Linux on MSI Wind barebones file server

[Muse]

I've decided to set up a NAS for my house. Presently it's so I can share key data and have access to that key data from 2 desktops and wirelessly by a laptop. I figure I'll run either WHS, linux or even possibly XP Pro on the NAS.

I have 4 basic questions at the moment:

1. If I decide to run Linux, can I install it without having a DVD drive in the MSI Wind barebones, assuming that's what I get (the MSI Wind machines only support SATA and my DVD drives are all IDE)? I suppose that would mean I would be installing it from a USB flash drive, or even a USB external HD (I have one). Is that possible and not too hard to do or would I need that DVD drive to install Linux?

2. What flavor of Linux would I want to use?

3. Would there be any difficulties in using Linux as a file server OS from PCs running XP Pro? Could I actually run some of my "Windows" applications right on the NAS, running the executables (residing on the NAS's HD) from the local machines?

4. One of my concerns is low power usage. I plan on 24/7 accessibility for the file server. Does the choice of OS impact power usage and how?

 

[IlllI]

probably better off asking in a msi forum specifically regarding that stuff
i had a forum linked in my netbook topic i made

there might be more elegant solutions though. unless you are getting one cheap/used, why not just get a dedicated nas instead of using the msi wind?
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/
http://www.nasdevices.com/

or if you already have usb hard drives, why not just a wireless router with usb ports that can do sharing?

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: IlllI
probably better off asking in a msi forum specifically regarding that stuff
i had a forum linked in my netbook topic i made

Good idea. I'm registered on the MSI forums, actually. I was using an MSI mobo at the time. Have had several MSI vidcards too.

there might be more elegant solutions though. unless you are getting one cheap/used, why not just get a dedicated nas instead of using the msi wind?
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/
http://www.nasdevices.com/

Well, not used but maybe pretty cheap:
- - - -

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: Muse


160+85+85+25+100
case+mobo+cpu barebones (dual core), 2 HDs (WD green 1TB), RAM (2GB), WHS
$455

Or, I can have just one 1TB HD and run Linux. I would do an occasional backup from the NAS to my main desktop. Wonder if I can install Linux without having to get an SATA DVD drive!

160+85+25+25
case+mobo+cpu barebones (dual core), 1 HD (WD green 1TB), RAM (2GB), DVD drive
$295

If I go with the N230 Atom 1.6 GHz processor barebones instead of the one with the N330 dual core Atom 1.6 GHz processor the cost goes down to $262. If it turns out that I can install Linux without the use of a DVD drive, the cost is additionally reduced to $237. I could add another HD later.

The above from thread: Topic Title: Help me design a NAS


Why don't I get an NAS instead of MSI Wind? Well, the best buy in a NAS I've seen is the Acer H340 for ~$400. The upside is expandability (4 hotswapable HDs), but the idle power consumption of the H340 appears to be double that of the MSI Wind, and that's tipping the scale to the MSI Wind for me. The guy who said the idle power consumption was ~50 watts didn't seem sure, though but it's the only thing I have to go on. 25 watts idle, 30-35 in use for the MSI Wind is a strong point for me.

- - - -

or if you already have usb hard drives, why not just a wireless router with usb ports that can do sharing?

I have one USB HD, 500 GB. I don't think my Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 wireless router supports a USB connection, just ethernet and wireless. It's a highly regarded wireless router.

 

[IlllI]

well i'm confused, b/c msi wind has a small, pokey, hd. even if you use 500gb usb drive, that wont compare to 4 hotswapable bay nas. theres a bunch of other nas though. some 1 bay, some 2. etc. also netbook or any laptop for that matter isnt really designed for 24/7 operation

and yeah, the router would have to have a usb port to support usb devices
but you still might be able to connect a nas to it, since nas uses ethernet. maybe look into dd-wrt too http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv3/dd-wrt/about.html since your router supports it

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: IlllI
well i'm confused, b/c msi wind has a small, pokey, hd. even if you use 500gb usb drive, that wont compare to 4 hotswapable bay nas. theres a bunch of other nas though. some 1 bay, some 2. etc. also netbook or any laptop for that matter isnt really designed for 24/7 operation

and yeah, the router would have to have a usb port to support usb devices
but you still might be able to connect a nas to it, since nas uses ethernet. maybe look into dd-wrt too http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv3/dd-wrt/about.html since your router supports it

OK, maybe you're looking at different MSI Wind systems. Here's what I see:

MSI Wind PC Intel 945GC 1 x 200Pin Intel GMA 950 Black Barebone - Retail (at Newegg)

MSI Wind PC Atom 1.6 MHz CPU Intel 945GC 1 x 200Pin Intel GMA 950 Barebone - Retail (Black) at Amazon

I think they're the same system. Those systems have no HD or RAM or DVD drive, you have to get them separate. I would put in a 1TB WD Green drive, also a 2GB RAM stick. Maybe another just like the WD drive later so I can have data redundancy on separate drives. The DVD bay would be for either a DVD or the 2nd HD, can't use it for both at the same time. Maybe use it for DVD to install OS, then remove.

Similar systems are at Amazon and Newegg that have the Atom 1.6 GHz dual core N330, which is somewhat faster. They call it the "nettop". I don't know whether the extra ~$32 for that is worth it to me. The question would seem to be whether the extra processor power would speed up the system in its role as a server.

Presumably these MSI Wind barebones stand up to 24/7 operation. Many customers report satisfaction using them so. Maximum 2 HDs in these, so yes, the Acer H340 has more expandability since it accommodates 4 HDs, 3 of them swappable. However, I don't anticipate wanting that any time soon. More HDs mean more power consumption, and that's one of my current concerns. The data I want to share the most only amounts to around 2 GB, actually right now. My email client and data is over 1 GB and I have ~ 1/2 GB of database files that I want to be accessible from the different machines. I don't want any of my machines except the NAS to be 24/7. I like that these machines use ~25 watts idle. I suppose that might be with one HD.

I do have DD-WRT installed on my Buffalo router, although I haven't messed with it since I set it up around 2.5 years ago now.

 

[cerebusPu]

i have the msi wind nettop single core version. used it as a linux router for a year before i retired it. installing linux without a cd drive is a piece of cake. I have used the bootable usb key creator built into ubuntu. if you dont want to boot up with a live cd to do it, you can also use unetbootin to create any kind of linux bootable usb key.

the lower power usage is great, i leave it on all the time for torrents. however, its a real pain when i need to remote desktop to it. VNC, tightVNC, and other protocols are just not as smooth as using remote desktop under windows. the tiny little cpu also chugs when i remote into it. you can also try freenas and administer your box entirely from webpages.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: cerebusPu
i have the msi wind nettop single core version. used it as a linux router for a year before i retired it. installing linux without a cd drive is a piece of cake. I have used the bootable usb key creator built into ubuntu. if you dont want to boot up with a live cd to do it, you can also use unetbootin to create any kind of linux bootable usb key.

the lower power usage is great, i leave it on all the time for torrents. however, its a real pain when i need to remote desktop to it. VNC, tightVNC, and other protocols are just not as smooth as using remote desktop under windows. the tiny little cpu also chugs when i remote into it. you can also try freenas and administer your box entirely from webpages.

Thanks. What's a USB key? Is that something you do with a USB flash drive? What I saw at the FreeNAS site seems to indicate that I'd need to install from a CD.

I guess I could use ubuntu and not have to install from CD, as you say. Downside is not so great remote desktop access to the server box, you are saying. Well, maybe I'll just buy an SATA drive for it and install FreeNAS. Once installed, I can remove the drive and have space for a 2nd HD down the road.

 

[Knavish]

A USB key is what some people call the USB flash-memory drives like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820208094

You can install most common linux OSes from USB flash drives.

If you're worried about needing to install from CD, just buy a large external USB enclosure that supports a CD drive. You can put your current CD / DVD drive into the enclosure (or buy a new one) and install from there. After the install you probably won't need it again, so you could just buy a cheap enclosure and use your current CD drive.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Knavish
A USB key is what some people call the USB flash-memory drives like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820208094

You can install most common linux OSes from USB flash drives.

If you're worried about needing to install from CD, just buy a large external USB enclosure that supports a CD drive. You can put your current CD / DVD drive into the enclosure (or buy a new one) and install from there. After the install you probably won't need it again, so you could just buy a cheap enclosure and use your current CD drive.

I was confused by the terminology. "Key" isn't the term I usually encounter for a USB flash drive. I have quite a few including 128 MB, 1 GB, several 2 GB, a 4 GB.

I'm wondering because I've seen references to booting from USB and installing from USB and there's obviously a difference.

Since you link a flash drive and discuss USB enclosures, could you link an enclosure or two? I have several 5.25" drives lying around including a DVD (player only), and one or two CDRW drives.