Setting up a File/Game Server

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Fiala06

n00b
Joined
Jun 1, 2008
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Hey everyone. For quite some time now I have been wanting to setup a Home File server. Im new to this so bare with me. I finally have an extra computer laying around that Ill shove in the basement and let it run.

Heres what I want to do:
1) Access It from everywhere so I can obtain my files from home, work, and when im traveling.
2) Possibly use it for a game server also. COD4 and TF2
3) Run uTorrent
4) Run Ventrilo

So with all that in mind what should I use(OS) and hopefully u guys can help me set it up.

I have to say im pretty tech savvy but when it comes to networking it almost all new 2 me. All I really know how 2 do with networking its setting up a router and configing pcs with ip address and domains.

Thxs for you input :D
 
XP pro, its a fantastic OS, rocksolid. Do you have a home network semi built? as in what gear do you have?
 
I have internet service through Comcast @ 10MB, Linksys WRT54G Wired/Wireless Router, I will hard wire the server into the router to get the best possible connection.
 
I would try to find something 64 bit. That way you get the benefit of >3GB of memory and >2TB partitions. I use XP-x64...
 
OK I do have some XP Pro Product keys laying arround. Then how do I set up the FTP and remote login?

Thanks
 
Fiala06 said:
I have internet service through Comcast @ 10MB, Linksys WRT54G Wired/Wireless Router, I will hard wire the server into the router to get the best possible connection.
Click to expand...

You could upgrade your hardware to a 100 or 1000 mbps network, or at least from your server to the router, this would give you high thruoughput for highdef movies and gaming, as well as it would deter network hiccups during file transfers.
 
Logmein for remote acces is free and probably the best you will find. FTP needs to be configured on your router to forward the port/protocol to the server IP address. That said you will need to set your IP statically on the server or just set up MAC to IP mapping on the router. FTP can be set up by going to add/remove programs and finding install windows components. From there select IIS and find the FTP and IIS services. You will need a windows disk to set that up.
 
Fiala06 said:
I have internet service through Comcast @ 10MB, Linksys WRT54G Wired/Wireless Router, I will hard wire the server into the router to get the best possible connection.
Click to expand...

What is the upload on the 10MB service?

With 512 up, you will be able to host approx 6 players if you limit the rates. If you go real low on the rates, you might be able to squeeze 8 players on a 512 upload.
 
Yea I think your right about Logmin. I forgot about that service. I haven't used it in a LONG time. Very very good!

Im trying this stuff out on my personal computer right now and I can find "IIS" in the Add/Remove program list but there isnt anything for FTP. The only thing close I see to FTP is "Other network and File and Print services" Is this what u ment?

Thanks for the help.
 
Met-AL said:
What is the upload on the 10MB service?

With 512 up, you will be able to host approx 6 players if you limit the rates. If you go real low on the rates, you might be able to squeeze 8 players on a 512 upload.
Click to expand...

Its 800 up. It would be just for me any my buddies. Im sure the most we would play together are 8 ppl.
 
Find the Internet Information Services IIS and hit the details button. When you click the FTP checkbox it selects the "Common Files" and "Internet Information Snap-In" by default, make sure you leave those checked.
 
Fiala06 said:
Its 800 up. It would be just for me any my buddies. Im sure the most we would play together are 8 ppl.
Click to expand...

You should be good. If you do start having problems, go into the config file for the server and adjust the rates.
 
OK well im g2g start installing xp pro on the machine and see how far I can get before I need some more help :)

Thxs for all your help guys so far!!!
 
I'm on a similar mission, but I was hoping I could use one of my spare XP home versions for the OS. I'm not doing any heavy lifting, I just want to accomplish the following

1) FTP
2) Online MP game hosting (nothing major - likely CoD)
3) File backup (music & video from other machines on network)
4) if possible VM capabilities / remote access.

Will XP Home work for me?
 
zero_vertical said:
I'm on a similar mission, but I was hoping I could use one of my spare XP home versions for the OS. I'm not doing any heavy lifting, I just want to accomplish the following

1) FTP
2) Online MP game hosting (nothing major - likely CoD)
3) File backup (music & video from other machines on network)
4) if possible VM capabilities / remote access.

Will XP Home work for me?
Click to expand...

Nope, you're better off with linux.
 
I'm not planning on running linux. If anything, I'd force myself to by Home Server - but for FTP and file backup - I don't think it's necessary.


Which parts won't work on XP home? I'd rather not spend any more money. This was a boneyard build, and required minimal new pieces (which is why I justified it).
 
Well, for starters XP Home is limited to 5 concurrent connections whereas XP Pro is limited to 10. I can't say what the concurrent connection limits are for Home Server and I think with Linux the maximum number of connections is bound only to what your machine can handle.

With that in mind, XP home also doesn't include:
- Remote Desktop, though that can be easily remedied with something third party like Logmein.com
- Ability to log on to domains (again, not really necessary if this is for home use)
- Dynamic disk support
- Disk quota support or EFS
- Certain administrative tools such as the Group Policy Editor
- File-level access control (with the exception of operating in "safe mode")
- Extra network features e.g. IIS/ Personal Web Server
 
zero_vertical said:
I'm not planning on running linux. If anything, I'd force myself to by Home Server - but for FTP and file backup - I don't think it's necessary.


Which parts won't work on XP home? I'd rather not spend any more money. This was a boneyard build, and required minimal new pieces (which is why I justified it).
Click to expand...

Pretty much all of it.
At best you can get filezilla for your ftp server and then enable filesharing via XPH. Then setup a dedicated CoD server and that's pretty much it. You wouldn't really be able to do anything else without adding cost. Not to mention the five connection limit, so if you wanted to play with more than five people on our server you are sol.

If you went with linux you could do all this for free.
1. Ubuntu for the OS
2. FTPd for FTP
3. xrdp for remote desktop
4. Samba for filesharing
5. Amanda for Backup
6. Xen for VMing
 
having never built a linux box, how will I do for a first try?

I was planning on using filezilla for the sharing, which has worked great in the past. the gaming restriction kind of stinks, but I can live without that. This box is a centralized backup for what has turned into way too many machines with information all over the place. I need to get my music, photos, movies, documents etc. all into one place and backed up. Sharing is secondary to that, and gaming is even further out.

I thought with filezilla I could remotely manage my documents... I'd just set up a user/pass for myself with full permission. no?
 
So I set this box up and completed stage 1, which was full backup and consolidation of all the PCs in the house (couple laptops that aren't listed in my sig as well).

I'll be doing ongoing management of all the information, and setting up file-zilla and either gotomypc.com or logmein.com or some other similar solution. Gaming is not a priority, so that may or may not ever happen.

So the question is, why go linux or XP pro if that's all I'm really doing? I'm tempted to cut my teeth on ubuntu, but this server is pretty basic - simply sharing files like kid photos with family, and for my backup (remote and local).

Thoughts?

Should I try a linux install and dual boot to see how I do? I'd rather this machine not be a guinea pig (given it's my primary backup now), but what's the worst I could do? :)

zv
 
zero_vertical said:
Thoughts?

Should I try a linux install and dual boot to see how I do? I'd rather this machine not be a guinea pig (given it's my primary backup now), but what's the worst I could do? :)

zv
Click to expand...

I think you hit the nail on the head here. You never test anything on a production machine. Always mess around with a machine where there are no consequences.

If all you're doing is simple file sharing over the network, ftp server and a 3rd party remote access, XP home should fine. It's makes many people cringe, including me, but realistically it should be fine. Keep it patched and update the AV on there just to be sure and always keep a current backup. Also use a surge protector.

Even if you have redundancy built into the machine via RAID or WHS's drive extender, all it takes is a burst pipe, or power surge and your data is toast.
 
Great post. I spent the weekend down in PA with my nephew, how is pretty well versed in the linux universe. He had a dual boot rig he let me screw around with and get comfortable with. I'm shocked at the user friendliness of the gui. it's excellent. Finding settings and the like was a little tough at first, but I think I can get dangerous enough with it.

I'm going to do a dual boot with ubuntu when the newest version comes out (my nephew is run blocking for me here, and he's going to beta test it before I proceed).

Once again, thanks to all for the help.

zv
 
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