Online fileservers

For sites that are not on our WAN, online file servers may be one solution for allowing them to back up and share their files. This is a summary of the PC World article Store it on the Web.

BACKUP

For online backup, PC World reviewed six services. Here is a summary of each

IBackup

• Lowest price: $10 / month, $100 / year
• Browser based access: yes
• Mount as a network drive: yes

XDrive

• Lowest price: $10 / month, $100 / year
• Browser based access: yes
• Mount as a network drive: yes

AmberWave FirstBackup

• Lowest price: $4 / month, $39 / year
• Browser based access: no
• Mount as a network drive: no
• comments: client access only, which avoids web security concerns

Acpana Data Deposit Box

• Lowest price: $0.01 per meg
• Browser based access: yes
• Mount as a network drive: no

ElephantDrive

• Lowest price: free
• Browser based access: no
• Mount as a network drive: no
• comments: requires .Net framework in Windows

Mozy

• Lowest price: free
• Browser based access: for restore only
• Mount as a network drive: no

STORAGE

Online storage can give you the space you need for large multimedia libraries without having to buy extra hard drives. PC World reviewed six services.

GoDaddy Online file folder

• Lowest price: $5 / year for 50MB, $20 / year for GB
• Max 10GB
• Browser based access: yes
• Mount as a network drive: yes

Streamload Mediamax

• Lowest price: free with limitted file size and 25GB, $120/year for no file limits and 250GB
• Browser based access: yes
• Mount as a network drive: no
• comments: downloads and sharing are limitted with free plan

Box.net

• Lowest price: free for up to 1GB, $100/year for 15GB
• Browser based access: yes
• Mount as a network drive: no
• comments: free service has file size limits

Simdesk

• Lowest price: $3 month per 1GB, 10GB max
• Browser based access: yes
• Mount as a network drive: yes
• comments: provides printer sharing and mobile access

FlipDrive

• Lowest price: free up to 25MB, $100/year for 15GB with no limits
• Browser based access: yes
• Mount as a network drive: no
• comments: has photo album feature; web interface is lacking

Online Storage Solutions

• Lowest price: $5/month for 10GB, $35/month for 100GB
• Browser based access: yes, limitted
• Mount as a network drive: yes
• comments: web interface is lacking

SHARING

Instead of attaching 15 documents to your email and sending it to a dozen people, why not put your documents on a sharing service web site and send everyone one URL? PC World reviewed five sharing services

GoDaddy Online file folder

• Lowest price: $5 / year for 50MB, $20 / year for GB
• Max 10GB
• Browser based access: yes
• Mount as a network drive: yes

Streamload Mediamax

• Lowest price: free with limitted file size and 25GB, $120/year for no file limits and 250GB
• Browser based access: yes
• Mount as a network drive: no
• comments: downloads and sharing are limitted with free plan

Box.net

• Lowest price: free for up to 1GB, $100/year for 15GB
• Browser based access: yes
• Mount as a network drive: no
• comments: free service has file size limits

Simdesk

• Lowest price: $3 month per 1GB, 10GB max
• Browser based access: yes
• Mount as a network drive: yes
• comments: provides printer sharing and mobile access

FlipDrive

• Lowest price: free up to 25MB, $100/year for 15GB with no limits
• Browser based access: yes
• Mount as a network drive: no
• comments: has photo album feature; web interface is lacking

Online Storage Solutions

• Lowest price: $5/month for 10GB, $35/month for 100GB
• Browser based access: yes, limitted
• Mount as a network drive: yes
• comments: web interface is lacking