Share files across your home network

Capabilities
Most Nas drives work with today’s popular computers so it’s possible to have Windows, Linux and Mac computers connected to the same Nas.

Most Nas devices also include a print server so you can share a USB printer between computers. Nas devices usually share media with an iTunes-streaming service. Once this is enabled, media will be visible to any computer running iTunes.

Many can also stream to Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) devices, such as a Playstation 3 or Xbox 360. Many Nas devices also allow remote access. This means it’s possible to connect to the Nas from any computer with internet access. Though every Nas drive handles this in its own way, the principles are broadly the same for all.

Setting up a Nas device
Almost all Nas devices are controlled via a web browser interface, but the exact process differs between manufacturers. However, setting up a Nas device is typically a three-step affair: connect to the network, set up the users and configure other options and services.

Physically attaching a Nas to a network requires only two connections: a power lead and a network cable to connect the Nas to a router. Once powered, a Nas device will typically assign itself a network address in line with the other computers on the network.

In the case of the Netgear ReadyNAS Duo, for instance, a Windows utility is provided to scan the network. Once located the network address of the Nas can then be entered directly into a web browser to access the Nas interface ­ http://192.168.1.81, for example.

The initial Nas setup steps deal with time and date settings but later steps deal with network host names and IP addresses and may be confusing. Don’t worry about this though. As long as the computers on the network can locate the Nas device by typing the Nas network address into a web browser, leave the network settings as they are.

Computers on the network should now be able to access the Nas. To check, browse to Network Places (XP) or the Network and Sharing Center (Vista/Windows 7). Default shared folders should also be viewable here.

In Windows XP it may be necessary to choose ‘Show icons for networked UPnP devices’ from within the Network Tasks pane of My Network Places.

Shared folders on a Nas can be ‘mapped’ as network drives. To do this in Windows XP, choose Tools from My Network Places and then Map Network Drive. Now choose a drive letter and browse to the Nas folder you want to use as a network drive. In Vista/Windows 7, click the Map network drive button within the toolbar of the Computer screen.