help me build home server

M

malMethod

n00b
Joined
Jul 16, 2003
Messages
26
hi all,

i'm in need of some help re: choosing parts to build my first home server. my goals for this machine are:

- file server
- server intranet-type web apps across network of 3-4 users (www-based ruby on rails calendar, budgeting, etc)
- ftp/ssh

i will be starting from scratch with no prior parts besides a 300gb HD. i dont have the luxury of time to learn linux so i will be running windows 2000 OR 2003 server (any advice on which?). i'd like to have an end target of ~1 terabyte of HD space as I am a graphic designer and need the space for all of my projects. this server will be interacting with all macs, and possibly other pc's in the future as i consider render machines.

i'd like to remain budget conscious on this build, but want to build it right, once.

UPDATE: this is what im considering:

ASUS M2A-VM Socket AM2 AMD 690G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - $69.99
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ Brisbane 1.9GHz Socket AM2 - $69
GeIL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit - $89.99
2 x SAMSUNG SpinPoint T Series HD501LJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $239.98 ($119.99 x 2)
1 x Western DIgital 300gb SATA drive i alreay have - $free.99
COOLER MASTER RC-330-KKN1-GP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $39.99
Athena Power AP-MP4ATX40 MicroATX Ver 2.2 400W Power Supply - $32.99


thanks!
 
- server itranet-type web apps across network of 3-4 users (calendar, budgeting, etc)

This is the one requirement I'm not sure about...

Calendar - MS Exchange? Outlook ? Sharepoint ? Google Calendar ? What?

Budgeting - Quickbooks ?

Etc? - What are you going for here?
 
Asgorath said:
- server itranet-type web apps across network of 3-4 users (calendar, budgeting, etc)

This is the one requirement I'm not sure about...

Calendar - MS Exchange? Outlook ? Sharepoint ? Google Calendar ? What?

Budgeting - Quickbooks ?

Etc? - What are you going for here?
Click to expand...

sorry, these will all be web-apps, so www-based. ruby on rails to be specific.
 
To begin, is your 200gb hdd sata or ide?
once you tell us, we can help you with the hardware
 
Build the whole system first, don't add on. I've always had problems when adding hardware after my initial build. Besides, drives are extremely cheap now.
 
how important is it to go with an opteron chip versus athlon (if i go with the amd side of things) for a low to mid-range server? i can see that this decision could make a lot of difference in overall cost of this build.
 
malMethod said:
how important is it to go with an opteron chip versus athlon (if i go with the amd side of things) for a low to mid-range server? i can see that this decision could make a lot of difference in overall cost of this build.
Click to expand...

No importance really.

I run a P3-1Ghz, 640MB RAM, RAID-1 drives, 2000 Server OS as my home server and it works great. You don't need a lot of horsepower for a low end server. If I was building one now, I'd look for a cheap Athlon XP or even Athlon 64 setup.

I recently bought an Athlon 64 3000+ socket 754 chip for $5.50 ($8.59 shipping) on Ebay and an open box mobo for $19 (shipped) at Newegg. Bought the RAM on rebate, etc. Very cheap system that I use for testing. It will likely be the replacement for my server someday.

Between Ebay, the Trading forum here on [H], and open box & rebate stuff, you should be able to build a nice cheap server.
 
Here is the setup im considering:


ASUS M2A-VM Socket AM2 AMD 690G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - $69.99
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ Brisbane 1.9GHz Socket AM2 - $69
GeIL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit - $89.99
2 x SAMSUNG SpinPoint T Series HD501LJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $239.98 ($119.99 x 2)
1 x Western DIgital 300gb SATA drive i alreay have - $free.99
COOLER MASTER RC-330-KKN1-GP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $39.99
Athena Power AP-MP4ATX40 MicroATX Ver 2.2 400W Power Supply - $32.99

Total = $541.93
 
Well to make you feel good here is my current setup:


AMD X2 3600 @ 2.3.
Foxconn AMD 690G Micro ATX Motherboard $ 76 ( It has Overclocking Abilities :D)
4GB OCZ DDR2 800 Memory @ 930mhz
160GB SATAII Hard Drive.
DVD Writer.
ATI 650 HDTV Tunner.

Water Cooled passive running 24/7. (Not a single fan in the system)

MCP655 Pump,
Dtek Fuzion.
2 X 320 MCR Radiators passive
1/2" ID tubbing.


Operating Systems:

VISTA 64bit (Main Opterating System)

Virtual PC2007 Running with 1024MB Dedicated to Windows 2003 Server.

( Windows 2003 Enterprise Edition, Exchange 2003, DNS Server, Active Directory, IIS for Web, FTP, SSH, VPN, File Server)
 
malMethod said:
ASUS M2A-VM Socket AM2 AMD 690G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - $69.99
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ Brisbane 1.9GHz Socket AM2 - $69
GeIL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit - $89.99
2 x SAMSUNG SpinPoint T Series HD501LJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $239.98 ($119.99 x 2)
1 x Western DIgital 300gb SATA drive i alreay have - $free.99
COOLER MASTER RC-330-KKN1-GP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $39.99
Athena Power AP-MP4ATX40 MicroATX Ver 2.2 400W Power Supply - $32.99
Click to expand...

Motherboard doesn't have on-board RAID 5. Windows OS RAID 5 has poor write performance, esp. for the price. nVIDIA has on-board RAID 5 that sometimes performs well. Intel has on-board RAID 5 that often performs well. Intel consumer RAID is limited to 4 drives per array (until ICH9R). nVIDIA RAID is limited to 2 TiB (AFAIK).

E.g. for Intel MB: Q965 chipset with ICH8R/ICH8DO. e.g. Intel BOXDQ965GFEKR, Asus P5B-VM DO.

I'd suggest Vista or XP-64 as the OS, esp. if you have some tolerance for brand-new OS issues (for Vista; XP-64 is based on 2003, so is stable (and cheap)).

Case doesn't have removable drive cage and cooling fan for drives. Not critical, but nice to have. E.g. something like Rosewill R5604-TBK.

PSU might not have enough 12V power for longer term with multiple HDs. E.g. something like FSP AX400-PN.

Also budget for something to externally backup at least the important data.

And of course a gigabit switch and perhaps a UPS.
 
annaconda: why so many os'?

madwand: thanks for the heads-up! i have changed my setup thusly:

Rosewill R5604-TBK Case - $39.99
ASUS M2N Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 430 MCP ATX AMD Motherboard - $74.99
FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX400-PN 400W Power Supply - $43.99
Athlon 64 X2 3600+ Brisbane 1.9GHz Socket AM2 - $69.99
GeIL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) - $89.99
1 x Western Digital 300gb SATA Hard Drive - $free.99 (already have)
3 x SAMSUNG SpinPoint T Series HD501LJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $359.97 (3 x $119.99)
PHILIPS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Model SPD2413BD - $32.99
NETGEAR FS105 10/100Mbps Desktop Switch - $24.99

Total = $735.91

i think i have decided on going with linux after all. i have messed with ubuntu before, and like the easy setup, and the large community following, for when i need help with it. i will load the os on the 300gb drive, and have the 3 500gb drives in raid 5. i will also be putting this behind a firewall machine. im thinking of using clarkconnect for that. (old amd k6-2)
 
OS choice excpecially since you are only talkign about 4 clients is based on security. if you want centralised security (Domain) then 2003 standard. If workgroup or decentralzed your server can be XP or Vista. MS has stated that they will soon be offering Vista home server as an OEM product. Dont even consider W2K. MS has end of lifed the product so any needed patches will become be on a per fee basis.

If you decide to use AD or a domain get familiar with DNS the simplest AD is made difficult by not understanding the differance between your internal and external name spaces. Do not connect a DC directly to the internet.

it sounds to me that your hardware choices donot have to be too powerfull. Do not forget a backup solution.

Good luck
 
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