Accessing files remotely using a webbrowesr

[Babulmiah]

Hi,

We have a small network composing of about 5 users. We want each user to be able to access thier files via a web-browser (as we work away a lot). I've seen loads of websites that allow people to have virtual harddisks (of about 100MB etc. like freedrive.com) and upload and view files/folders.

Does anyone know how I can do a similar thing to allow the drive space of each user on the network we use to be accessed (viewed) and edited (files/folders uploaded or deleted) online using a web browser.

This stuff maybe fairly old hat now, but I don't know what tools are needed or how to do this. So any help or links to tutorials would be great.

I know there are tools like Laplink and remote networking tools etc. that allow remote control of a PC from a web-browser, but we are simply looking for a tool that acts like the windows Explorer/FileManger that will allow the network area of the user to be accessed with a browser.

The network we use consists of users running windows 2000/XP. Our files are stored on a shared PC running Windows 2000 Professional.

Thanks.

[DVNT1]

One idea: upgrade to W2K server and use Terminal Services. You may need to buy a 5 user lices for TS in that situation. Then download the latest updates for it from Microsoft. One on the TS updates includes access via a nice web browser interface.

This will allow you to access all files and programs residing on the server. :)

This is a fairly involved process but much can be learned from looking at http://www.labmice.net , they have a section just on TS.

[Babulmiah]

Thanks.

Although I have no idea what terminal services are, it does sound promising :-)

[DVNT1]

TS is like a remote control program, but for multiple users with thier own "desktops" on the TS server.

[AllGamer]

That's waaaaaaaaaaaay too expensive for a normal house person.

go get VNC is 100% free
http://www.uk.research.att.com/vnc/screenshots.html

[DVNT1]

I am guessing Babulmiah has a business LAN based on his wording.


Regardless, the VNC idea has a few issues associated with it.

With VNC, everyone controls the same "desktop" which may or may not be an issue for you.

There are VNC password cracking tools out there that work. So I would change VNC to listen on a different port to reduce this likelyhood of attack.

VNC isn't a method that complies with the web browser interface (AFAIK). This may prevent connections from inside proxied LANs.

[AllGamer]

Those very same issues happens with Terminal sessions, and pcAnywhere, Carbon Copy +, etc, etc, etc, even RConsole for netware

so it's all on how good of a Admin you are, and not a fault of the software. ;)