Setting up a small home server

Scoby007 · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:12 am Post subject: Setting up a small home server

Hi Guys,

I am interested in trying my hand at setting up a small home server and wondering if any of the members have any tips or pointers or even a simple set by step guide to how to do this?

I really just want it as a point where I can centrally store files etc and if I need to access it remotely if possible.

Any ideas or advice would be great,

S

LP-SolidRaven · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:51 am Post subject:

How do you wish to access it?

If you intend to run it on Linux or FreeBSD (especially the latter seems to do extremely well for this type of task Smile

) you should look into Samba for windows file shares I guess (assuming you use those).

If you're looking for a FTP server I advice you go with ProFTPD as it's not resource intensive and has a good security record.
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Scoby007 · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 4:37 am Post subject:

Necromis · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 7:52 am Post subject:

one thing I can also point out is you will need a static IP address from your internet provider.

Scoby007 · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:31 pm Post subject:

Necromis · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 2:45 pm Post subject:

typically they should. You just have to request it. They don't normally get a high number of requests of that type due to the fact that most people just need internet access out, not static access in.

Scoby007 · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 4:16 pm Post subject:

Xtreme $niper · Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 10:23 am Post subject:

Well he would only need a static IP address if he's planning on accessing his storage from a remote location. If he's doing all this stuff strictly within his LAN then all he needs is to set his router to give that particular workstation/server a specific ip address that the rest of the network can access.
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krt · ... Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 4977 Location: Down Under

Xtreme $niper · Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 9:43 am Post subject:

Oh, sorry I completely missed that part.
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Necromis · Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 7:46 am Post subject:

if I was going to do it. I would probably make sure all the PCs are running XP and not Vista. You can then link all the local ones via wired or wireless router. I would also try a Remote desk top software and do port forwarding on the router so that it only allows it to go to the file storage PC not the others. You wouldn't even need to keep a monitor/mouse/keyboard attached to the server PC since it would be a network drive for the other PCs.

krt · ... Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 4977 Location: Down Under

I might do this with an old P4.

Some things I've been thinking about:

Minimizing power usage and reducing noise:
- removing the graphics card after install and SSH in for the odd task
- underclocking the CPU
- removing any other clutter, including ports, optical drives

Operation
- running Linux for ease of setting up a server, monitoring and scheduling, I plan on having it download stuff (normal files, torrents, usenet stuff) during the night which is our "off peak" in Australia where we have a near reasonable download cap

Other
- Connect it to the router through an ethernet cable
- Have the router send data to it for bandwidth logging (another thing Linux will be helpful for to make life easier - the reason is to log bandwidth to make sure I know where our miniscule download cap gets used and by what)
- Backup or sync system (similar to Apple's Time Capsule)

Scoby007 · Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 5:35 pm Post subject:

Hi Guys, thanks for all the advice so far - I have tried a set up tonight but have seem to be getting nowhere. What I have done is I have set up an old PC and conected it to my router - I have downloaded and installed Apache HTTP and have installed it as when I check my local host I get the message it works. Now here is where I am getting stuck. What I ideally what do to is I want this PC to act as my server and want to be able to save files from other machines onto it and access it and so forth. When I go to my laptop and enter my Ip address all I get it my router configration panel can anyone give me some advice to what I need to do next now that I have Apache HTTP installed so I can get it set up so I can use this other machine as a small home server

S

LP-SolidRaven · Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 7:14 am Post subject:

You'll need a SSHd (ssh client & server comes pre-installed on most modern distros). Additionally use your package manager to install server software, makes life a little bit easier Silly

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Scoby007 · Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 7:24 am Post subject:

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