Anytime-Anywhere-NAS

Turn your existing Windows or Linux laptop into a simple, non-destructive NAS with one click.

This is a desktop application built with C# and Avalonia UI that makes it incredibly easy to start a network share from your everyday computer without wiping your OS or buying new hardware.

What is this?

Ever wanted a simple Network Attached Storage (NAS) for your home network but didn't want to dedicate a whole computer or buy a new device? This app is the solution.

It's a "control panel" that lets you take any folder on your laptop and safely share it with your entire network. It's perfect for:

• Backing up files from your phone.
• Creating a central media folder for smart TVs.
• Sharing project files between your computers.

How it Works (The Magic)

This app does not erase your operating system. Instead, it uses Docker to run a lightweight, isolated Linux container that manages your file sharing (Samba) service.

• On Windows: The app automatically leverages WSL 2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux) to run the Docker container. This gives you a high-performance Linux NAS running inside your Windows machine without any complex setup.
• On Linux: The app uses the native Docker runtime for a lightweight, efficient server.

Your app is just a user-friendly GUI that automatically configures and manages this container for you.

Key Features

• Non-Destructive: Does not format drives or uninstall your OS. It just shares a folder you pick.
• Cross-Platform: A single C# codebase for Windows and Linux desktops, built with Avalonia UI.
• One-Click Install: On Windows, the app can install Docker for you if it's not detected.
• Smart Resource Management: Safely allocates a small portion of your CPU and RAM to the NAS.
• Remembers Your Settings: Automatically saves and reloads your last used folder path.
• Resilient: Your laptop's built-in battery acts as a free Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS).

Getting Started

Prerequisites

Windows (10 or 11)

1. .NET 8 Desktop Runtime: Download and install the x64 runtime.
2. Docker Desktop: The app can attempt to install this for you. However, for a smoother experience, it's recommended to install it manually from the official website.
   • Ensure Docker Desktop is running before you start the app.

Linux

1. .NET 8 Runtime: Follow the official Microsoft instructions to install the .NET runtime for your distribution.
2. Docker Engine: Install Docker for your distribution. You can find instructions on the official Docker website.
   • After installing, you must add your user to the docker group to avoid permission errors:

     sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

   • Important: You must log out and log back in for this change to take effect.

Installation

1. Go to the Releases page of this repository.
2. Download the latest version for your operating system.
3. Unzip the folder and run the Anytime-Anywhere-NAS executable.

How to Use

1. Launch the application. It will immediately check your system for Docker.
2. Click "Select Folder" to choose the folder you want to share on your network.
3. Click "Start NAS". The app will configure and start the Samba container.
4. Access your share! On another computer on the same network, open File Explorer (Windows) or your file manager (Linux/macOS) and go to:

   \\<YOUR_LAPTOP_IP_ADDRESS>\MyNasShare
   

   You can find your laptop's local IP address in your system's network settings.

Troubleshooting

Windows Keeps Asking for a Password

This application configures the share for guest access, but modern versions of Windows disable insecure guest logons by default for security reasons.

If you are prompted for a password, you can either:

1. Enter any username (e.g., "guest") with no password.
2. If that fails, you may need to enable insecure guest logons on the client machine (the one trying to access the share).
   • Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
   • Navigate to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Network > Lanman Workstation.
   • Find the "Enable insecure guest logons" policy, double-click it, select Enabled, and click OK.

"Docker permission denied" on Linux

If you see a status message about permission being denied, it means your user account is not part of the docker group.

• Run sudo usermod -aG docker $USER in a terminal.
• Log out and log back in. This step is mandatory.
• Restart the application.

Project Status

This project is currently in active development.

Contributing

This is an open-source project, and contributions are welcome! If you'd like to help, please feel free to fork the repository and submit a Pull Request.