Password-protected network-available storage?

[davenet]

I want about a 1TB drive (or NAS or computer) attached to the wired network (though I'd settle for a wireless drive or USB connection that'll work with my modem/router) that asks for a password whenever someone connects (preferably for every session) that doesn't rely on a specific computer in the home.

I've been looking around and not sure I'm finding what I'm looking for; I want to try to stay around $100 or less. Any advice?

 

[bernard038]

With (alsmost) every NAS you can set file and folder permissions for users and groups The issue might be that when a user connects to your NAS for the first time, he or she can tick the "remember the password" box in Windows (or OSX or Linux) and the password is remembered. You don't have to rely on a computer for authentication, but getting users to authenticate every time is somewhat harder.

Just for my curiosity, why do you want users to authenticate every time they want to open a file?

Cheers, b.

 

[davenet]

With (alsmost) every NAS you can set file and folder permissions for users and groups The issue might be that when a user connects to your NAS for the first time, he or she can tick the "remember the password" box in Windows (or OSX or Linux) and the password is remembered. You don't have to rely on a computer for authentication, but getting users to authenticate every time is somewhat harder.

Thanks. I'm wondering if I can just do this with a Windows folder on an attached hard drive (through USB, ethernet, or WiFi). I have been considering a dedicated box using FreeNAS however, I'm not sure if the drive should have its own OS or which one to use.

Just for my curiosity, why do you want users to authenticate every time they want to open a file?

Cheers, b.

It's not for every file, it's for each session. So if a user tries to open the folder or something in it, and they're not already signed in, they have to sign in. It's so somebody else can't just use the computer and access a new session without using the password.

 

[bernard038]

Hi Dave,

You can set permissions on every file and folder on a NTFS-formatted drive. FreeNAS will have the same options. Passwords of shared folders are saved in the user-profile of a specific user. If user A logs in on a PC (using his own credentials), he will have access to the folders shared with him/her (if he has logged in to the shared folder at an earlier time) If user B logs in on the same PC (using his own credentials), he will not have access to the folders shared with user A only. When a user is not using his PC he should either log out or lock the PC.

You might also consider one of the following options:

• Expensive: Buy a Windows Server to act as an domain controller (If you are working for a nonprofit see: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/philanthropies/product-donations/eligibility)
  • Google also has a similar program granting nonprofits free access to G-suite.
• Less expensive: Buy a QNAP-NAS, which can act as a Domain Controller (see: http://docs.qnap.com/nas/4.1/SMB/en/index.html)
• Least expensive, Configure an old PC (or raspberry Pi?) to act as LDAP server and use PGina (http://pgina.org/) to authenticate windows clients against the LDAP-server
  • Almost all Synology models can act as LDAP server
• Free, very effective,no technical knowledge needed, but with some minor disadvantages, hit any user opening a file he may not open with a baseball bat.

Good luck!

b.