

>>>Does anyone have any suggestions on any storage solution for office? In

>>>office, there is no backup system at all, and all shared drive are located on

>>>different desktops. I would like to consolidate all shared drive into a

>>>single storage system for office. Does anyone have any suggestions on what

>>>kinds of system I should look for?

>>>I expect that backup and shared storage system are integrated into a single

>>>unit.

>>>Thanks in advance for any suggestions

>>>Eric

>>>

>>

[Guest smlunatick]

Re: Storage solution for office?

 

On May 21, 10:29 am, "John John (MVP)" <audetw...@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote:

>

>

> A workgroup is a logical collection of computers that share resources.

> Normally, workgroups are composed of the computers within a single

> department or a small company. Each computer can share resources with

> all other computers. In essence, all computers are of equal status.

> Within a company, different departments may be workgroups and each may

> have a unique name to identify the workgroup. Because each computer is

> independent, each computer is responsible for authenticating users.

>

> Like a workgroup, a domain is a logical collection of computers that

> share resources. One of the key differences is that there is a single

> server that is responsible for managing security and other user-related

> information for the domain. This server allows login validation, by

> which a user logs into the domain and not into a single computer.

>

> [end quote]http://kb.iu.edu/data/adgs.html

>

> In addition to the above, with a domain you can configure a file server:

>

>

>

> A file server provides a central location on your network where you can

> store and share files with users across your network. When users require

> an important file such as a project plan, they can access the file on

> the file server instead of having to pass the file between their

> separate computers. If your network users will need access to the same

> files and network-accessible applications, configure this computer as a

> file server.

>

> [end quote]http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/library/72ad1371-25c2-...

>

> With a file server it is much easier to secure and control access to

> your important or sensitive files and data and it is much easier to back

> them up as they are stored in a central location.

>

> The drawbacks of having a domain is that it is more complicated and

> expensive to set up than a peer workgroup, but once properly set up it

> is easier to maintain than a workgroup.  You might be able to lessen the

> cost by using free server software but if you have never setup a domain

> you will (may) need to pay a competent person to help you set up your

> domain properly and to help you if you run into maintenance problems or

> need assistance with complicated issues.

>

> On the other hand, if you think all of this is more than you really need

> or want to tackle, then just get good backup software and assign one of

> the machines in your workgroup as a backup server.

>

> John

>

>

>

> Eric wrote:

> > Thank everyone very much for suggestions

> > Could you please tell me the different between workgroup and domain model?

> > What kind of OS should I use? Does Microsoft have any product on sharing

> > Server?

> > Thank everyone very much for any suggestions

> > Eric

>

> > "John John (MVP)" wrote:

>

> >>You could stick a backup server in your peer network, a backup server

> >>can be a Windows workstation with proper backup software.  But quite

> >>franky when you get to the point where you have to start delving into

> >>these solutions the best thing to do is to move your network from a

> >>workgroup model to a domain model.

>

> >>John

>

> >>Eric wrote:

>

> >>>Does anyone have any suggestions on any storage solution for office? In

> >>>office, there is no backup system at all, and all shared drive are located on

> >>>different desktops. I would like to consolidate all shared drive into a

> >>>single storage system for office. Does anyone have any suggestions on what

> >>>kinds of system I should look for?

> >>>I expect that backup and shared storage system are integrated into a single

> >>>unit.

> >>>Thanks in advance for any suggestions

> >>>Eric- Hide quoted text -

>

> - Show quoted text -

 

 

To connect to a domain set up, all PCs need to be running Windows XP

Pro.

 

Microsoft has a smaller Server grade operating system. Windows Home

server ???

[Guest Frankster]

Re: Storage solution for office?

 

> For the second option, all PCs in office are running XP, if I connect an

> external "network drive" via Ethernet, does it have any limitation on

> access

> abiility based on the number of users?

 

Nope.

> For the network structure, do I need a stand-alone PC under XP?

 

Nope. No PC needed. It's Ethernet connected itself.

> The external network drive included a feature to backup itself.

 

Some external drives come with backup software. This is assuming you are

going to use the external drive to backup PC hard drives. If you use the

external drive as a main file sharing drive, you'll need to back it up to

yet another place (or another external drive).

> Could you please give me more information on its structure?

 

In case I was not being direct enough... what I am suggesting is to get your

important data OFF OF workstation PCs and ONTO a designated file server of

some type. The huge benefit of this is that you only have to backup ONE

DRIVE rather than each drive of every PC on your network.

 

-Frank