Linux Fileserver

[ronbo613]

I've been toying with the idea of building a Linux server for a while. I don't want to spend any(if possible) money on it because I have a lot of parts lying around and I want to use those.

I have an Intel 875 PBZ motherboard with a 3.4C processor. The board supports 4G DDR400 memory, I think that's what it has. It's got a 550w PSU in a big metal Antec server-type case with plenty of drive bays and fans. The mobo only has two native SATA ports but there are a couple PCI SATA cards for more drives.

Overkill for a server, I know, but here's the deal; I need this rig to run XP for some scanning software I use. It's a dual boot XP/Ubuntu system. What I want to do is take the hard drive out of the system and use a different hard drive(or 128G SSD) for the Linux server.

I've got a bunch of hard drives, different sizes and brands, I'd like to use those for storage, but I don't expect to run any kind of RAID setup. It will be another backup, I already have a NAS and external drive file backups, I need more easily accessible storage.

Any ideas or input?

 

[mfenn]

I wouldn't consider using an old P4 as a fileserver for anything other than a vehicle for learning about Linux, especially since you already have a NAS. It's just not worthwhile from a power efficiency perspective.

As a learning tool, it should work fine. You can pull the existing HDD and put in another drive to install Linux on.

Personally, I would recommend installing Ubuntu Server, which does not have a GUI by default. The first task would be to learn how to SSH into the box with Putty (or whatever terminal you like). From there, administer the machine completely remotely via SSH, because that's how 99% of all Linux machines are used.

 

[ronbo613]

Personally, I would recommend installing Ubuntu Server, which does not have a GUI by default. The first task would be to learn how to SSH into the box with Putty (or whatever terminal you like). From there, administer the machine completely remotely via SSH, because that's how 99% of all Linux machines are used.

That's pretty much the plan.

I know the P4 is not ideal, but since I already have it, I might as well use it. Besides, it's cold up here in the PacNW, it will help heat the room.

 

[gsaldivar]

Why reinvent the wheel in Ubuntu?

I would just install a "turnkey" NAS distribution like FreeNAS or NAS4Free on a separate partition or drive. Configure the volumes, set up users, drop it on the network, and you're done.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FreeNAS
http://www.freenas.org/
http://arstechnica.com/information-...-distribution-shootout-freenas-vs-nas4free/1/

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Why reinvent the wheel in Ubuntu?

I would just install a "turnkey" NAS distribution like FreeNAS or NAS4Free on a separate partition or drive. Configure the volumes, set up users, drop it on the network, and you're done.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FreeNAS
http://www.freenas.org/
http://arstechnica.com/information-...-distribution-shootout-freenas-vs-nas4free/1/

Bah, Ubuntu is cake to get running as a server, and offers a lot more flexibility than a canned NAS distro.

It's also Linux, not FreeBSD.

Also, he doesn't need another NAS, he WANTS a Linux server for Linux nerd purposes.

 

[ronbo613]

Also, he doesn't need another NAS, he WANTS a Linux server for Linux nerd purposes.

I would like to learn more about Linux beyond the basic Ubuntu Desktop. Eventually, I'll probably get around to a more sophisticated NAS, but for now, I will try and get my money's worth out of my Synology DS212j. It's a pretty self sustaining system, not a lot to play with, but it does the job.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Does the XP thing you need require peripherals or graphics acceleration?

You could install ESX on the box, and have linux and xp running concurrently. That could be fun.

 

[ronbo613]

Does the XP thing you need require peripherals or graphics acceleration?

Yes, I use a flatbed and negative/slide scanner. It's probably using graphics acceleration if it's available, I'm not sure. This was my main computer for a number of years.

You could install ESX on the box, and have linux and xp running concurrently. That could be fun.

Maybe someday. I think I'll have my hands full with the two systems running individually. When I build a new rig in the next year or two, the computer I have may take over the scanning jobs and XP will be retired for good.