Host FTP server on both

I am thinking of making a dedicated FTP server to access files from anywhere, but on one computer it would be important that it still has access to the server, even when Internet connection is down. I know that I can connect the server PC to the PC that needs access with a crossover Ethernet cable, but is it possible to somehow have both the server and the other PC have access to the Internet at once? I read about a "bridged connection" but would I still have access to the server from somewhere else?

Would it also be an option to connect a secondary router to the first one (one connected to Internet) so that all computers in the building could connect to the server? How would I do that?

I somehow had no idea that you did not require an internet connection to access a server/web site hosted locally.

evantig said:

I am thinking of making a dedicated FTP server to access files from anywhere, but on one computer it would be important that it still has access to the server, even when Internet connection is down. I know that I can connect the server PC to the PC that needs access with a crossover Ethernet cable, but is it possible to somehow have both the server and the other PC have access to the Internet at once? I read about a "bridged connection" but would I still have access to the server from somewhere else?

Hi there

One way of doing this would be as follows.

1) The Server is connected via LAN to your main router
2) set up another router in WIFI-->ETHERNET Bridge mode
3) connect this Bridge router to your main router via Wireless --you could even use the 5GHZ protocol for this pupose evn if the computer that needs to access the server doesn't have 5GHZ wireless capability. The max Wifi speed (theoretical) is 433 Mib/s -- OK not 1 GB but easily good enough.
4) connect a small piece of LAN cable from your PC to the Wifi bridge router.

5) If your PC (and some modern laptops don't have them any more as wifi can be FAST these days) doesn't have LAN connector use a USB-->LAN adaptor --really cheap.

Job done -- now even if the Internet is done you are still connected to the Server via LAN !!!.

You can also jury rig some old Routers to work in this mode - www.dd-wrt.com | Unleash Your Router

Decent modern routers will have a WIFI-Ethernet Bridge option in their settings now - but older routers can be made to work (usually) by the above trick.

I've been using this for my NAS box as I can't store my NAS near the incoming cable box and Wifi on Linux is "Dodgy" so this trick works an absolute trick. !!! Linux (NAS server) thinks it's connected via Ethernet (LAN !!).

The router usually has 4 Ethernet ports so you could connect up to 4 computers this way.

Note even if Internet is down you should always be able to connect to LAN - even by Wifi.

The solution outlined above will ensure that your Server should actually always be accessible on your LAN whether or not Internet is available.

This solution for the PC that needs to access the server at all times is better than just relying on it's own wifi card - especially if it can't use the 5GHZ band. Transferring files over domestic grade wifi is usually SLOW and tedious -- of the order of a few Mib/s. That's why I prefer the Bridge method rather than rely on 100% wireless only.

Cheers
jimbo