I have a windows XP machine here waiting to become a server ... however I know how to implament a local server and share files over my local network but I need to share them to others that arent on my local network.. Anyone have any ideas?

Depending on who you want to share these files with there are a few options.If it is just a few 'trusted users' you may want to use VPN. You could also install IIS from your windows or server bootdisk and setup links to the files. Apache could be installed for the same results. Either way you would have to grant the users rights to logon to your machine. Use Gpedit to control rights and permissions.

yes, Further research after posting this concluded a VPN, or apachee, I was browseing the net looking for information on a VPN and really couldn't find anything ... is this a piece of software on both ends or is purchaseing of hardware required? also IIS I have installed... Is their a way to network the drive from the server as if it work local on the networked (remote site) machine? Basicly what I am doing is I am running quickbooks pro 07 for my business business is anything but booming and my father has aggreed to help me in building my business ... quickbooks is one of the tools we plan on useing ah well as other files.... I'm not sure how quickbooks ill interact if the file keeps getting FTPed back and forth ... and loosing data isn't in the plan.... maybe that makes more sense... appologies its been a long time since I'v worked around networks and that was in High school and thanks to everyone for their help....

Rob

I would kindly suggest you start with a business plan. For example what aspect of your business operations would require outside of your system access to your Quickbooks? That consideration is a HUGE risk to your accounting information without safeguards in place.

If you are seriously considering allowing outside access to your intranet you need a router that supports vpn clients. Way this works is the vpn client software is loaded on the remote users machine. They establish an internet connection [high speed only no dialup], then they launch the vpn client. They are challenged and authenicated at the router before they have a path to your network.

We then have them launch a Citrix client [you can do the same with a Terminial Server but that requires a real server not xp] and then connect to the server to do what you have allowed them to do.

Imagine the power if you knew how to internet search