Best "dumb" file host

[MrCheeto]

The majority of recommendations here for hosting files on a home network involve things like Synology or whatever. I'd much prefer if I could have a dumb solution because 99% of the time the included software or in-built OS gets in the way or causes issues for me.

I'd like to simply have my files accessible to every device on my LAN as well as available remotely via something like a browser (http interface?) and not have to fight a dozen automatic "smart" settings that take liberties with my data and configuration.

Here's what I have in mind. Use AirPort extreme router (the latest one) and a single storage device. Said storage device will have built-in RAID for striping (performance) and one mirror (redundancy). Minimum of 1Gb/s obviously but more is better. This storage device will be accessible to every device on my network including all architectures like Motorola, PowerPC, Intel and AS devices plus mobile stuff like iPhones.

Just as a hint of how this is to be used, here is a workflow I intend to make use of:

Take pictures on SD cards.
Insert SD cards into a Mac (My 2009 Mac Pro) with an Automator script that ingests the card data and places it in a RAW backup on the networked storage device. It then converts the RAW's to TIFF's and stores those in another folder on that drive.
Now, I can edit those images on any Mac in the house with any software and save them in an Edits/development folder.
The final images can be accessed anywhere on any device. For instance, if I'm out of town I can open my Mac on WiFi or my iPhone on cellular and go to an address in Safari, browse the directory, and open whatever image instantly. I should even be able to send a link to a "shared" directory or file which is contained (isolated) so I can instantly give people access to specific content of any size.

Any pointers to achieve this?

 

[arw]

No real solution, just some (hopefully) contributing thoughts:

I should even be able to send a link (…)

This is the part that complicates things. If it wasn‘t for that, I‘d recommend the simplest setup:
- plain network share (SMB/AFP/…) accessible via Finder on macOS (PPC, Intel, AS), Windows Explorer and for iOS/iPadOS I use & recommend FileBrowser
- to access your data from outside, setup a VPN connection directly in your Router and enter the login data in iOS. Then use FileBrowser as if you were at home.
The AirPort however (being quite outdated and not maintained anymore) doesn‘t offer said VPN capability. You‘d need a slightly more recent router.

 

[Nermal]

For what it's worth, I have a Synology and it does tend to stay out of the way once it's set up. Files are accessible from my Macs (including back at least as far as OS 8.6) and can also be shared over HTTPS. I don't use any of the Synology "extras" (e.g. there's something called Drive that I've never investigated) but rather stick to standard protocols.

I know you said you want something "dumb" so it's up to you whether you ignore this post or not

 

[MrCheeto]

I'm not married to the AirPort so if changing that solves all the other issues, I'll keep investigation that route.

Nermal, if you feel that Synology is not interfering or trying to "think for you" then I'll give it a second look.