Setting up a Mac server
 

I want to set up for a no-frills server for some commonly used and continually modified files that are both in office use and emailed to customers.

One example is an inventory spreadsheet that changes daily and is emailed to sales reps and customers a few times a week for re-orders.

What's the best way to do this?

Hi Shaun,

The documents are going to be changed and accessed only by you or staff?

Access from inside the office network or do you need remote access as well?

Hey Scott. Yes, me and 2 assistants will be changing and emailing the docs. Only need in-office, local network access.

The issue you may face is with a plain old file share if someone has the doc open no one else will be able to edit or maybe even open as read only.

That said, an old PC with Linux installed and a few 1tb drives in a software RAID array (RAID 1 or 5) and Samba and/or SSH set up...

System Preferences/Sharing, select File Sharing, hit options, enable AFP, turn off FTP, your choice on SMB (if you have Windows machines then turn SMB on)

Create a user/s and assign privileges. Can be the actual people or a generic user like "Spreadsheet Jockey"

id10T is correct re the open file and errors, only one person can work on it at a time which is what you want anyway, nothing creates fuch ups faster then lack of version control.

If you want cheap/reliable, I've been using synology NAS devices, relatively easy to set up, built in raid, and if you set up a second in a remote location, it can automatically back up the first.

Sory, missed the Mac in the title, so you must have a spare mac laying around.... but if you don't, consider the synology.

Sounds like he only needs to share a couple of spreadsheets.

Full blown server is kind of overkill.

OK, thanks. So do I need/should have a spare Mac, like a mini, with these files or can they be on someone's machine?

We don't have a spare Mac, recently donated my old MBPro, don't mind getting a cheap CL Mac for this application.

we do have an old PC laptop (Toshiba piece of junk running Vista) that isn't used at all.

And the new Dell PC running Windows 7 Home Premium. This runs our QuickBooks and our custom Microsoft Access order entry application. Would love to port it over to Filemaker Pro someday.

Macs are connected via wireless network and the Dell is connected directly to the Comcast/SMC router connected to the cable modem.

Managing 1 user at a time isn't a problem at all.

If you wanted to set up a server then I would recommend using it for all your shared stuff like art files as well.

For sharing a couple of docs on a closed network just pick any one of the machines you already have, Mac or Windows, makes no difference. Put the files in a folder on the desktop and turn on personal file sharing. You can set the share point to the specific folder so when you access it you are right there and no additional navigation is required.

The overhead of running personal file sharing for small docs is insignificant. A dedicated server is overkill unless you want to go thru the exercise of setting up a centralized business process.

Personally I'd set it up on the Mac but that's me.

If the info is just a couple of spreadsheets and not proprietary you could even set them up on google docs.

The Synology would be a great way to go for what you need. Newegg has the DS110j for $149. Add a 1TB drive for around $50, and you have a robust, easy to manage solution for $200.
Newegg.com - Synology Disk Station DS110j Diskless System Budget-friendly 1-bay NAS Server for Personal and Home Use

Synology has an online live demo of their software to manage the NAS. (username=admin, password=synology). After you login, click on Control Panel. Setting up shares, users and groups is handled there. It is very simple to operate.
http://demo.synology.com:5000/

2 good solutions, thank you for the time and info, I appreciate it. Files will include PS/Ill artwork, Excel and Word docs. We'll start off with Scott's and if needed, go to the Synology solution. it's the inventory that's driving us crazy, so a quick and easy fix for that alone if nothing else.

Just make sure the machine is always on and backed up. No need to complicate it yet.

Look at https://www.dropbox.com/features

What about Google Docs? Free and easy. You control who can view and edit. Has email alerts on changes and you see others working on the document in real time.

We use Google Docs to share files in my company. Works well.

+1 Google docs. I use it to collaborate on documents with team in VA. Works great.