samba - Jan 2009 - Access Windows network shares from an external Windows PC using an ubuntu server as 'gateway'

Hi everybody.

I live with 10 good friends in a student house. We have a network containing
lots of stuff like movies, presentations, documents etc. Each one of us use
Windows as the primary OS (I am the only one using linux too) and so our
network exists out of Windows network shares. We use these network shares
very much.

We would like to be able to access these files remotely too (when being not
inside the house). So I am looking for a way to make the network shares
accesible remotely.
I can't find a clear way how to do this. There are two potential
'gateways'
to access it: 1. An Ubuntu Server (Specs are at the end of the mail) hosting
our own website. 2. A Windows XP computer in the living room that is always
turned on.(these 'gateways' of course will be reached using a port
forward
in the router)
Of course, I would like to go for option 1. But how? Using Samba of course,
but do I need to combine it with VPN or something?
Is it a good idea to make one samba share that 'mounts' all the
avialable
shares (or computers) in the local network in one folder and share that
folder to the 'world' using (s)ftp or something? It would be best when a
normal windows pc can access this share without any extra software (just by
adding a network drive in Windows Explorer). 
In other words: is it possible to share the overview you get in Gnome (when
being on the desktop edition of ubuntu) when clicking on "network" in
the
'places' menu?

So shortly said: How do I make my windows local network shares accessible
from outside the network? or: How do i connect externally to a local windows
network? What is the best way to do that?

I hope my question is a bit clear. Hopefully some of you can give help me a
hand so I can get this to work.

Thanks in advance, Koen

p.s. Of course I want the local network to ask for a password when the
external pc wants to connect to it.
p.p.s Remote Login to a computer in a sense of 'taking over the desktop'
is
not what I mean. I don't want to acces the computer I just want to acces the
local network shares. So VNC, MS Remote Desktop are as far as I know no
option.

 

About the server:

Samba: 3.0.28a (If needed I can upgrade it maybe)

OS: Ubuntu Server 8.04

Kernel: 2.6.24.23.25

Personally I would either turn on PPTP VPN support on your router (or 
replace your router with an old pc running www.pfsense.org).
 From the outside world on any windows pc you can then create a new 
"dial up" connection, to your workplace, and XP has everything it
needs
to connect.
Once connected you can access all the shares you currently have as if 
you were in your house.

Regards,
James

Koen Lekkerkerker wrote:
> Hi everybody.
>
> I live with 10 good friends in a student house. We have a network
containing
> lots of stuff like movies, presentations, documents etc. Each one of us use
> Windows as the primary OS (I am the only one using linux too) and so our
> network exists out of Windows network shares. We use these network shares
> very much.
>
> We would like to be able to access these files remotely too (when being not
> inside the house). So I am looking for a way to make the network shares
> accesible remotely.
> I can't find a clear way how to do this. There are two potential
'gateways'
> to access it: 1. An Ubuntu Server (Specs are at the end of the mail)
hosting
> our own website. 2. A Windows XP computer in the living room that is always
> turned on.(these 'gateways' of course will be reached using a port
forward
> in the router)
> Of course, I would like to go for option 1. But how? Using Samba of course,
> but do I need to combine it with VPN or something?
> Is it a good idea to make one samba share that 'mounts' all the
avialable
> shares (or computers) in the local network in one folder and share that
> folder to the 'world' using (s)ftp or something? It would be best
when a
> normal windows pc can access this share without any extra software (just by
> adding a network drive in Windows Explorer). 
> In other words: is it possible to share the overview you get in Gnome (when
> being on the desktop edition of ubuntu) when clicking on
"network" in the
> 'places' menu?
>
> So shortly said: How do I make my windows local network shares accessible
> from outside the network? or: How do i connect externally to a local
windows
> network? What is the best way to do that?
>
> I hope my question is a bit clear. Hopefully some of you can give help me a
> hand so I can get this to work.
>
> Thanks in advance, Koen
>
> p.s. Of course I want the local network to ask for a password when the
> external pc wants to connect to it.
> p.p.s Remote Login to a computer in a sense of 'taking over the
desktop' is
> not what I mean. I don't want to acces the computer I just want to
acces the
> local network shares. So VNC, MS Remote Desktop are as far as I know no
> option.
>
>  
>
> About the server:
>
> Samba: 3.0.28a (If needed I can upgrade it maybe)
>
> OS: Ubuntu Server 8.04
>
> Kernel: 2.6.24.23.25
>
>  
>
>