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Networking & wireless forum: Turning External Hard Drive into a Cloud Drive?

by: LeDernier March 19, 2012 3:32 PM PDT

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Turning External Hard Drive into a Cloud Drive?

by LeDernier - 3/19/12 3:32 PM

So, here's my basic idea: I'm currently in college, and do most things with my laptop, and I have wifi just about everywhere. It has a generous 500 GB of storage, but I'd like to store non-essential files on, ideally, an external hard drive. However, lugging around 3 TB of storage isn't exactly feasible, and with my experience with my current 1.5 TB portable drive, me running around everywhere with it bouncing in my bag is just going to abuse it until it stops functioning (which it has...)

I was thinking I could set up a hard drive at HOME (either this: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Seagate+-+FreeAgent+GoFlex+Desk+3TB+External+USB+3.0/2.0+Hard+Drive+-+Black/3551442.p?id=1218413794829&skuId=3551442#BVRRWidgetID or this: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Western+Digital+-+My+Book+Essential+3TB+External+USB+3.0/2.0+Hard+Drive+-+Black/1261281.p?id=1218244145647&skuId=1261281) in some way that I could connect it directly to my router, and then access it through it's IP address or with WinSCP or something of that sort.

I'm really just asking for recommendations on the most efficient way of turning a large hard drive into a drive that I can access from anywhere with the internet.


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That's one idea.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 3/19/12 3:46 PM

In Reply to: Turning External Hard Drive into a Cloud Drive? by LeDernier

I tried a PogoPlug and was less than impressed. What I had really hoped for is "DropBox".

Be sure you are able to live with the sluggish speed.
Bob


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Clarification

by LeDernier - 3/19/12 3:53 PM

In Reply to: Turning External Hard Drive into a Cloud Drive? by LeDernier

After a bit of searching, I found that WD offers a hard drive with something called WD Live, which essentially does what I'm asking (allows you to hook up a drive directly to a router and then connect to it via the network.) However, I'm wary of any bundled programs from WD, and I feel like this may end up being clunky. Anyone's personal experience with this or other recommendations would be much appreciated!


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See my first reply.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 3/19/12 4:08 PM

In Reply to: Clarification by LeDernier

PogoPlug may have been great and not feeling as clunky if it was speedy. But for some odd reason they elected to use some CLUNKY web interface and combined with the lack of speedy, I returned the product in just a few days.

You should try the MyBook Live and if you go with Amazon, you can return it if you feel it missed the mark.

http://wdc.com/en/products/network/networkstorage/

http://community.wdc.com/t5/My-Book-Live/My-Book-Live-2TB-Very-slow/td-p/123504 REPEATS the warning that you must not expect the performance to be remotely close to any USB connected drive.
Bob


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