Home File Server

N

nyczxplizit

Limp Gawd
Joined
Feb 6, 2004
Messages
333
Hello all,

I want to build my own home file server. I will be using it to store primarily videos, music, and program setup files. Also, is it possible for me to take advantage of a dual gigabit LAN mobo? Where would I connect the upload port of the gigabit LAN to? And what other basic uses can I use the server for? Please let me know recommendations on hardware/software. I'm new to servers so any help will be appreciated. Thanks.
 
More information, please. What's your budget? Storage goal? How many users? Do you have experience with alternative OSes or not? Have any hardware around you'd like to use for this?
 
I want about 500GB of storage capacity spread among a few drives. My network has about 5 users (1 wired, 4 wireless). I have a bit of experience with Windows Server 2000 but am still considered to be new to it. I plan to salvage what I can to build this server. I will definitely be buying the motherboard with dual LAN's though.
 
So Windows-based only? Are you planning to expand to much more than 500 GB in the future? Why dual NICs?

My suggestion is a small Highpoint card (the 2300 or 2310) coupled with a pair of 500GB disks (Hitachi T7K500s, for example) on whatever board, with whatever chip you prefer. Run whatever OS you like. For this little storage, raid 5 really limits your expansion - if you used 3 250s, you'd have to use 250s from then on, even when prices drop and other disks get cheaper per GB.
 
You might want to have a look at Windows home server from microsoft http://connect.microsoft.com/windowshomeserver its only in beta at the moment but it covers everything you asked for and also does backups.

You mentioned having dual gigabit ethernet but you say you only have one wired user who would be able to take advantage of it. I have found that unless you are moving very large ammounts of data around then gigabit isnt worth it especialy on a home network so you could save some costs there. The wireless users wont even be able to use 100mbit so they wouldnt benefit from it.

Im not sure what the Linux world has to offer but would be worth having a look as it could be free.
 
You could use it as a firewall router: I run FreeBSD, but most of this should work with Windows (and/or Linux) servers too:

The way I have mine setup is this:

[wired lan] \
[server] <-> {internet}
[wireless lan] /


That way, everyone is firewalled/nated from the internet and the wireless is separate then the lan. (So those nasty hackers can't wireless into my network!)

Other uses:
File server (Samba (ie. windows share) and sftp (ssh - secure ftp transfers))
Runs SSH (so I can access it remotely)
VNC Tunneled via SSH (so that I can securely access VNC remotely)
Runs DHCP Server on internal nics (so clients can be setup to dhcp and they'll work)
Runs DNS "Caching" server (so DNS requests are fast)
Web Server (so I can play around with php and also host basic files/pages)
Email Server (downloads all my email from all third party sources into one account that I can quickly access from pop3)
NTPD (Network Time Protocol (ie. Syncs time from the internet and then allows lan to sync off it)
Also run an NWN Server (game server) for a friend.
Runs FAH (folding) on it since it has a decent cpu/memory.

Also on FreeBSD I use GELI to encrypt the disks, but if your running windows, you might want to try TrueCrypt (google it). It'll encrypt your disk/share so that if any nasty hackers or thieves steal your server, they can't get to the data. (you only have the enter password once when server starts up).
 
thanks for all the advice guys. it's helping me choose which hardware and software to put together
 
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