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Just get a switch (if you don't have a gigabit one) and a NAS then.
That would easily support 7 people for relatively low cost. As a comparison, we've got pretty decent NAS that has no trouble keeping up with 40 or so users. Average file size is between 2-24MB with constant use.
Use a bobo computer. Get two 1TB hard drives. Join it to your workgroup. Share the Main 1GB hard drive to everyone/share particular folders you make, whatever. Buy SyncbackSE for $30 bucks or whatever it is and set it up to copy drive 1 to drive 2 x times per day.
That's the cheap method. Also, if you're looking for solid advice, silvrhand is usually the dude to go to.
a NAS will work if you follow some simple rules
- Integration into you network structure to allow single sign on. Changing passwords and adding/removing people could be a PITA otherwise
- RAID 5 / 6. If a disk dies, your data is still there and is available and it gives you time to get a new disk.
It's no different than a file server. If you keep all your files on one server/disk and your network speed is working for you now it doesn't necessarily need to be upgraded. However, I would at least make sure you're up to at least 100mb.
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When was the last time you tried something new?
Another option if you can afford it would be windows 2008 SBS, which would give you all exchange, unified logins, roaming profiles, backups, and network storage.
Get that plus hardware to support it and you'll probably be good.
Trust me, if you have a NAS you'll still need something to centrally manage the permissions. Sure it might be fine at first to setup the permissions per person/computer account. But after awhile, if the company ever grows it'll become a bit of a burden. Might as well get the jump on it before it gets you.
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My first Z was so good, I came back for seconds.
Last edited by NightShade; 08-08-2009 at 11:28 AM.
+1 on the sbs 2k8 box as a File server with Raid 5 or 6 or a NAS and a gigabit switch. Cost will be the box, sbs 2k8 + cals, and switch.
A lot of small businesses start out with just a bunch of PCs and as more employees come, they just add small hubs and $30 linksys routers. Then someone will have the bright idea of throwing in a small business server into the mix for shared data storage.
You might as well either bite the bullet and get someone to set up a network with a file server / NAS or set a budget for the next fiscal year to invest in building your network up and include building it up to gigabit.
+1 on silverhand (You might might as well start a "questions for slvrhand sub-forum, dude")
Get a cheap server with internal RAID storage and run MS Sharepoint or an Open source alternative like Alfresco. Devise an off-site backup plan that will meet your needs.
Network connectivity to the same files is the least of your problems even with only 7 users. You will want versioning, collaboration features, etc. etc. sooner rather than later.
Network Genius' Please Help...
