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how difficult is it to set up a server for a crack-rack?

T

toph99

Diamond Member
i just got my hands on two systems, a P200 and a k6-2 233, i have yet to get them cracking because i need some cat5 first, but i was thinking about making this the beginning of a rack. i am looking for a dual PII system to act as a server, a hub, cables etc. but what else do i need to have/know?
i know thats quite a general question but i am new to networking 😉
 
Another cry in the wilderness for a comprehensive "How-to" article on building a crack rack. There are several of you guys out there that have been through the learning curve (and you know who you are! 😎 ) any interest in a few of you collaborating on a detailed article with pics?

It would also make a great feature for the newsletter--seems like adding an in-depth "how-to" article to the newsletter every issue would increase the interest level of new readers, folks would email it to friends, etc. I'm sure there are several budding technical writers out there that would be interersted in submitting articles on topics related to DC-- cooling, overclocking, dual MB's, etc.
 
Add me to the list! I have a bunch of older Dells at work that are gathering dust... I sould like to get them on their own network with a couple of the hubs that I am selling here. Preferably. only one would have access to the internet through out Novell network, and the rest would munch off block on the machine connected to the Novell network...

I imagine this is what I need:
-the first (master) PC need 2 nics: one to access the Novell network and another to hook up to the hub
- each of the other PCs needs a nic to hook up to the hub
- each of the other PCs needs to see a shared directory on the first PC

I expect that that either Linux (klinux?) or Win9x could be used on the master PC to see the Novell network, and then (k)linus on the rest of the PCs booted from a floppy. However, I have very limitted experience with any flavor of Linux, so any help would be appreciated!
 
Well, if you just want a "Crack Rack" it doesn't really need to have a "Server" so to speak.

All you really need is a "Master" machine with internet connection, and running a pproxy, either WinDoz$ or Linux or any other OS that has a pproxy.
It doesn't matter what OS you use, as all pproxy's will feed any other OS client blocks.
Heck, you could run a pproxy off a 486, it'll work.
You'll then only have to update your pproxy, instead of all the "Rack" nodes.

Klinux was built just for the "Rack" boards, as it will give you networking and the dnet client all on one floppy.
You just need to setup Klinux with your network info, and point the dnet client to the pproxy.

You could even put "Rack" nodes on you regular network, it doesn't have to be separate for the rest.

I've taken some pics of mine, when I had it apart to do the case mods, and was thinking of doing a web page of the whole setup.
Right now, mine is just a "Crack Rack", but I'm going to be turning it into a MiniWulf sooner or later.
 
KW speaks truth... however is FAR too humble. 🙂
Klinux is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Setting up a server that does pproxy and stats really isn't that bad either. Especially using Linux Mandrake. (If a die-hard NT geek like me can do it - ANYONE CAN)
It's really cool to see the machines check in, and monitor your personal stats that way too.
Linux is by far the superior OS for such a task, and Klinux is the hands-down winner for nodes.

Scrap the election, put KW in the White House. 🙂
 
Help will surely come!!! 🙂

For my own "rack", I have a W98 machine doing the "server" bit. It is connected by 56K modem and I have it set up so that it only needs to dial in occasionally. A constant net connection is not necessary. I am using it to type this reply. It will be replaced by a linux machine I'm preparing when I get more comfortable with the OS. (It's cracking away as a standalone at the moment) 🙂

I have installed the pproxy client Dnet Proxyfrom here. You have to edit the .ini file a bit, but it's not too hard. It can hold a couple of thousand blocks for you to feed the nodes with.

I monitor the output locally on a program called PPSV2000, there's a heap of them at the bottom of this page <a target=new href="http://www.distributed.net/download/addon.html[/L.

I have klinux running on two nodes (more coming) that consist of Cel 533's on Asus boards with 32MB sdram. The boards have video onboard with a floppy mounted in each case. This can be done more cheaply - see Russ and Lord Demios for excellent work in this area. Klinux can be downloaded from [L=here]http://klinux.50megs.com/">Stats Generators</a>. The great Kilowatt makes this just too easy.

I have another node on Win98SE as well and that is my home general use home computer.

They are all linked by cheapish 10/100 ethernet cards, cat 5 cable and a &quot;Soho - Groups&quot; switch (never heard of them either, but an 8 port switch for about $85US is OK by me).

I have &quot;fixed&quot; the ip of each of the computers on the network, so that when any of them gets rebooted, there is no problem identifying which is doing what.

The guys here will help you to bits and then express there deep and meaningful love for you if you decide to get in there and get that rack built!!😀
 
Dantoo: mentioned that he uses a Win98 box as a proxy server. Can you have Klinux clients talking to the proxy that runs on a Win9x system?
 


<< It doesn't matter what OS you use, as all pproxy's will feed any other OS client blocks. >>

Yes.

You don't need to run a &quot;Proxy Server&quot; you just need to run the &quot;Dnet pproxy&quot; on a machine with an internet connection.
 
ok, so how i'd have mine set up is:

nodes>hub>Master>linksys switch>dsl

will this work?
and also, what do i have to do/buy(i am trying to keep this as cheap as possible as i have very little money to spend on this, which explains the P200 😛) to set the master up to feed the nodes?

<edit> also, i want to learn how to use Linux, but have no experience with it whatsoever 🙁 i got a copy of TurboLinux Server 6.0Lite with my linksys switch. would this be a good OS for the master? and of course the nodes would run with Klinux 😉 </edit>
 
Well, I'm looking into building a crackrack (I have some heavy duty plastic shelves just begging for a use other than storing my dead hardware), may have to get a camera and document my adventures. I live near a shop that sells some older computer parts for rather cheap (Computer Surplus Outlet), so... Just throw about $100 at a time at a system I guess.



<< nodes>hub>Master>linksys switch>dsl

will this work? >>



I don't see why not as long as the Master runs a pproxy and the nodes are setup to talk to it.
 
Ack.. Forgot to ask 🙂

Anyone try doing basically what klinux does but with BootP/TFTP? (Bootable NICs) That's what I plan on eventually doing if I can find an EEPROM writer for a decent price and a bunch of chips for my random NICs.
 
Bootable NICs have been tried by many in the past, Lord Demios being one of them, but it is a little too problematical for most. Klinux covers that problem nicely, and I think ver. 3 will be even more tasty when it is released.

viz
 
We built our own dual PII server for the business, and have it store the Dnetc program as well as the &quot;buff&quot; files, through a combo 10 and 100MB network, only 2 machines out of 17 have outside access and set it up so that the 2 machines dial in and update the buffers at 5:10 p.m. everynight. Has worked in the past using another machine as long as the directory where everything is shared out, we also run a firewall with a high security setting for the internet and low security for local! Been using this like this for over a year now!
 
Bootable NIC's are a nice thought, but what you want with crack-rack is CHEAP!
That's why Klinux is so beautiful for it. $5 used floppy drive, el-cheapo NIC, old PS, Mobo, Processor, Stick 'o memory and you're crackin' 🙂
 
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