Our phones, laptops and iPads often run out of space to store various multimedia files. So we keep transferring files from one medium to another, which is quite inconvenient. Well, you would be surprised to know that you can create your own personal cloud to store all your data from the different devices in your home and access it at any time. Apart from the fact that it can’t be hacked, the setup takes not more than 20 minutes. Here is the guide to create your home network-attached storage (NAS).
Things you need
1. Wi-Fi router with USB port
2. Hard disk with a storage capacity of 4TB or more
3. Laptop for configuration
4. A stable network
Steps to follow
Step 1. Get a Wi-Fi router with an external hard disk drive. Ensure that the router has a USB port. Prefer one with extended range. Such powerful home Wi-Fi routers are available from brands like D-Link, Netgear and Mi for around ` 1800. Ensure that the hard disk is compatible with your Wi-Fi router.
Step 2. Configure the devices with your laptop. First, connect the hard disk to your laptop. Install the necessary drivers and software to your laptop. Configure your hard disk. Next, connect the router to your laptop. Follow configuration processes as required. These include setting up the security credentials, connectivity details, and so on. Set up the IP details and check the Internet availability.
Step 3. Ensure that your smartphone, tablet and any other smart gadget that can transact essential data are connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the hard disk drive.
Step 4. Once you configure your router and hard disk drive over your laptop, connect the hard disk to your router directly. That’s where the USB compatibility of your router comes into play. Take the USB side of the hard disk cable and insert it into the USB port of the router.
Step 5. Check availability of the hard disk as a storage option to devices. Once done successfully, you are all set to transfer and store data in this drive, which essentially becomes your own cloud!
Last but not the least
Before setting up your cloud, however, take a few precautions for safe data storage. First, ensure that the hard drive is free from any kind of virus or malware. Next, use a strong password for your network authentication.
