Got Rack Space... Now What?

[TangledThorns]

I work for a commercial ISP and can be given free rack space and my own /24 IP address for my own server. I want to use a old WinXP machine for backing up data off my current home PC. My own Mozy if you will.

What do I need to do configure my old PC to be accessed from home?

If it's easier a link on how to do this would be good too as I'm not sure where to go. Thanks!

 

[lizardking009]

First off, you have rack space, so you need a rackmount server. I doubt you have enough space to put in a desktop machine that may take 4 - 6U or more. A 2U Norco case would be a cheap choice - maybe you can put your existing mb/cpu into it

Second, you're going to want to run something that is accessable from the web - unless you plan to use a VPN. Windows Home Server might do the trick, not sure.

 

[Flintstone]

My suggestion is to go to ebay and get a HP rack server cheap, and put ESXi (free, and can run from a USB key!). Then install whatever OS you need (Win2008, FreeNAS etc.). If you get only one IP you can use something like m0n0wall as a firewall for the whole box...

 

[TangledThorns]

This will be for simple back-ups of my home documents (files, photos). We have shelves and I can lay my PC right on one. Can't I just use this PC with WindowsXP Home 32-bit for this purpose? I'm just looking for a super cheap way to do back-ups using an old PC. The paid for back-up services don't fill my needs.

 

[bher20]

You could always just put an ftp server on your box, like FileZilla server or similar. It wont be the most elegant solution but it would work and its free.

 

[ghost6303]

We have shelves and I can lay my PC right on one.

so.... you have shelf space not rack space....

if they are giving you a space, you can put whatever you want there i suppose. if you wanted to put a 486 with windows 98 with a network card there you could. if you ask [H]'s oppinion we will obviously always tell you to go big or go home.

 

[vraa]

ZFS

 

[TangledThorns]

so.... you have shelf space not rack space....

if they are giving you a space, you can put whatever you want there i suppose. if you wanted to put a 486 with windows 98 with a network card there you could. if you ask [H]'s oppinion we will obviously always tell you to go big or go home.

Ok, let's forget about the rackspace please I want to use my old WinXP Home PC and will be given a dedicated IP for it. How do I upload/download files to it, what is the easiest way to go about this? From home I'm using a Vista 64bit OS. Is there something built in both OS's that I can use?

 

[hotcrandel]

I just heard a windows xp box with a public ip. Be sure you have antivirus and all updates done, and firewall on. or even better, have some firewall rules in front of it, with a open run from your ip at home to work.