How can I make a storage home server?

[kiicki]

I need to have a storage server so all my PC's and tablets can access the storage. Since I only have a laptop, I have limited space for movies.
The way I have set it up now, is that i have plugged in a 1TB external HDD to my router. This works good, if you map the external HDD.

It will not for some reason show under "Network" in "Windows Explorer" It will only appear there if I manually type in my IP address under "Network" in "Windows explorer"

This is not how I want things setup. The drive(s) should appear under "network" in "Windows explorer" without typing in the IP address manually.
And I don't want to "MAP" my drives on all my PC's. It should simply be visible under "Network" in "Windows Explorer"

So long story short: I need more space and I want it to be visible to everybody that is connected to my WiFi. The drive(s) should automatically be visible in Network without mapping or typing in the IP address manually. 

It's also a Plus if it supports "DLNA" without a third party software.

I'm not looking for anything expensive. I just need some more space for my movies and share it threw the WiFi. 

[dom1310df]

You probably want something like these:

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/D-Link-ShareCenter-Network-Storage-Enclosure/dp/B008HNRD4I/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1448914032&sr=1-1&keywords=network+hdd&tag=linustechtips-21

http://www.amazon.co.uk/WD-Cloud-Personal-Storage-NAS/dp/B00FOKN7D8/ref=sr_1_3?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1448914032&sr=1-3&keywords=network+hdd&tag=linustechtips-21

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Seagate-STCG2000200-Central-Personal-attached/dp/B00BP5RJ76/ref=sr_1_4?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1448914032&sr=1-4&keywords=network+hdd&tag=linustechtips-21

 

The first one is an empty enclosure; the other two have hard drives inside.

 

They will work in the same way as your current setup, except that with the right configuration the drive should be visible under "Network". These also support DLNA.

 

It looks like these require an ethernet connection to your router. You'll still be able to connect to them via Wi-Fi, though.

[kiicki]

You probably want something like these:

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/D-Link-ShareCenter-Network-Storage-Enclosure/dp/B008HNRD4I/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1448914032&sr=1-1&keywords=network+hdd&tag=linustechtips-21

http://www.amazon.co.uk/WD-Cloud-Personal-Storage-NAS/dp/B00FOKN7D8/ref=sr_1_3?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1448914032&sr=1-3&keywords=network+hdd&tag=linustechtips-21

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Seagate-STCG2000200-Central-Personal-attached/dp/B00BP5RJ76/ref=sr_1_4?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1448914032&sr=1-4&keywords=network+hdd&tag=linustechtips-21

 

The first one is an empty enclosure; the other two have hard drives inside.

 

They will work in the same way as your current setup, except that with the right configuration the drive should be visible under "Network". These also support DLNA.

 

It looks like these require an ethernet connection to your router. You'll still be able to connect to them via Wi-Fi, though.

Thank you. At the moment, I just use a external HDD connected to my router. I would either need to MAP the external HDD so it always shows under "My computer" or manually type my IP address, so it will show under Network. 

What I don't understand is why my external HDD disappears under Network every time I close "Explorer"

If it would stay under Network all the time, I would just use the setup that I use now. But since i don't want to MAP with every PC I have, even though it takes 1 second, and i don't want to type the IP address manually everything to show it under Network, I probably need the setup you linked. 

It's weird that my external HDD disappears from under Network when I close explorer or that I have to type in the IP address to see it under Network. It should be there all the time right? I have D-link 868L if that's important. 

Sharepoint is also enable in router settings. If I could only make the external HDD visible under Network all the time, without typing the IP address, and it just shows there, I wouldn't really need a setup like you linked. But if that's not possible, I will look into what you linked : )

[dom1310df]

-snip-

Are you able to see other devices on your network? It might be that network discovery is turned off.

 

Take a look at this guide to see it helps

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/why-can-t-i-see-other-computers-on-my-network

[leadeater]

When you map the drive tick reconnect at sign in, in other words persistent. Do this and you'll only ever have to map it once.

 

If you disconnect from the network the mapped drive will have a red cross icon, just double click it and it will reconnect. It will always stay in explorer not matter what, you may have to click on 'This PC' to see the disconnected drive if its not showing on the left side bar but will appear after you reconnect it.