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file server

U

uB3rn00b3r

Limp Gawd
Joined
Oct 19, 2003
Messages
413
Most of my close friends went to different colleges and we decided we would like to set up a file server to share files with each other. I know I need to make a file server to do this I just have couple of questions before I get on google.

1. How much power/bandwidth do I need to run this? Its only going to be for about 5 people.
2. Any good places for me to get started reading? I tried searching this forum but I couldn't find much. Do I need to learn some programming languages? I know some VB.NET would that be useful.

Thanks
 
You probably need to just setup a VPN tunnel to the fileserver. BTW, how much storage are you looking to make use of?
 
You probably (ie wont) need to use any programming at all unless you plan on writing your own fileserver application...id use something prebuilt like vpn with folder shares or samba or ftp.
 
So all I need is a decent computer hooked up a some static IP broadband and Im good to go. Just set a up a VPN?

Sounds good.
 
As magical as VPN is, I have to laugh at how often people offer it up as a solution to any networking problem.

To start:

What OS are you planning on using?
What hardware do you have?
Are you going to be using the college's network to host this server, or your own internet connection?
​

That will give a base to help get you started. A static IP is not necessary, there are services like dyndns.org that can help you out.
 
Most colleges it seems these days will at least do some sort of bandwidth limitation - packetshaping etc. If one of you has a relatively uncapped (10mbit would probably be fine for media, source code/papers/notes probably 1mbit+) connection, all you would need to do is setup SCP or SFTP or something similar. I'd highly suggest using an encrypted protocol (sharing research work clear over the wire is not a good thing to do) so as to protect yourself. You guys should probably be more concerned about hardware - who's computer is going to do it, how available will that computer be? How much storage space will you need? Once you've got that figured out, installing say OpenBSD/FreeBSD/Linux is trivial (to cut licensing costs unless you have spare windows or something down and a free scp/sftp server) and configuring the software usually just requires adding the accounts.
 
It will be used on my home broadband line for about 5 people. My home line is 3.0/768 dsl. I need about 250gb of space, maybe a little more. I don't need that much to start as we only need to share pics and stupid games that one of my friends rights. I can always upgrade storage space right?

Can I run the file server on my desktop, or would it be better to have the server on a separate piece of hardware? How nice of a computer, ram/cpu wise, do I need to do this with 5 people or so.
 
Have you considered a NAS box instead? It's a whole lot simpler solution.

-Larry
 
just set up a linux box running ftp, create the user and rights, and set up a dynamic dns account on dyndns.org to get a url that will follow your changing ip addy
 
just host it...cost you less that a box for a server and will be secure...not to mention the speed will be far better than your home DSL line.

Any web host with a reasonable download limit...10gb/month or even unlimited per month can be had along with a nice chunk of space for storage for 10 bucks a month or less....i think.

But if your lookin to push .iso files or other large "media" type files back and forth install ubuntu server on a box...do an "apt-get install ssh open-ssh-server" and bam now you have an encrypted file server. (few more steps than that, but check out howtoforge.com for a detailed hand holding.)
 
I really want to set up my own box for the learning experience. Thanks for the suggestion though dx2, you are probably right. Which would be more cost efficient, setting up a linux box from scratch or a buying a nas box. We are poor college kids so cost is important.

Also, Larry, NAS boxes can be used over the internet correct? Im pretty sure they are able to used over a WAN and not just a LAN but I am not completely sure. Sorry if Im being noobish. Im a novice on networking.
 
keep in mind, a low user file server wont need powerfull hardware, just reliable storage
 
How about just web based file storage? No need to worry about hardware, school firewalls, VPN, changing IP's, etc.

Oodles and Oodles of online file storage places, x-drive, whalemail, plug ins to turn your GMail account into a G Drive...Microsoft even has an awesome free one called Foldershare.

https://www.foldershare.com/

That way your group of people can get access to the files from a nice neutral location.
 
http://www.howtoforge.com/perfect_setup_ubuntu_6.06

thats an all purpose network server...just skip dns, mysql, or any other network services you dont really need.It'll guide you through setting up the static ip and other network settings. Proftpd will provide the ftp services your looking for. This setup combined with a minimal processor, 512mb, and as much storage as you can throw into the thing and it will treat you right as well as being a great linux intro.
 
Most of the better one's have Web, FTP, etc... servers built in to them.

I use a QNAP TS-201.

-Larry

uB3rn00b3r said:
I really want to set up my own box for the learning experience. Thanks for the suggestion though dx2, you are probably right. Which would be more cost efficient, setting up a linux box from scratch or a buying a nas box. We are poor college kids so cost is important.

Also, Larry, NAS boxes can be used over the internet correct? Im pretty sure they are able to used over a WAN and not just a LAN but I am not completely sure. Sorry if Im being noobish. Im a novice on networking.
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