Setting Up A File Server On Top of Windows or Other Options

[bradyboyy88]

Thank you in advance for any advic
What I am trying to do:
I am building an extra computer which will be running 24/7 and I was hoping to use it to store large video files and high resolution images. I want to make these files accessible to my friends not on the network and in a secure manner (we do a lot of video editing and have used various online cloud storages but we want to try it this way instead). I have used a vpn client for school a while back which added a symbol to my school drive on my laptop and I like that idea and if possible to recreate for my friends laptops to thie new computer. Would it be better to run software over windows or try and learn windows server or something like that.

Also, some of my friends have mac and some have windows so hopefully its still doable. I do not know to much about network security so possibly the most user friendly method would be best. I was even going to use this computer to learn how to stream media files to my tvs and such so windows might be best?

Thanks again

 

[USAFRet]

I want to make these files accessible to my friends not on the network and in a secure manner

I do not know to much about network security

Those are mutually exclusive statements.
If you open up access through your router, you increase the vulnerabilities. Study up some on the security aspect before you jump headfirst into the shallow end of the pool.

 

[bradyboyy88]

I want to make these files accessible to my friends not on the network and in a secure manner

I do not know to much about network security

Those are mutually exclusive statements.
If you open up access through your router, you increase the vulnerabilities. Study up some on the security aspect before you jump headfirst into the shallow end of the pool.

I know I will need to open up ports on my router which is risky but I would assume there is some user friendly method of doing this in a secure manner or an easily maintained manner. When I say I do not know much about network security I mean in the respects to protecting myself from port scanners and such associated with a full blown server.

 

[USAFRet]

I want to make these files accessible to my friends not on the network and in a secure manner

I do not know to much about network security

Those are mutually exclusive statements.
If you open up access through your router, you increase the vulnerabilities. Study up some on the security aspect before you jump headfirst into the shallow end of the pool.

I know I will need to open up ports on my router which is risky but I would assume there is some user friendly method of doing this in a secure manner or an easily maintained manner. When I say I do not know much about network security I mean in the respects to protecting myself from port scanners and such associated with a full blown server.

There is no 'easy button' for that.
What you might consider is a Linux firewall appliance. Many of them have a function for a DMZ. Outside access to only that particular box.
ipCop, untangle, Smoothwall are a couple that would probably work.