16 File & Printer Sharing
If you have two or more computers (e.g. a desktop and laptop, or two desktops, etc.) it is possible to share files and devices (e.g. a printer) among your computers. There are a number of ways this could be accomplished:
- Using your home network, and configuring your Windows and/or MacOS on your computers to enable file & printer sharing;
- Use cloud-based storage to share files,
- Use Network Attached Storage (NAS) to share files
- Use network-ready devices (e.g. a printer, a scanner)
Home Network
Your files will reside on one of your computers, and other computers on your home network can have permission to access them. Similarly, a device (such as a printer) will be connected to one of your computers, and other computers on your network will be able to access this device while connected to your home network. This sharing can all be done through settings in your operating system(s), so there is no additional hardware or software to purchase. You can search the web for tutorials on how to configure Windows and/or macOS to share files and printers; however, there are some security issues to be mindful of. When you set up file sharing, ensure you are only sharing files when connected to a trusted network (“Home” or “Work”), not a “Public” network such as a coffee shop Wi-Fi.
Cloud-Based Storage
There are a many companies that provide cloud-based file storage, some you may have heard of:
- Google Drive
- Microsoft OneDrive
- Apple iCloud
- Amazon Cloud Drive
- Dropbox
And there are many others. Almost all providers have a base amount of storage (2-15 GB) that comes free to use, and then you are able to purchase additional storage if you need it. Files stored in the cloud typically can be accessed by any of your computing devices (e.g. computer, tablet, smartphone).
Network Attached Storage (NAS)
Network Attached Storage (NAS) is just as it sounds, it is a storage device (i.e. a hard drive) connected to your home or office network that you can use to store files (e.g. pictures, music, data, etc.) that would be accessible to any computer also attached to this network. Common NAS devices range from an inexpensive external hard drive (many include NAS features), to a more robust NAS system with multiple drives (e.g in a business office). NAS devices can be used for centralized storage and/or file backup.
File/Image Backup
A common reason to purchase a NAS drive is for backing up software and/or data on the computer(s) in the household (or office). The backup can be scheduled to happen automatically (e.g. every night at midnight).
Capacity
When purchasing a NAS device you will want to make sure it has enough storage for your data (e.g. pictures, music, documents, videos, etc.) for all the computers in the household. NAS device capacity is often listed in terabytes (TB). 1 TB (terabyte) is equal to 1,000 GB (gigabytes).
Redundancy (Multiple Drives)
Some NAS devices will have a single storage device (e.g. hard drive), others com