wilkes

try bullet ftp server. you can add users and passwords for safety and if you dont have a router you will need to pick one up and set up port forwarding and a few other safety options. or i can do it for you call joey @ 336 262 2945.

File server - what size/type of files? Movies, or music? Or just a general mix? If movies, and you have the $ to spend, make sure your router supports 1000M wired connections, that the old tower has a NIC that does as well, and it is connected via a LAN cable to it. 'N' speeds on wireless will be OK for the other PC's - for now. HD video is getting larger and larger. You can get a fast router for around $100 or so from newegg, etc.

As far as an OS goes - If all you want is simple file sharing, XP/Vista/7 will behave fairly well. If you want it to do other things, such as convert video or music files from one format to another during the wee hours, etc, look into the various other OS's and see which one has the software for free to do what you want - All of them can do simple file sharing easily, but a particular flavor of Linux might run TVersity or Orb better than others.

Hope you have a hardware firewall or 2. Most computers can be set to share a folder. Depending on what your needs are, with that you may be most of the way done. The find that folder in your network on the other computer(s).

http://www.wampserver.com/en/

Wait?

Webserver or file server?

Thinking about setting up an old tower to act as a file server for me any tips for setting it up?