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How do I get started setting up a Small Office / Home Office?

rated 0 times [ 2] [ 0] / answers: 1 / hits: 4188 / 3 Years ago, sat, july 3, 2021, 12:28:13

This is my first post at here. I have been using Ubuntu for 3-4 years. However, I have been the only Ubuntu users among my physical circles (I get to know a lot of other users online). Recently, I have been able to convert my girlfriend to use Ubuntu as well and she loves it a lot.

I have been thinking of setting up my own small home office. I would have 2 laptops (1 of mine, 1 of my girlfriend's) and a small server (just converted from a desktop). I also have a wireless router modem which will connect with the laptops through wireless and connect with the server through cable. I am thinking on the best solution to solve this setup.

Basically, what I want to achieve would be:

A network which will allow internal file sharing.

A server which can be accessed from the Internet (out of my home).

So, any suggestion?

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corsee

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answered 3 Years ago arbaour · Accepted Answer

As you have only Linux computers in your internal network (two Ubuntu laptops and a Ubuntu Server), you need not install Samba. Of course, you will need to have a static IP if you want to access your server over the Internet.

Install open-ssh servers on each on the three machines. This will allow you to share files via sshfs. You can use this guide to set it up: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SSHFS. Make sure that you use different ports for each machine (i.e., do not use the default port). You can use the GUI tool 'Connect to Server...' from the Places Menu and get access to the files on the remote machine(s). edit: I had earlier suggested ftp using TLS, but it takes more steps to set up than sshfs. Thanks to Wolfy for the suggestion.

Install open-ssh server on your Ubuntu server, if you have not done so already. This will allow you to control your server remotely. Again, make sure that you use a different port here, other that the default port. Now, set your router to forward this ssh port number to your server. Now, you can connect to your Ubuntu server using your static IP address and the ssh port number of your server.

In case your office also needs a printer, you can either have a network printer (one that is directly connected to the router) or a shared printer that is connected to your server. Either way, Ubuntu has guides:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Printers
https://help.ubuntu.com/6.06/ubuntu/serverguide/C/cups.html
https://help.ubuntu.com/10.04/printing/C/printing.html

Note: I suggest that you use Ubuntu 10.04 Server as it has Long Term Support (LTS - up to 2015). So, once setup, you will not have to touch it till 2015, by which time you should upgrade to Ubuntu 14.04 LTS.