Best way to mount a Linux filesystem on Windows over the Internet?
Solution 1:
This doesn't really answer the question but I'm a fan of Mozy for off-site backup.
- Unlike Dropbox (which I do like too for sharing/syncing files), your files can be in any combination of directories.
- Backups happens automatically in the background so you don't need to think about it
- Backups are incremental - only changed files need to get sent
- Like Dropbox, Mozy stores previous versions (up to a month?) so you're not in trouble even if you "backed up" files after they went wonky.
- Your data will be encrypted with your own key (generated within Mozy client upon install) before it is sent over the wire, and you can optionally store this key with Mozy for safekeeping if you trust them enough and are afraid of losing your key.
- And unlike the homebrew approach of copying files to another machine at home, your backups are truly off-site.
Solution 2:
I just tested WinSCP for you, it works with nothing but an open SSH port on the server--was very straight-forward.
It doesn't allow a true mount from looks of things, it gives you one of those left/right copy things instead.
I bet there is an SSHFS client for windows out there somewhere though if you really need that.
Edit: There is an old program from Novel that will do this, it's apparently free, but I haven't tested it. You might give it a try: http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/qna/999.html
Solution 3:
If you prefer a commercial version (because of the suppport) to Dokan-SSH, you can try ExpanDrive for Windows ExpanDrive for Windows website
Solution 4:
(note: is this a serverfault.com question?)
I use a VPN for this. The file server runs poptop. Windows machines connect to it via the built in VPN client. SAMBA to share the folder, and voila.
Use WINS for naming for extra credit so the Windows machines don't need shortcuts to things like \192.168.0.x\sharename on the desktop.
Solution 5:
Your approach might work but WebDAV might fit the bill as well.