I want to make my archive at home accessible anytime/anywhere.

Just like the title says...

I want to make my archive at home accessible anytime/anywhere. I have a PC at home that I don't mind leaving running 24/7. It'd be nice to be able to browse through RAW files via Adobe Bridge on my laptop at work or anywhere else and furthermore, transfer files to my laptop wherever I am and work on those files. Here's what I was thinking... let me know if you can think of an easier way to do this.

My thoughts...

To view files: Setup TeamViewer so that I can take remote control of my PC at home and browse through files using bridges, which is already installed on that pc.

To transfer files: Setup an FTP server on my PC at home, and an FTP client on my laptop to transfer files that I actually want to work on.

Your thoughts?...

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

That's basically what I do. TeamViewer has a bit of a lag but it is very useful.

I usually transfer files through Google Drive. I think TeamViewer has a file-transfer mechanism built-in, but I haven't tried it.

Cheers,

Geoff S.

GeoffSobering wrote in post #17627006
That's basically what I do. TeamViewer has a bit of a lag but it is very useful.

I usually transfer files through Google Drive. I think TeamViewer has a file-transfer mechanism built-in, but I haven't tried it.

Cheers,

Geoff S.

Sweet. Thanks!

GeoffSobering wrote in post #17627006
That's basically what I do. TeamViewer has a bit of a lag but it is very useful.

I usually transfer files through Google Drive. I think TeamViewer has a file-transfer mechanism built-in, but I haven't tried it.

Cheers,

Geoff S.

Yes, TeamViewer has a couple of ways to transfer files directly between computers. The problem is that you're limited to the upload speed of the sending machine which is usually pretty low. I wouldn't want to transfer a bunch of raw files at 1-2 Mbps.

Forget FTP. You don't want to run an FTP server on the Internet unless you can secure it. Google Drive or a similar service is more practical as the files can be uploaded ahead of time, then you're only limited by the download speed at work, which is hopefully higher than the home connection's upload speed.

mike_d wrote in post #17627139
Yes, TeamViewer has a couple of ways to transfer files directly between computers. The problem is that you're limited to the upload speed of the sending machine which is usually pretty low. I wouldn't want to transfer a bunch of raw files at 1-2 Mbps.

Forget FTP. You don't want to run an FTP server on the Internet unless you can secure it. Google Drive or a similar service is more practical as the files can be uploaded ahead of time, then you're only limited by the download speed at work, which is hopefully higher than the home connection's upload speed.

Good point/s! Thanks

Why not set up a NAS?

gjl711 wrote in post #17627163
Why not set up a NAS?

I want it to work with what I already have. NAS is overkill.

Can you tell us more about why you need to do this? That can influence the recommendation. Is it because you need access to an archive for work? Or is it just something that sounds useful.

Set up a VPN Server to connect to your home computer. Then then you can just share them over the network. This is one of the things a NAS good for. Not to mention that there is nothing wrong with having another backup in place.

tim wrote in post #17627416
Can you tell us more about why you need to do this? That can influence the recommendation. Is it because you need access to an archive for work? Or is it just something that sounds useful.

It's just be nice to be able to access files at any time or any location.

I back up important stuff to Crashplan, I can restore if required. Things I want to access regularly from different locations I put on Dropbox, that's really easy.

I only shoot jpg's, so I have less storage requirement. When I discovered "On The Go" (OTG), my problem was solved. I have less than 128GB, only 17,000 pics - so I got an OTG cable for my android phone and a 128GB USB.

As part of my normal backup routine, I copy to the USB key and carry the OTG and USB with me where-ever I go. I can show any photo on my phone this way. You should see the looks on my family/friends faces when I go to an interesting folder of 100-200 pics, hand them my phone, and say swipe away!

Now, I'll grant that's not a solution for everybody - especially folks with Terabytes of RAW pics. But it's a possibility. There are also very small portable (and affordable) SSD's of 500GB-1TB which can be used with modern tablets. I'm so old, though - I'll never need more than 250GB.

So, yeah, the cloud is nice... and I do use it to distribute photos to family/friends/coaches - but OTG is good for me personally.

Tim will hate this...but a personal cloud would work for you. I use this: http://www.amazon.com …1&keywords=pers​onal+cloud

It can be finicky, but it works. I can access all of my photos from anywhere, phone, ipad or laptop.

I just don't like when marketers adopt a term and basically throw away it's meaning. It's not a "personal cloud", it's a disk that's accessible over the Internet.

tim wrote in post #17628437
I just don't like when marketers adopt a term and basically throw away it's meaning. It's not a "personal cloud", it's a disk that's accessible over the Internet.

And likely poorly secured. Not the place I'd want my primary data.