Setting up a home server - how hard is it?

[beanzontoast]

I've been the end-user of servers before but haven't set one up from scratch. So, is it tricky to do?

I have a spare base unit with a decent sized drive that I want to use as a home server. It will be a depository for shared documents that 4 other computers can access, work on and deposit back on the server.
Two of those computers run Ubuntu-based linux distros, one runs Xp and Ubuntu in dual boot, one runs Xp only.
Three of the computers are cable connected to my modem/router, one is wirelessly connected.
Ideally, I'd like to be able to securely access the files on the server when I'm not at home too.
Again ideally, it would be great if the server could host software - a shared calendar for example - that the other computers could use and contribute to.

Anyone been there and done that? What software did you use to run the show and was it difficult to configure for a mixture of linux and Windows machines to use?

 

[2Loose]

It was a long time ago that I did this, but I painfully remember configuring Samba on my Linux boxes to allow access to my Windows shared folders.

To be fair, it turned out that my issues were more at the Windows ends, but it did give me a massive sense of acheivement once it all worked - flawlessly.

Google 'Samba' and check out some how-to's before deciding which OS you are going to have as your server.

 

[ian turner]

Opennas would convert that spare box into a nas server saving you the entertainment afforded by configuring a linux installation for the same purpose.
Not sure why windows shared folders would be required once you had a centralized repository.

 

[beanzontoast]

Opennas would convert that spare box into a nas server saving you the entertainment afforded by configuring a linux installation for the same purpose.
Not sure why windows shared folders would be required once you had a centralized repository.

I take your point. I'm not familiar with open NAS server software in general. Is there a flavour you like best?

 

[ian turner]

FreeNAS was actually what I was thinking of as that's generally recommended.
Not personally familiar with such systems as I just bought an icybox NAS box and stuck a drive in.

 

[beanzontoast]

FreeNAS was actually what I was thinking of as that's generally recommended.
Not personally familiar with such systems as I just bought an icybox NAS box and stuck a drive in.

Cheers Ian - I've downloladed FreeNAS last evening as it happened and have since watched a couple of vids about setting it up.

I hate chucking hardware if it still has life in it, so will try setting up a server on the old box I think.

 

[yello]

I hate chucking hardware if it still has life in it, so will try setting up a server on the old box I think.

Me too. My wife's laptop screen died so it's either fit an external (wife says no) or cannibalise it; mount the disc drive and cd/dvd in there own boxes to use as externals.

OR... I could see if I can run the laptop without a screen (headless?!) just as a NAS device.

 

[HJ]

I take your point. I'm not familiar with open NAS server software in general. Is there a flavour you like best?

If you have the hardware just download a copy of FreeNAS...

 

[beanzontoast]

If you have the hardware just download a copy of FreeNAS...

Cheers HJ - See post #7 - am hoping to be wearing the t-shirt later!

 

[beanzontoast]

For me, one big argument (apart from better ease of use) for not recycling to create a NAS was power consumption. The standalone NAS boxes like the Q-NAP consume very little power compared with an old desktop PC box.

Thanks UM - that's interesting and very important for a device that's going to be on a lot of the time. I'm not ruling out a proprietary NAS long term, but I think I'll dabble with FreeNAS to get an idea of the NAS concept first.

 

[HJ]

Cheers HJ - See post #7 - am hoping to be wearing the t-shirt later!

Do you really expect me to read the entire thread before commenting??

 

[MrGrumpy]

played around with servers yonks ago, tried differant versions, but for pure easiness I went for http://www.clearfoundation.com/Software/overview.html used to be called Clarkconnect, very easy to install administer. However now I would probably consider one of these ready made NAS servers made by netgear etc. Low power consumption etc etc.

 

[yello]

I've just completed setting up the misses old laptop (knackered screen) as a home server using Amahi. Amahi is an embedded client running on Fedora. Using an 'Express install CD' plus an Amahi generated configuration code, it could not have been simpler to install! It's a surprisingly sophisticated product too given it's ease of use.

I pfaffed a bit with FreeNAS but found it a tad geeky and a little unstable tbh.

Edit Amahi is www.amahi.org

 

[rh100]

For anyone that's interested in Microsoft OS's, then Windows Home Server works remarkably well.

It pools all the drives and duplicates files to allow for drive failure, and you can put a client on each windows pc which will allow easy access to the file shares and backs up your pc's so they can be restored from bare metal.

Its based on Server 2003 and designed to run headless, configured from a web style interface app, but use a monitor or remote desktop to it and you modify it pretty much as you like, with the exception I think of AD stuff.

Just costs the hardware (I have an old P4 system running it) and the cost of the oem software.

However, a new version based on server 2008 is due (codename VAIL), with some significant changes which won't allow for an easy upgrade - I've not got round to trying the beta version yet but will probably upgrade.

I would imagine Linux os's could access the shares with the right configuration, but have never tried it myself.