No NAS or redundancy is needed, just a simple hard drive connecting via USB (then I need such a router which supports it; I am not an expert on routers) to a home network. Or via Ethernet, see a no-frills solution: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/vocore-a-coin-sized-linux-computer-with-wifi I know Seagate offers a Wi-Fi drive called the Wireless Plus, for twice the price of a regular external USB hard drive. I don't need that. The setup should be compatible with Mac, Linux and Windows PCs as well (not an extreme requirement, I guess). And first and foremost: it should be safe and secure! If I understand correctly, so called "home cloud" solutions (such as https://owncloud.org/ ), where you want to access your data stored at home via the Internet from anywhere, are just disasters waiting to happen (you are better off using a commercial solution; they have better know-how on how to secure their services than you'll ever have). But I don't need that; only to access data from the home, from computers but from a central, single drive (we can add access to mobile devices such as Android or iOS maybe later, but that is not important at this point). How to do it? I am not a networking expert, either.
How much does it cost to acquire such a machine if I do not happen to have a spare one, which also consumes near zero electricity and is cheaper than the Seagate network drive I mentioned? You see: this may not be the most straightforward solution to many folks - including me - to attach a simple drive to the network; thanks.
@MrBrian Thanks for your help; I may not understand 100% what do you want to convey altogether. In post #3 you sent an article titled Turn an Old Computer Into a Do-Anything Home Server with FreeNAS 8 In post #5 you reply to the above with an article titled Top five Wi-Fi routers with built-in network storage; as if they were the same topic. At this point I have to assume you assume Old PC = Wi-Fi router!? Sorry. Totally lost the line in what you want to say altogether. Any native speaker understand better what is going on here? Disclaimer: I am not a native speaker. Long story short: the article Top five Wi-Fi routers with built-in network storage is helpful, thank you. Ideally he only hardware I need for this setup is a router and a USB hard drive. Or similar. However, knowing this article my original question still applies. Without any modifications. Thanks
Those articles are two different methods. The storage is going to have to be connected to some device, whether it's a computer or a router. Which do you prefer? Post #5 even lists some routers with built-in storage.
Turn external hard drives into network storage via USB with Addonics NAS adapter The Best USB NAS Adapters
Similar question to yours: http://ask.metafilter.com/215458/I-need-help-deciding-on-a-home-data-storageNAS-solution
Thanks I look into all those links from #8, 9# and #10. I prefer a router with an open, updated, secure firmware and a separate drive attached to it. There is a good reason I came to the Wilders Security Forums with this question: https://www.schneier.com/essays/archives/2014/01/the_internet_of_thin.html
You're welcome . Perhaps this link can help you to set it up: http://www.gizmag.com/how-to-share-hard-drive-across-wi-fi-network/33089/.
