Storage problem

[Guest]

Sorry for showing my ignorance, but I have a problem and not enough knowledge
to solve it (see previous email - networking problem.) We need a solution for
a grade-level team of students who are working on individual, state-required,
portfolio pieces - about 170 students. Our classroom computers (running XP
Professional and 2000) don't have CD burners, and using floppy disks is a
nightmare that has resulted in lost data. The District Technology Coordinator
doesn't want to give them individual folders on the network because it would
take up too much space on the server. He says it would cost upwards of
$10,000 to make it work. Is it possible to set up a small server just for
document storage for their team? Would they still be able to access the main
server? Can it be done? Any other ideas on what we could do? I realize this
is probably not the right forum for this kind of question, but I don't know
where else to go. Thanks for any help!

 

[DLink Guru]

There are many options available to you, and they will not cost you no were
near 10K. Let me start of by bidding on the job, ill only charge 5K.

Now seriously, Network storage is no problem theses days. There are Ethernet
Hardrives that are easily configured for almost any network or you can dust
that old Pentium 2 computer off from days past and install a 250GB hard
drive, and upgrade the RAM to its max amount, should cost under 300.00, and
set it up as a storage server on your network.

Of all the problems dealing with networks these days, storage is one of the
simplest to solve. Email me and ill send you my address so you can send me
my check.........

Robert...

 

[RWS]

Sorry for showing my ignorance, but I have a problem and not enough
knowledge
to solve it (see previous email - networking problem.) We need a solution
for
a grade-level team of students who are working on individual,
state-required,
portfolio pieces - about 170 students. Our classroom computers (running XP
Professional and 2000) don't have CD burners, and using floppy disks is a
nightmare that has resulted in lost data. The District Technology
Coordinator
doesn't want to give them individual folders on the network because it
would
take up too much space on the server. He says it would cost upwards of
$10,000 to make it work. Is it possible to set up a small server just for
document storage for their team? Would they still be able to access the
main
server? Can it be done? Any other ideas on what we could do? I realize
this
is probably not the right forum for this kind of question, but I don't
know
where else to go. Thanks for any help!

=======================================================
Your District Technology Coordinator sounds like an over paid (whatever
salary)
incompetent fool by not suggesting any alternative solutions for your issue.

Some information / possibile solutions
http://www.enterprisestorageforum.com/technology/features/article.php/947551

http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,31622,00.asp

http://www.dealtime.com/xPP-Network_Storage

======================================================

 

[Jack \(MVP\)]

Hi
Show this page to your Network Maven.
It explains how to add 250GB Network Storage for $200.
Network Attached Storage (NAS) - http://www.ezlan.net/nas.html
Jack (MVP-Networking).