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Quick and dirty file server

Quick and dirty file server

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This is how I set up a file server while I was in Iraq. There was one here somebody spent quite a lot of money on. Buying a server with multiple drives, etc. Now if you're familiar with networking at all this is going to seem blatantly obvious to you once I explain it. I hope you all give it a try. With this equipment there are a lot more things you can do which I'll get to at the bottom. As far as this is concerned I'm assuming you are only using it for a file server.


First the parts list, and it's very short!

  • Linksys/Cisco E2100L
  • Western Digital Elements 2TB external hard drive
    I HIGHLY suggest using a hard drive for this with external power. Don't put too much strain on the Cisco especially if you are planning on using multiple drives.


There are a couple of Linksys devices you can order to do the same thing. However the common one which is the E3000 costs about $350, the E2100L cost me $105 on new egg and it does the same thing. The difference is whether it's running the Cisco operating system or Linux. In the end it doesn't matter because the interface you are going to use is EXACTLY the same no matter which one you pick. I suggest saving yourself $150 and getting the E2100L (Linux version).


Once you have ordered them (http://www.newegg.com is where I got mine) you're going to do something a little non conventional with the Cisco. You see the device was made to have an internet connection and talk to the outside world. We don't want it to do that, we just want to use the file server capabilities. You will notice on the back 5 RJ45 ports (these are the rectangular ports you plug network cables into) One of the ports should be yellow and marked "internet" on it. DO NOT use the port marked Internet. leave it alone.


You are going to need to know a few things before we proceed:


  • How to change your IP address (this will be different depending on your operating system)
  • The IP address you want to give your file server - it must be a valid IP on your network!
  • The netmask for your network (more than likely it's 255.255.255.0)
  • Your DNS server IP address (if you're running windows you can get this from 'ipconfig /all' at the cmd prompt)


Now we are going to hook up our Cisco. Don't plug it into your network yet. Most people use 192.168.1.1 as their router on their home network. You may do the same. If you do when you plug in the Cisco it's going to take this address away from you. Instead change the IP address of your computer to 192.168.1.2, then plug it directly into the Cisco router. (remember, NOT the port marked Internet). Now we are ready to configure.


  1. Using your favorite browser (I use firefox) go to the IP address 192.168.1.1, this will give you a username and password prompt.
  2. Log in as admin and the password admin (I believe, I'll look this up again later to make sure) You will now be looking at the interface to set up your file server!
  3. You should be looking at the page marked "Setup" and "Basic Setup" Here is where we put in our network information.
    1. Under "Internet Setup" change the connection type to "static" and put in IP information you will never use. For example ip: 10.10.10.10 mask: 255.255.255.0 gateway: 10.10.10.1
    2. For "DNS1" you are going to use your real dns server IP address.
    3. under optional settings you can give it a host name and domain name, or you don't have to, It's up to you.
    4. Under Router IP, put in the IP address you want to give your file server, along with the netmask of your network.
    5. for DHCP setting change it to Disable!! This is very important, some very strange things may start happening if you already have a router your using and you leave this setting to enable.
    6. You can change your time zone at the bottom of this page.
  4. Now click save settings and your file server will reboot!
  5. Plug the Cisco and your laptop into your network now, and set your IP address on your laptop back to the way it was before
  6. Now, use the browser to go to the IP address you just set up, NOT the one you went to before. You will get the same prompt, log in again the same way to show the admin page.
  7. This time click the "administration" tab at the top and CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD!!! I cannot stress how important this is! If you don't change your password someone WILL do it for you! change it now so you know what it is. Now click "Save settings" and give it a few seconds to save
  8. It is now time to plug in your hard drive. Unpack it, plug it into the wall outlet and then plug the USB into the cisco.
  9. Your configuration should be saved now and you will be looking at the administration web site again. Click on the tab marked "Storage" At the top. you will notice the subtabs "Disk" "Media Server" "FTP Server" and "Administration"
    1. Start with the subtab administration. Click "create new user" and create one. The important fields are "Name" and "Password". These are going to be how you log into this users account. Add more users if you want others on. make sure your user has admin rights (will allow you to add and delete files from the file server)
    2. Before you leave the administration subtab make sure you set up your workgroup name to match what's on your computer. This will allow you easy access to browse to it.
    3. in the subtab "disk" you should now see a partition listed. Click on create share and make a new folder, give yourself rights to it.
    4. if you have a playstation 3 you are going to want to go under "Media server" and enable UPnP so that your PS3 can see the file server. Then specify the folder you want it to scan.
  10. save settings and your configuration should be complete.


Once the Cisco resets again you should see the new disk in your network neighborhood. map the drive and it will show up under 'my computer' When you map it make sure you click "log in as different user" if you want to add files to the drive, then log in as the user and password you set up above.


Some Extra Functions

You are welcome to use the other functions of the router, for one thing you can connect to it wirelessly and you'll show up on the same local network. You can also use this as a dhcp server, or your router for your network. Just a little more administration and you're there


Multiple drives

You're not stuck with just one 2TB drive, if you want to add multiple drives to your unit purchase a 'usb hub'. plug one end into the Cisco and the other into your drives. When you start using multiple drives it becomes even more important to use ones with a separate power supply OR use a USB hub with external power. You will find the Cisco usb port will not be able to power several devices at once.

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