W10 as server

ChrisPbass · 11 Dec 2021

Maybe this isn't in the right forum.

Situation: Small office but I'm out of the office (my house) sometimes.
I want to be able to have 1 person be able to access files on a PC while they are here. They are actively working on files, not just grabbing files or temporarily using files. In this case, QuickBooks files etc...

An other person will be outside of our lan and will need to be able to do the same thing.

It is essentially a file server with remote access.

Do I need to get a static IP and set up network connections that way.

I have the ability to work with PCs etc...but I am ignorant of this subject!

Windows pro on every PC.

Thanks!

cereberus · 11 Dec 2021

Windows 10 is not really designed as a file server OS. Only one person can login to it at a time.

You can share drives over your local network.

Getting remote access via RDP is not as eaay as you think as most ISPs do not allocate a static IP address. Also RDP is not that secure over the internet.

You would need to setup a dynamic IP addressing (DDNS), or use a VPN etc.

By your own admission, you have limited knowledge and whilst people will suggest all sorts of ways of doing this, you take a big risk of inadequate data security. Also backing up data is vital to any business.

You should really consult specialists in best way to setup what you want. It is not a question of whether you can afford specialist advice but whether you can afford not to take specialist advice.

Samuria · 11 Dec 2021

Simple answer is to save files to onedrive or Google drive then you can access from anywhere in the world on any device both will sync files after any changes simple to setup FREE and secure

ChrisPbass · 11 Dec 2021

Samuria said:

Simple answer is to save files to onedrive or Google drive then you can access from anywhere in the world on any device both will sync files after any changes simple to setup FREE and secure

HOst them onedrive? have you ever tried working with QB like that?
I'll test it.

NavyLCDR · 11 Dec 2021

You could share the files on the host computer. Map the shared folder to drive letters on the client computers. Quick Books should then be able to access the files through the mapped drive letter on the client computer.

What you need to do to allow remote access is to set up your own VPN. I have a router with a VPN server built in. My laptop and my phone have the VPN client software installed and I can connect to my home router over the VPN and it is just like I am connected to my LAN. Instead of getting a static IP address from my ISP, I use the DDNS service that my router also has a built-in connection for. I get my own domain name that I use to connect to my VPN through and the DDNS service ensures my current IP address is returned.

ChrisPbass · 11 Dec 2021

NavyLCDR said:

You could share the files on the host computer. Map the shared folder to drive letters on the client computers. Quick Books should then be able to access the files through the mapped drive letter on the client computer.

What you need to do to allow remote access is to set up your own VPN. I have a router with a VPN server built in. My laptop and my phone have the VPN client software installed and I can connect to my home router over the VPN and it is just like I am connected to my LAN. Instead of getting a static IP address from my ISP, I use the DDNS service that my router also has a built-in connection for. I get my own domain name that I use to connect to my VPN through and the DDNS service ensures my current IP address is returned.

OK,
so box @ home.
dude @ home and eternal dude both connect to box @ home using VPN running on box @ home using VPN running on their own devices.
I do have a domain already and I'm pretty sure my router has these capabilities. Got a tutorial