JimD24

Q: Can I use OS X Server to share files remotely?

We are a small business with two locations in different cities in the same state. We would like to share files, but do not want to use a commercial "cloud" to do this. That seems to be overkill for us.

 

Can we use OS X server as a method to do this? If we can, how to we set it up. I have read as much of the available information, but not being an IT professional, or even moderately experienced in this area, I just am sot sure what to do. From what I read, it is pretty straight forward to do this on a LAN, but not sure what to do for a remote file share.

 

JimD24

MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Apr 14, 2016 10:47 AM

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Q: Can I use OS X Server to share files remotely?

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  • by Strontium90,

    Strontium90 Strontium90 Apr 14, 2016 6:32 PM in response to JimD24
    Level 5 (4,077 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Apr 14, 2016 6:32 PM in response to JimD24

    So the first step is to establish a site to site VPN.  By deploying a firewall at each location and establishing a persistent VPN, location A sees locations B and location B sees location A as if each location is local.  Just make sure you use unique subnets in each location (location A:  172.16.4.0/24... location B"  172.16.8.0/24... or make both /23 or /22).  If you have fast enough Internet in each location, you might be able to simply store your data in one site and have the remote site connect to it over the VPN tunnel.  It will be slower than LAN access, but if your connection is good, it might be adequate.

     

    Next, you can look at solutions where you have two servers, one in each location.  Then you can use tools like GoodSync, FileReplication Pro, or even rsync to keep the systems in sync.  You can also looks at DropBox, Soonr, and other "cloud" solutions to allow data to sync from one server to the cloud to the other server.  Just ensure you are choosing a product that does a two way sync.

     

    OS X Server does not have any method to make this work.  You need to seek solutions to enhance OS X Server.

     

    Hope this is helpful.

     

    Reid

    Apple Consultants Network

    Author - "El Capitan Server – Foundation Services"

    Author - "El Capitan Server – Control & Collaboration"

    Author - "El Capitan Server – Advanced Services"

    :: Exclusively available in Apple's iBooks Store

  • by cdhw,

    cdhw cdhw Apr 15, 2016 3:24 AM in response to JimD24
    Level 4 (2,653 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Apr 15, 2016 3:24 AM in response to JimD24

    Don't dismiss a solution based around DropBox, or similar, too soon. Running your own server is pretty costly in terms of equipment, power and the time required to set it up. If your business depends on the system, you'll also need to have back-up hardware, off-site backups and to figure out what's going to happen if your network connection fails at one end.

     

    C.

  • by JimD24,

    JimD24 JimD24 Apr 15, 2016 1:47 PM in response to cdhw
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Apr 15, 2016 1:47 PM in response to cdhw

    Great advice, thank you. We are still learning what we need and what it takes to accomplish it. This helps a lot!

     

    J

  • by JimD24,

    JimD24 JimD24 Apr 15, 2016 1:53 PM in response to Strontium90
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Apr 15, 2016 1:53 PM in response to Strontium90

    Thank you, it is very helpful.

     

    Jim