timwhunt
asked on
Setting up a Linux file server with VPN
I am trying to set up a file server for our company so that we have shared and private folders/files that we can access from our Windows XP machines. I would like to set the file server up on a hosted Linux server (dedicated Linux server with root access provided by hosting company). I would like the client and server software to be free or very cheap.
Based on what I have read so far, I believe:
A) To securely access the server over the Internet, we need to set up a VPN. For example, we can use Poptop on the server and WinXP's built-in VPN support
B) For the Linux server to communicate with Windows machines and act as a file server we can set up Samba and connect to the server as a network drive from the WinXP machines (no special client software).
Questions:
1) Are both A) and B) above correct?
2) Are there better alternatives?
3) Do I need Samba *and* a VPN setup or is just establishing the VPN connection enough for me to use the Linux server as a file server? I think I need both because the VPN just establishes the secure connections, while Samba is needed for file serving, but I'm not sure.
4) Once it is set up, is there an easier (e.g., point and click) way to manage users and access rights instead of editing the Samba config file?
Anything else you would recommend?
Based on what I have read so far, I believe:
A) To securely access the server over the Internet, we need to set up a VPN. For example, we can use Poptop on the server and WinXP's built-in VPN support
B) For the Linux server to communicate with Windows machines and act as a file server we can set up Samba and connect to the server as a network drive from the WinXP machines (no special client software).
Questions:
1) Are both A) and B) above correct?
2) Are there better alternatives?
3) Do I need Samba *and* a VPN setup or is just establishing the VPN connection enough for me to use the Linux server as a file server? I think I need both because the VPN just establishes the secure connections, while Samba is needed for file serving, but I'm not sure.
4) Once it is set up, is there an easier (e.g., point and click) way to manage users and access rights instead of editing the Samba config file?
Anything else you would recommend?
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