I'm looking for an external HDD to backup some files, preferably with these capabilities: 1. Can remotely access the files over the internet similar to cloud or Dropbox 2. Can auto-backup designated folders periodically First one is a priority. Second one is a convenience. I've heard terms like NAS and RAID thrown around, but not exactly sure on what they are or do. And with Black Friday coming up, I figure I can get a decent deal on something to do this, I just don't know what I need.
Your best bet is going to be NAS. There are countless different options with internet access, but just browse the desktop-NAS section of NewEgg and sort by most popular, highest rated, etc. http://www.newegg.com/Desktop-NAS/SubCategory/ID-124
Thanks for the reply. I had already ended up buying a 2-bay QNAP NAS. Still haven't figured out how to set up the cloud because I can't access it from a remote network. I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to computer networks. But, I also bought a 1 TB WD Ultra Passport, that works with Dropbox. So, maybe that'll be easier.
You probably have to open up your network to external traffic. You can configure a port for remote access. I understand it can be a bid tedious and confusing if you aren't good with networking. Dropbox will definitely be easier. I have a NAS, FTP server, and router accessible from outside my network. Pretty much just involves port forwarding and using a dynamic dns service so I don't have to use an IP address consistently