Ideal/minimum cpu and memory for ftp server

[pX]

I've been running an FTP for a year or so now, on the computer that I use for everything else. However, I recently acquired a nice switch and was going to construct a seperate box to host the files. I have an extra box right now, a 233MMX o/c to 266, and 96MB of memory in it. Would this suffice for a ftp server, wouldn't slow things down and whatnot. I average about 10-20 users, using an a total bandwidth of 1-1.5MB/s. Do I need more RAM, faster CPU? Also, which OS. Was going to go with 2000pro, but the RAM is probably too low, perhaps NT?

 

[codehack2]

That box should be plenty. Disk I/O & network performance are key. I would add an ATA100 drive and promise ATA 100 controller if feasible. If all you are doing is FTP, Linux should work great, if not linux, then NT 4.0. 2k will eat that box alive

CH2

 

[pX]

I'd like to go with linux, if possible. would I run into problems with the ftp being accessed by primarily windows users? would i need to run samba?

if i was going to go the NT route, would I necessarily need to use NTserver? does it have any advantages for what I am doing, I will not be using IIS for the ftp server either, G6 all the way if I go NT.

any other ideas on if this hardware setup would suffice

 

[rANGER11]

no need to use samba when you will be accessing via ftp, if you are putting this out on the net though you may want to make sure you have the latest ftp daemeon running(ftpd is known to be exploited) but all in all it should work fine, if you do need help setting up samba i can help

 

[pX]

alright another query about min specs. I may have to use an even older box, a 166, probably o/c to 200. w/ something like 64mb ram tops. will this be enough to hurt the ftp's performance?

 

[Batti]

Now you should REALLY go Linux...

 

[pX]

yeah im thinking the same. I have all the data for the ftp on a fat32 drive though, linux can't see that right? so how would I go about setting up that on an ftp? is there some sort of add-on type deal that allows linux to 'see' fat32. i know there is, I read it a few monthes ago, just can't remember the specifics.

 

[Nebakanezzar]

hey px,

what ya gonna put on your ftp server? ive never used any ftp stuff yet. how do you use it? do you know of any good ftp sites? do i need any special software? and the biggie, is it safe (ie no viruses)?

 

[Hawkeye_(BEL)]

Any Pentium class machine will do the job perfectly. You'll be bandwith limited LOOOONG before you hit a hardware limit. And if you already hit one, it'll certainly be the hard disk. Serving files over an FTP connection doesn't stress the CPU/memory a bit.

If you go the linux route : go with something like debian, since it's small, has no fancy X stuff by default, and is very secure overal. Do NOT forget to give disk optimalisations through hdparm, because I've noted that almost no Linux Distribution offers the best performance out of the box, you'll have to tweak it ('man hdparm' will prove very helpful for that).

As for FTP-server software : I suggest you use Xitami (http://www.xitami.com/). It's free, small and extremely flexible (it's an HTTP&FTP server in one). The regular FTP programs, like proftpd and wuftpd, are a pain to set up properly sometimes. Xitami is really easy to setup.

There's also a windows version of Xitami. I've been running that one with Win98 for a long time, and it's good enough for me. A patched up Windows98 will do too for you, since you'll hit the limits of your bandwith sooner than you'll become limited by your hardware/OS.

EDIT : and as for Linux reading FAT32 drives : no problem. It's a kernel side thing, and I think almost every distribution offers FAT32 read/write mode in their stock kernel. And if that still doesn't work, grab the new 2.4.2 kernel and compile it in yourself