Create an Online Version of a Local Area Network–the Free and Easy Way

Do you regularly collaborate online with other web workers? If so, you and your fellow collaborators should look into the free online networking service offered by Leaf Networks. It lets you and a group of co-workers or friends instantly create your own private, secure network right on the web. It’s akin to having a LAN that you share resources on, except you can think of the Leaf Networks service as an online hosted LAN solution.

After you go through some easy steps to set Leaf’s application up, you and your co-workers can share files, photos and more with all the sharing going online. Additionally, if you frequently use public Wi-Fi hotspots, Leaf’s application essentially functions as a VPN (Virtual Private Network)—giving you private tunnels to communicate and share within.

Adding new people to your network is as easy as adding a Buddy to your instant messaging Buddy List. Another application I use Leaf for is remote control. If I’m traveling, I can access my home and office PCs because they’re part of my network. This last application points to one of the big differentiators between Leaf and offerings such as Tubes. With Leaf you can choose to not only share files back-and-forth with people you have on your network, but you can share your networked devices with each other as though they are shared devices on a local area network. Or, you might send print jobs to your home printer while you are on the move so that you can collect the hard copies later.

If Leaf’s application strikes you as going too far in allowing sharing of devices, note that you can select what to share with others and keep the sharing limited. For example, you might designate some folders as shared but not others. You can chat within Leaf’s application with others on your network, and work out with them directly what will be shared and what won’t.

With the ability to share devices, a group of co-workers can set up a shared, centralized place to store photos and files, share storage, etc. Note that if you are already running firewall or virtual private network software you should adjust them to allow Leaf’s application to run.

On my first try at installation I ran into a conflict because my firewall software didn’t see Leaf as a trusted application, but after specifying it as a trusted application, it installed fine. Also, if you use Leaf on an ongoing basis, remember to proactively manage who is on and off your network to prevent unauthorized access to your data and devices.

Finally, Leaf’s site currently offers a free Windows download and there is a free Linux download coming soon. It would be nice to see a version for the Mac added, to facilitate cross-platform sharing and collaboration.

Do you have any good tips on web collaboration applications?

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