Unleash Your Home Network: Beyond Just Internet Access

So, you’ve successfully secured your router, established stable network connections for all your devices, and waved goodbye to internet woes. Fantastic! But why stop there? Your home network, with its interconnected gadgets, possesses untapped potential that extends far beyond simply accessing the internet. Let’s explore some ways to unlock this potential and make your network work harder for you.

File Sharing: Bridging the Digital Divide Within Your Home

One of the most straightforward ways to enhance your network’s utility is to facilitate file sharing between devices. Remember the days of physically transporting files via USB drives? Those days are over. Sharing files over your network eliminates the need for cumbersome physical media and simplifies the process of accessing your data from anywhere within your home.

While previous versions of Windows made file sharing relatively easy, Microsoft has introduced some complexities in Windows 10 and 11. The shift towards Microsoft accounts and Windows Hello login methods, coupled with the SMB protocol’s requirement for username and password-protected accounts, can create hurdles. However, file sharing remains achievable and highly beneficial, particularly if you manage multiple computers and desire seamless file transfer without relying on external software or dealing with operating system incompatibilities.

Setting Up File Sharing in Windows 10 & 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

Navigating to the file-sharing settings has changed. Instead of Control Panel, you’ll find them in Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Advanced sharing settings. This is where you configure the core file-sharing features.

1. Enable File and Printer Sharing: Within the "Advanced sharing settings" window, expand the "Private networks" section. Toggle the "File and printer sharing" option to "Turn on file and printer sharing." This enables the feature for networks identified as private, such as your home network. Importantly, leave file sharing disabled under the "Public networks" section (e.g., coffee shop Wi-Fi) to safeguard your data.

2. Network Type: Windows often defaults to treating networks as public, which restricts file sharing. To rectify this, navigate to Network & internet settings and select either Ethernet or Wi-Fi, depending on your connection type. Then, change the network profile to "Private."

3. Create a Dedicated User Account: Microsoft accounts can complicate the sharing process. The simplest solution is to create a local user account specifically for file sharing. Go to Settings > Accounts > Other users and add a new local account. Choose a username and a strong password. Ensure you select the "Standard user" or "Default account" option to avoid granting administrator privileges. This account will primarily be used for network access and won’t significantly impact your disk space.

4. Share Specific Folders: Connecting to the shared account will only grant access to the Home folder, so to share other folders, right-click the folder you want to share in Explorer and select Properties, and click Share. Select the new user account you created for the purpose from the drop-down menu and click Add.

5. Firewall Adjustments: Windows Firewall, while crucial for security, can sometimes interfere with file sharing. It might block connections that should be automatically allowed. If you encounter connectivity issues, follow these steps to create an inbound rule:

   1. Open Windows Security.

   2. Select Firewall & network protection and then Advanced settings.

   3. Click Inbound Rules > New Rule.

   4. Select Port, then TCP, and enter 445 as the specific local port.

   5. Choose Allow the connection, then select Private on the next screen.

   6. Provide an informative name for the rule (e.g., "SMB File Sharing").

Printer Sharing: Centralized Printing for the Whole Household

Sharing a printer allows everyone on your network to access it, regardless of which computer it’s directly connected to. This eliminates the need for multiple printers and streamlines the printing process.

Sharing a Printer from a Windows Computer

1. Open Settings and go to Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.

2. Click on the printer you want to share, then click on Printer properties. A separate window will pop up.

3. Select the Sharing tab and check the box labeled Share this printer.

4. Optionally, change the share name to something more descriptive (e.g., "Epson Office Printer"). This makes it easier to identify the printer on the network, especially if you have multiple printers.

Connecting to a Shared Printer from Other Devices

• Windows: On the other computer, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners and click Add a device. The shared printer should appear in the list. Click on it and select Add device.

• Mac: Go to System Preferences > Printers and Scanners to add a printer.

• Android: Navigate to Settings > Connected Devices > Connection Options > Printing. Select the default printing service (you may need to add one first) and then choose the network printer you want to connect to.

• iOS: iOS requires printers to support AirPrint. If your printer lacks AirPrint support, consider installing an AirPrint server on your computer.

NAS: Your Central Home Data Hub

If you have numerous computers and devices at home, consider investing in a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device. A NAS serves as a centralized repository for backups, shared files, and various other data. It’s essentially a dedicated server computer housed in a multi-drive enclosure, running a specialized operating system.

Choosing a NAS Device

Synology is a leading NAS manufacturer, renowned for its user-friendly operating system and extensive add-on capabilities. Other popular brands include Asustor, Qnap, and Terramaster.

NAS devices typically accommodate two or four hard drives, which are ideally configured in a RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) setup. RAID provides data redundancy, ensuring that if one drive fails, your data remains intact. You can then replace the faulty drive without data loss.

Understanding RAID Configurations

With four hard drives, RAID 5 is a common choice. In this configuration, 75% of the total storage capacity is available, and one drive can fail without causing data loss. However, prompt replacement of the failed drive is crucial.

NAS: Backup vs. Redundancy

While RAID offers redundancy, it’s not a substitute for a proper backup. If you store critical files on your NAS, create a separate backup to an external hard drive. This ensures protection against various data loss scenarios, including NAS failure, data corruption, or even theft.

Uses for a NAS

• Storage: Offload space-consuming files from your computers’ internal drives. Archive photos, videos, and other large files.

• Surveillance Camera Storage: Configure your surveillance cameras to store recordings directly on the NAS.

• Backups: Back up all the computers, mobiles, and tablets in your home.

Backup Software

Employ a backup program like Arq Backup or Duplicati on your computers. If your NAS supports user accounts, create separate accounts for each family member and configure the backup software to connect using those accounts. SFTP is the preferred connection method, but SMB is also an option.

Private Cloud with Synology Drive

Instead of relying on external cloud storage services like Dropbox, create your own private cloud using your NAS. Synology NAS devices offer a cloud sync service called Synology Drive, which is easy to set up and provides clients for most operating systems.

Home Server: Repurposing Old Hardware

Don’t discard that old computer gathering dust in the attic. It can be repurposed as a home server!

Old Computer as a Server

While a desktop tower consumes more power than a mini PC, an old computer offers a cost-effective way to experiment with server functionalities. If you’re comfortable with Windows, you can stick to it and avoid learning Linux.

Media Server with Plex or Jellyfin

If your old computer has a sixth-generation Intel processor or later, it can function as a media server, streaming your movies and TV shows to all your devices. Plex and Jellyfin are popular media server programs. Jellyfin is open-source and doesn’t require a developer account.

Minecraft Server

Turn your old computer into a Minecraft server. Install a modern version of Java, create a folder for the server, and follow the instructions to set up the server software.

File Server

If your old computer has space for multiple hard drives, it can serve as a NAS-like file server. Install Linux and use the ZFS file system for enhanced performance and security.

Home Automation with Home Assistant

While a Raspberry Pi is better suited, you can install Home Assistant on your old computer. You can install Home Assistant as a full operating system or as a virtual machine using Virtualbox or Vmware Workstation.

Security Considerations

Security is paramount when exposing any part of your home network to the internet. A VPN server is one of the least complicated methods for secure remote access. Some routers, like those from Asus, have built-in VPN server functionality.

By following these steps, you can transform your home network into a powerful and versatile ecosystem that enhances your digital life.