What should I use a server for ?

[yetidaddy]

I just recently bought 2 desktops, and 2 servers for only $120. So I couldn't pass it up.
Now, when I look inside the server, I see Intel P3 1.2ghz, I don't have any ram so I can't do anything. I want to ask, what can server be used for that will benefit me ? I don't know anything about them, intrigue, but I don't know where to start..

 

[MustISO]

There's really nothing special about a "server". It's just a regular PC that does things like File Server, Print Server, Domain Controller, etc. For businesses the server might have a lot of memory and fault tolerant storage but anything can be used as a server.

 

[RorinRune]

Media Server, file Server, Firewall, mail server, you have alot of option to uses those server, or as MustISO said they are just PC that add features that makes it uptime alot higher

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Originally posted by: MustISO
There's really nothing special about a "server". It's just a regular PC that does things like File Server, Print Server, Domain Controller, etc. For businesses the server might have a lot of memory and fault tolerant storage but anything can be used as a server.

Dont forget redundant power supplies and NIC

 

[QuixoticOne]

You could turn them into cheap NAS (network attached storage) servers, basically file servers whose whole purpose is to share some disk folder space to other PCs on your LAN. This is typically done so that you can backup data from the various client PCs onto the server for part of a reliable backup strategy. It is also done to provide a centralized storage location for the data to permit it to be accessed from any computer.

http://www.openfiler.com/products/feature-summary
http://freenas.org/

I don't know if I would leave one of those servers running all day every day since the power consumption costs and heat generated may be prohibitive. However turning them on once a week to permit a backup operation to be performed and them turning them off may be very suitable in many cases.

You could also configure one as a dedicated firewall unit to improve the security of all of your systems, by using QOS configurations on the firewall it could speed up your effective internet access as well. It is questionable as to whether that is a good solution if you are just doing that at home to help protect a single client PC due to energy costs and heat / noise generated though.

http://www.pfsense.com/

You could also use them as a server for a PVR / DVR (personal video recorder / digital video recorder) system so that they can record TV and radio shows and then play those back over the LAN on any PC you like.
http://www.mythtv.org/
http://sourceforge.net/project...3294&release_id=626840

You can run servers for various video games as well.

Of course you can make it a file server for internet access of your files as well with various P2P type networking / downloading software.