network server

[DCM]

Okey Dokey, I am building a new PC for myself and going to have a spare PC, which I was considering converting to a file server.

But I am drawing a blank, it seems that running a version of Linux will allow the system to run faster, but I need lots of help here computer chaps.

[Southwell]

I hope your getting a Q6600 cpu.
Why not just buy a small NAS and plug it into your router? No need for a big ass pc taking up loads of room and power....

[DCM]

true, but why spend dosh when you got a comp tht you can't give way, laying round.... thats what I was thinking

[Southwell]

http://www.melbpc.org.au/pcupdate/2403/2403article7.htm

[Southwell]

I would just install Windows server 2003 and setup some shares. Could even go the whole hog and setup logins and play with GP to limit your kids machines.

[Chris Doughty]

the issue with running a small old crap computer as your file server is that if it does die (it will) then you stuff might die too. unless you have it backed up.

if you have multiple computers all accessing the same data then it might make sense, but 1 computer accessing a network file server makes no sense.

[Southwell]

I think it's PC and laptop. Personally id put the hard drive in your new pc and shares folders. Setting up a file server is not really needed in a home.

[DCM]

it may be three pc's and a laptop, so I can put media on it, and be able to play it on the laptop or the two main pc's, might even be a third PC, thats what I was looking at.

As for the machine going dead, it should be good, an Athlon 900 not being overworked and plenty of memory.

[Southwell]

So you want a media server? The linux media centre should be OK, windows version i would expect it to struggle.

[DCM]

yu got a link for that Ian?

[Southwell]

http://rubbervir.us/projects/ubuntu_media_server/

This goods ok, not tried it myself though.

[DCM]

thanks Ian!

[OldTimer]

I have been using Windows Home server on the server i have at home, works well and backups up my other PC's automatically, which is something i only thing about once its to late :o. Also nice if you want networked drives etc.

Only problem is the trail which is for 3 months i think is free then if you want a full licence its something like £60.

[VintageRacer]

There is also FreeNAS, a linux distro that will turn an old box into a network attached storage device. Supports most flavours of RAID iirc

[Richard Lowe]

I have been using Windows Home server on the server i have at home, works well and backups up my other PC's automatically, which is something i only thing about once its to late :o. Also nice if you want networked drives etc.

Only problem is the trail which is for 3 months i think is free then if you want a full licence its something like £60.
I've got Home Server up and running on an old Athlon XP machine, it seems pretty light on system requirements so pretty much any old machine will do :)

I only have 2 machines that use the files on it but keeping everything in once place and safe on a raid array is handy :thumbsup:

[DCM]

how much is a licence for Windows home server, that sounds ideal, I knew they had talked about it before, but didn't realise they had done it yet!

[Southwell]

Let me have a look, i had a beta test thing a couple months ago ;)

[DCM]

I know you can order a 120day trial disk from them for a fiver..... nyone got a key for it lol