Setting up my file server

#1

OK so basically, my new computer has fully replaced my desktop in everyway...I can watch and record TV, has a RAID, I have a gang of externals, etc...Basically, I have a computer sitting in the corner that is 1 psu away from being a very awesome file server...Here's what I have...left over...

AMD 2500 (Barton)
1 GB of PC3200 DDR RAM
2 IBM Deskstar Drives (120 GB RAID ARRAY)
2 Western Digital Drives (120 GB RAID ARRAY)
1 DVD Burner (8x)
1 CD Burner (52x)

Basically, what I want to do is get something small, out of the way, and not really a useable PC...Explicitly, I want to plug it into my router or something similar, and use it as a server...Music, movies, etc...I would like to keep my RAID array as well...I don't want to use my tower, its too damn big, and I'm strapped for space at the moment...

Any ideas on how I can get this done cleanly, and more importantly, some links to some of the things I need, if anything..?

#2

Well, of course you'll wanna install Linux on there.. lol

I'd suggest running it on a RAID 1+0 installation, and put a firewall, Samba server (so you can access your shares on Windows), maybe a LDAP server (if you feel like it, lol)..

It'd also probably be wise to organise and catalogue your music, movies, etc using some PHP/MySQL based software from sourceforge.net - you'll probably want Apache with that..

Most of the above can be auto-installed via apt-get install once you've got a Debian-based distro going (probably Ubuntu or similar)..

I'd also recommend setting up an SSH server, so you can remotely manage the thing, and you're set..!

I'll post a guide for all of the above once you're ready to go..

#3

Shit, can't wait to hear what Emanon says, lol...

#4

i have nothing to add above what alex piped in with!

i have a similar situationat my house currently. I have an old PC, (Athlon 2000, 1GB ram, nvidia 5600, 600GB hard drive space internal, 160GB external) running Kubuntu with Samba to act as a file server. Instead of running cat 5 cable across hardwood floors or trying to feed it thru the HVAC ducts (previous home owner drywalled the basement ceiling (asshat award!)) I picked up a second Linksys WRT54g and set it up in client mode with a 3rd party firmware and hooked this server pc into it with a short cat5 cable run. I have not bothered with all the ssh and apache stuff yet, mainly because I never need remote access. I just do a remote desktop connection to it if I need to run local commands on the linux box, but otherwise I just have mapped network drives from my windows machines to the samba shares to access the files. I primarily use it for backups and secondary media (pr0n) storage.

when I am feeling really sassy, I fire up vmware workstation and run a virtual windows 2003 server in it and play around with that.

On my short list of projects is to have the Linux box serve as a Primary domain controller and have all the windows user accounts etc reside on the linux machine. But i need a little more knowledge before I start that ball rolling...

My primary question is do you really see a huge performance jump with the raid? I have always preferred to have the additional GB of storage vs the striping, am I missing something?

#5

There IS a performance difference, however, if you're doing mainly writing and not much reading, you're not going to see it, really..

But 0-mode is pretty handy with its mirroring capabilities.. lol

#6

Yeah, if you mean my new laptop, I ran it in dual mode first, and then put the RAID on, the difference was very noticeable...From ashy to classy in seconds, I now have externals everywhere, lol, so the storage isn't really an issue...I've learned my lesson, the DVD-R media is $12 for the 100 pack for a very good reason, and I consistently take advantage, lol...

E, what is you home server inside of..? A regualar tower or..?

#7

QUOTE(AYHJA @ Nov 4 2006, 01:58 AM) Yeah, if you mean my new laptop, I ran it in dual mode first, and then put the RAID on, the difference was very noticeable...From ashy to classy in seconds, I now have externals everywhere, lol, so the storage isn't really an issue...I've learned my lesson, the DVD-R media is $12 for the 100 pack for a very good reason, and I consistently take advantage, lol...

E, what is you home server inside of..? A regualar tower or..?

actually 2 towers with 2 power supplies. It is ghetto as f*&k but it gets the job done. I will snap some dig pix if ya want a chuckle!

#8

For sure..! lol

#9

I think I need to find and invest in some type of rack or something...I don't want a tower...

#10

Well, that'll be a bit hard to do..
You'll need to buy some 1/2U cases, plus a rackmount..
That's gonna cost a fair bit, and a bit of a waste..

Unless you're talking about a different looking case.. lol