Home networking advice

[#1]

I am trying to find out if is possible to set up a home network with shared storage, so that I can access files from various devices running under different operating systems, e.g windows XP and 8, Android and/or Chrome. If possible, are there any tips or potential pitfalls

[#2]

Almost and NAS device will do that.
Tip #1 : Get a NAS with gigabit ethernet.
Tip #2 : Buy two - so you can the second as a backup.
Tip #3 : If you only buy one NAS,  then get one with a minimum of RAID-1, so you have a mirrored HDD if one fails.
Tip #4 : Don't buy "LaCie" brand devices, because they are unreliable in so many ways.
Tip #5 : You could build a NAS for yourself using an old PC and a couple of large hard drives.
            -  You could get away with Windows network sharing, but installing FreeNAS would be better.
Tip #6 : Watch this Nixie Pixel video on how to setup SAMBA on Ubuntu.   

[#3]

A box standard 2TB Western Digital My Book Live Network Hard Drive from PC World / Argos / Amazon / John Lewis for around £100 is all most people ever need for their home storage network.
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