Reasons to Run a File Server in Your Own Home

There are many reasons why you may want to run a personal file server in your own home, and there are many advantages in doing so. Setting one up is easier than you may think, and once it is up and running there is practically nothing more you have to do. Personal home file servers are not just for computer nerds anymore.

But what exactly is a file server? Well to be brief, it is exactly what it sounds like. A file is a piece of information on your computer; this could be a picture, a word document, an MP3 - anything. And a server is a remote computer (apart from the one you use and interact with on a daily basis) that stores these files. File servers are crucial to home businesses and small companies that may have multiple machines being ran by multiple users at any given time - this way each individual user in the company can access vital company documents such as memos, letterheads, reports, and the like. Without a fileserver, these files would have to be distributed to every single computer in the computer - and you have hundreds or thousands of computers, this could take days to accomplish. But why should you use a fileserver in your own household?

Well, there are many reasons. As the server will be used to store the majority of your personal files, you can equip the fileserver machine with a large hard drive while using hard drives of a lesser capacity any other personal computers you may be running. This is a great way to save money if you are into building your own computers, or if you are running three or more personal computers in your own home.

With a fileserver, you can even set up different accounts for each individual user. This is ideal for families where children have their own computers, as access to things like the internet and e-mail can be restricted however the system administrator sees fit. As the system administrator, you also determine exactly what files can be accessed on your fileserver by each separate user account in your system, and you can also decide whether or not you want to allow any users to modify, delete, or add files to your file server.

Another good reason to have a personal fileserver running in your own home is for security. If for some reason your house is broken into and the thieves only make off with your fileserver machine, they won't be able to access it without having the rest of your home network installed. This will help keep any personally sensitive information you may have on your fileserver.