Access my home files via web browser

Question

I am looking for a solution to access the files on my home computer using nothing but a browser.

I do not want to have to download any client software (Java ok).
I do not care about sharing or streaming media.
Must be secure.
Must be free.
Must not use a third party site to store files.
I have an SSH server setup so file access is possible with WinSCP.
I can install another piece of software on the host if needed.
Must run as a Windows Service!! If I have to log into Windows first then it's a FAIL.

Bonus

Able to edit Word documents via browser interface (I can dream can't I?)

@OliverSalzburg SkyDrive stores files on Microsoft servers, which breaks one of his requirements. This means Dropbox is out, too. — xdumaine, Mar 15 '12 at 15:46
Technically dropbox does cloud stuff, but the content is only there if the content exists in a folder on his computer, delete the file on the computer, its deleted from the cloud. If he has concerns with putting stuff in the cloud though, then yes, Dropbox is out. — Paperlantern, Mar 15 '12 at 16:02
BTW, "security" relies as much on your ability to properly configure the solution as the solution itself. — uSlackr, Mar 15 '12 at 16:03
are you away from your home computer? you can use teamviewer — Lynob, Aug 27 '13 at 20:15

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 15 '12 at 15:48

2

If you have python3 installed, you can type this command:

C:\> python -m http.server

It will start a http file server on port:8000

answered Mar 15 '12 at 15:48

kev

12,730

score 1 · Answer 2 · edited Mar 31 '17 at 05:58

1

Use a HTTP Fileserver. A great one is HFS.

This is what it looks like from a browser

How to secure it.

How to run it as a service.

Hope this helps.

edited Mar 31 '17 at 05:58

Chindraba

1,983

answered Mar 15 '12 at 15:41

Jonas Gröger

119

This looks great. I will give it a try. – user390480 Mar 15 '12 at 16:21

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 15 '12 at 16:07

1

Probably a bit overkill but ownCloud could be a solution. It's similar to Dropbox but you run it on your own server.

answered Mar 15 '12 at 16:07

tidbeck

1,555

ownCloud looks great but I cannot find any information on if it runs as a Windows Service or not. – user390480 Mar 15 '12 at 16:22
It runs on top of your web-server (IIS I would guess in the Windows case). And I would assume that the web-server runs as a Windows Service. – tidbeck Mar 15 '12 at 16:29

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 19 '12 at 20:50

I recommend you to take a look at this http file server. You can set up your own file server for managing and sharing files through web browser. It's like DropBox but self-hosted so that you can keep all your confidential files on your own server. The web based UI looks and feels like Windows 7 Explorer. It offers features that are not possible with a FTP server such as zipping files, downloading multiple files and folders in single download etc. It's also easier to set up and administrate than a FTP server.

Access my home files via web browser

4 Answers4