No need for a server.?ÿ

I assume you have two PC's in the same office or house that are both on the same WiFi or Ethernet network.

Then simply share a folder or drive of one PC, then map to that drive on the other PC.?ÿ

Google drive is OK for backups and sharing data outside your office. Your IT person can help, or someone like me can remote in and assist.

Another option would be a NAS storage drive. We have a Seagate that works well.

I second the NAS storage option.?ÿ ?ÿcheap and easy.. pretty much bulletproof.?ÿ?ÿ

WD My Book Live 2TB Personal Cloud?ÿ

https://www.amazon.com/Personal-Cloud-Storage-Share-Photos/dp/B00439GMJ2

These work great for me, plug it in to your router and it will auto connect to your home network.?ÿ ??ÿ

?ÿ

I went with e WD MyCloud EX4, 8TB setup.?ÿ Configured into a raid so I have 6TB available.?ÿ After 16 months, I just had my first drive failure (it is gonna happen)?ÿ Nice thing about this setup, I shut the NAS down, ordered a new drive.?ÿ 2 days later I rebooted, and removed the old drive, inserted the new one, and it automatically rebuilt all of the info - didn't lose a thing.

?ÿ

Sometimes it is a little slow, but I only use it for long term storage and backup, not direct file access.?ÿ I can also configure so I can access it from the internet, but I am not that smart yet - nor really have the need.?ÿ Sometimes I wonder if I could run our website from there too.

@toivo1037

At work we have two of them for cad file storage and retrieval which is by no means slow like wifi. The two at work are hardwired into our Office LAN. After reading your post I am going to look into a "WD MyCloud EX4, 8TB setup.?ÿ Configured into a raid so I have 6TB available".

cool idea.?ÿ ??ÿ

NAS is the way to go.?ÿ The smaller Western Digital versions are great but if you want to get something with some serious ease of use and just as much functionality as a full blown Windows Server take a serious look at the Synology NAS devices.?ÿ Something like this:

https://www.synology.com/en-us/products/DS918+

There's nothing special about the hardware, they're all just a box that holds drives, what sets the Synology apart is the operating system Disk Station Manager or DSM.?ÿ It has nearly every function available that a Windows Server does but the management and administration is EASY by comparison.?ÿ You can set it up as a FTP or with VPN for remote access, create user accounts with access permissions and there are multiple options for backing your data up either to the cloud or locally or both.?ÿ?ÿIt also doesn't discriminate on the brand of drive you use although I would recommend using drives that are specifically made to use as NAS storage drives.?ÿ One of the cooler features is that if you format the drives to Synology's?ÿRAID setup?ÿyou don't have to use all the same drive sizes so stuff it with whatever you have; 1TB,?ÿ2TB, 3TB, 1.5TB and upgrade the sizes as they fail.?ÿ

I have the 8 bay version at the office.?ÿ 4 drives are used for local storage, 2 drives are used as a local backup and the last 2 drives are SSD that are used as a read/write buffer.?ÿ I have an identical unit at home that the office?ÿunit mirrors to every night.?ÿ?ÿI also have?ÿthe office unit setup to backup to Dropbox in real time.?ÿ So my backup approach is 3 pronged, local onsite, local offsite & cloud.?ÿ If a local file is corrupted I can easily go back in versions within the local onsite backup to recover it, if the onsite hardware fails completely I run home grab that unit and plug it back into the office, if my office and my home burn down everything can be accessed via DB which is current to the last time someone hit save.

For the cloud backup it integrates with all the bigs, DB, Google Drive, One Drive, Amazon, ect.?ÿ There are also options for backing up user work stations if you want.?ÿ You can also build Virtual Machines if you need to run?ÿa local license server for example.?ÿ

I fought with traditional?ÿWindows servers for several years when we started out.?ÿ I think it's because that's what I saw at the firm I came from.?ÿ I soon realized that's why that firm had a dedicated IT department to administer it.?ÿ I can't say enough about the functionality and ease of use of?ÿthe Synology system.?ÿ There's also a HUGE support community out there to help with questions.?ÿ ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ

I use the WD external drives - my passport, elements, my book and a handful of thumb drives

I Second the idea of Google Drive, and also a co-located version of that data in your office that is updated to the Google storage.?ÿ Always keep an active back up of your data.?ÿ Applications can be reinstalled cheaply.?ÿ Data that disappears, is gone forever.

RAID systems and multidrive set ups are great if you have huge data sets and intensive constant usage( think web servers and large office groups) however, you can scale your need for this based on your current catalog of data and expected usage needs pretty quickly.

For most stuff any more, I use Google, Thumb drives, and occasionally external HD for massive data (imagery, music, etc) but keep it simple, inexpensive and effective for the most part.?ÿ Good Luck.

NAS storage drive (can be accessed with wifi).?ÿ AND google drive.?ÿ Keep your files in two places in case one burns down or gets accidentally erased.

@cameron-watson-pls

That's a great product, however not economical for a small business.

Even these are great for a small business. You could buy five of these for the same price as one synology.

https://www.amazon.com/Book-Desktop-External-Drive-WDBBGB0040HBK-NESN/dp/B01LQQHL4E/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_bs_lp_tr_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=N16FE142X6E7BYF9CQ4K

You can connect this to your router as well if the router has USB connection.?ÿ ??ÿ

All of those external hard drives are inherently very slow read/write speeds. Sharing a folder is free, fast and easy.

Posted by: FL/GA PLS.

@cameron-watson-pls

That's a great product, however not economical for a small business.

?ÿ

I'm a small business and I found it extremely economical when compared to more traditional options.?ÿ That 918+ box is $500 plus another $400 in drives and you have a fully functional server alternative for less than $1k.?ÿ That's pretty spot on for a small business spending money in that operational category.?ÿ Check out all the other things you can do with it too.?ÿ Host your own email, host your own website, run a Plex media server, DSM has a word processing suite built in similar to MS Office, it will operate as a surveillance hub and recorder, I just looked and there are more than 100 different apps and utilities available directly from Synology all developed specifically for DSM and all free.?ÿ I know I sound like a salesman, I'm not, I'm just that happy with it as a solution.?ÿ?ÿI've gone as digital as possible so?ÿI'll pay a?ÿbit of a premium for something that?ÿkeeps?ÿmy data safe and works as well as these units do.?ÿ

Would scrounge an older computer (one you have, or a free or cheap one, no need for a great video card) and install FreeNAS.

https://www.freenas.org/about/features/

?ÿ

I have a similar sized operation as you and I just keep all my projects in my dropbox folder, it has worked well so far, I have a few computers connected to it. Its handy, I can be in the field and view any documents or drawings on my laptop, or PDF's on my cell phone.?ÿ I'm bumping into my 14GB free version capacity now. I either need to start paying for the business size capacity or get some sort of server.?ÿ?ÿ

I also went with the mycloud ex 4. I love it. I also have remote access to all the files on it through my phone. I can open deeds and maps that I forgot to print, and email files to people that I forgot to send directly from the field. I also use the RAID option so the data is backed up.?ÿ

My thoughts are the same as Lee Green:?ÿ I have the identical office situation to what you have, and have used shared files and printers in it for just about 20 years.?ÿ Drop box is a good, free option for remote access.?ÿ If you have a mac mixed in, Virtual Box gives you PC specific apps as needed, but it can be finicky to connect to the network.?ÿ Backups, as always, are critical, either to thumb drives or external drives.?ÿ A fire safe for the backups is a really good idea...

I believe my problem is solved for now. I just learned of the Backup & Sync function on Google Drive and it going through and syncing up our files now.

My wife is backing up her computer and I mine.

And I did not have to get a server. Heck I have enough computers here that I could probably cobble something together but Google Drive might work out.