Building a file server for home.

[infinitesadd]

I'm itching to try and build my own file server for the learning experience and also just to have one.

Here is my situation at the moment: I want to build a file server/firewall for my home.

-This will service 1 wireless connection (laptop) and 3-4 desktops besides the server.
-I am going to use Ubuntu server edition 8.04 for the OS on the server.

-I do have some old pc parts lying around, if they can be used to build a decent server, then i will at least use some of them (money is tight atm). I have a Sempron that is maybe 2 years old, with accompanying mobo. I have not checked if it has SATA yet. I do have an extra monitor, so that won't be an expense. I figured i can use some older hardware for a file server because it isn't a game server, just for photos, video, music, documents, that sort of thing.

What I don't know:

-harddrives: what should i use? I was thinking like two pretty large SATA drives in RAID.
-hardware in general: I have built several of my own pcs, but never for this purpose, or even with this purpose in mind.
-budget: money is tight here (new baby and some other things) so if i do have to buy parts i want to keep them to a minimum.
-Setting up the server OS and permissions, etc: this is not my main question, but obviously i'm pretty computer saavy, as i'm even wanting to attempt this.

My exact budget is unknown, but to throw a number out there to help, lets say 300-500 us dollars.

I am Partial to AMD. Otherwise i'm fine buying any brand that is quality.

Thank you for the help.

 

[Roguestar]

Two large drives is always good, but only consider RAID if you really need it. RAID-0 is a bad idea. Perhaps also get a third and connect it externally as a backup.

With a home server graphics and number-crunching aren't as important as a cheap, stable build, so with this in mind I'd say you could go to the Dell Outlet at http://outlet.dell.com and get something decent for in and around $300, and you'll get yourself a warranty with it too.

 

[DaveSimmons]

A sempron is fine for a file server. One company I worked at had a Pentium 1 at 133 MHz as its server. For a linux server 256 MB of RAM is enough and 512 MB is perfect.

Drives: in the server either 2 in RAID-1 or just 1. Either way get a prebuilt USB external drive or bare drive + enclosure for backing up the server (don't rely on RAID as your backup!).

-Setting up the server OS and permissions, etc: this is not my main question, but obviously i'm pretty computer saavy, as i'm even wanting to attempt this.

Ask in the *nix forum

 

[JackMDS]

Windows Home Server can do a lot more than simple NAS.
You can on any computer from P-III 1GHz and and above Windows Home Server.

Windows Home Server (WHS) is a subset of Windows 2003 without Active Directory and Domain Manager that are useless in small home networks.

It can do auto mirroring and Auto back up, and restore.

Ready for HTTP and FTP servers with certificate for SSL connection (the certificate is provided with the trial version).

Provides Dynamic DNS, your_name.homeserver.com that registered when you set up the server. It is free service from Microsoft.

I.e. No need for Hamachi, Go to my PC, LogMeIn, DyDNS, or any other service that does you a favor and can shift from free to pay or partial pay when they want to.

As far as RAID goes.
No need for RAID, there is a self mirroring in the system.

In addition when more storage is needed another drive can be added, its joins the current storage without any changes in the current system.

No matter how many drives are attached to the system there need for multiple mapping. To the Network the whole core of the storage is projected as one drive called \\WHS\.

I use Windows Home Server as part of the Home Network. It has its own backup system, but I like Acronis True Image Better.

So I use True Image with conjunction of the WHS and keep all my * .tib files on the Server.

Windows Home Server does Not support RAID from the inside thus you cannot configure the Motherboard IDE/SATA port to work as RAID.

However, if One has a real RAID system based on Hardware RAID card, WHS would use it like it uses any Storage drive.

Windows Home Server 120 days trial can be obtained from Microsoft for $5.99 shipping.

http://www.microsoft.com/windo...wshomeserver/eval.mspx

 

[sgrinavi]

I just did something similar - I was getting tired of running my second (warm) quad core system everytime I wanted to access a couple of files. I need something fast ( I deal with large files) cool and small

Like you I have some old stuff hanging around, but to meet my requirements it made more sense to purchase new

Micro ATX gigabyte board w/ onboard video $49
e1200 = $49
Micro ATX case with 350watt PSU - $33 -
2 GB of RAM $35 (would have been fine with 1, but 2 was a couple $$ more)
1 TB WD data drive - I stole for $89 (500-750 would have been plenty of space for me)
160 gb OS drive - I had hanging around
(There is space & a SATA port for a third drive if I need it)
DVD R/W drive, spare
WinXP32 pro, spare copy
external 320 GB drive for daily backups of work data ( my not-so critical data gets copied to a drive on another system)

Total out of pocket was about $250. It is very small, quiet & cool and runs as fast as my GB network will let it.

 

[BigPete]

Jack, regarding Windows Home Server:

1) Does the auto mirroring work well? Can it be trusted? If I have 2 drives and one takes a dump, what happens to the information? Also, since the drives don't have to be the same size, let's assume that I have 2 drives (1 is 250GB and 1 is 750GB and I have used up 500GB of space). If the 750GB drive were to tank, how in the world will it recover all of the data?

2) Does this only support Windows OS? I realize things like backup only work with Windows but can you access shares via Mac or Linux? Can you use FTP? Are the shares viewable via "My Network Places" and can you map them to a drive letter?

Thanks

 

[Raduque]

Originally posted by: BigPete
Jack, regarding Windows Home Server:

1) Does the auto mirroring work well? Can it be trusted? If I have 2 drives and one takes a dump, what happens to the information? Also, since the drives don't have to be the same size, let's assume that I have 2 drives (1 is 250GB and 1 is 750GB and I have used up 500GB of space). If the 750GB drive were to tank, how in the world will it recover all of the data?

2) Does this only support Windows OS? I realize things like backup only work with Windows but can you access shares via Mac or Linux? Can you use FTP? Are the shares viewable via "My Network Places" and can you map them to a drive letter?

Thanks

I don't know about your first question but "\\WHS\" sounds and awful lot like a UNC path - which is mappable on the client PC. I'd imagine as long as the PC supports UNCs and possible netbios over tcp/ip it'd be able to access the share.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: Raduque

Originally posted by: BigPete
Jack, regarding Windows Home Server:

1) Does the auto mirroring work well? Can it be trusted? If I have 2 drives and one takes a dump, what happens to the information? Also, since the drives don't have to be the same size, let's assume that I have 2 drives (1 is 250GB and 1 is 750GB and I have used up 500GB of space). If the 750GB drive were to tank, how in the world will it recover all of the data?

2) Does this only support Windows OS? I realize things like backup only work with Windows but can you access shares via Mac or Linux? Can you use FTP? Are the shares viewable via "My Network Places" and can you map them to a drive letter?

Thanks

I don't know about your first question but "\\WHS\" sounds and awful lot like a UNC path - which is mappable on the client PC. I'd imagine as long as the PC supports UNCs and possible netbios over tcp/ip it'd be able to access the share.

Actually if you a little more than the avarge user you can share in many other ways as well.

WHS is subset of Windows 2003 Small Business Server. if it trusted by Millions of small business owners it is Good enough for me too.