am i doing it wrong? File server suggestions pls

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drstk

Supreme [H]ardness
Joined
Aug 26, 2009
Messages
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im using a 5 year old pc (intel e6300, nvidia 7300, 1GB 533 DDR2 RAM, 250GB 7.2k HDD, 350 PSU) to store files (videos,pics,documents, etc). I added 2x 1TB Samsung F2 green HDD for storage. No raid config. I use an external 2TB HDD to back up the important files (family vids/pics).

I installed Win 7 Pro on it and I basically map drives from my main rig, htpc, macbook to this pc. I have no peripherals connected to it and I will be using RDP for access. I will also be using this for torrents.

So is there a better solution for media streaming and storage using this old pc? I don’t plan on buying more HDDs right now because of pricing. Would windows home server be a better OS? 2008 R2 be overkill (i could get this free from a friend)? Or is my current win 7 pro setup “good enough”? I would like this to run 24/7, hoping it will drop my electric bills. OC'd HTPC/GamingPC is 24/7 right now.
 
I have an old pc with 26 tb of hard drive space attached. I have my blu ray collection on it and part of my DVD collection on it as ISP and folders. I share the drives using windows sharing and stream my movies to all of my other htpc's over my network. It is simple to maintain and runs 24/7. Seems roughly like what you are describing.
 
There may be better solutions, but it is working for you.

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I have an old PC, more than 5 years old, that is doing a similar job for me. 8 drives that I map from other machines. I only need the mapping to run the VOB files with PowerDVD. The AVI and TS files play without mapping.
 
If you are not adding more hdds atm i dont see much reason to change your setup if its working fine for you.

If you do increase your storage in time, for pure media storage/streaming check unRAID, it will allow you to have 1 parity drive, and allow to have missmatched drives and to add over time as you need increases, you can try it for free up to 3 hdds, then you have to pay the licence.
 
You can always try freeNas, Nappit, solaris, or ubuntu server!
 
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