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Home fileserver/router

D

Dubbs

n00b
Joined
Jun 16, 2008
Messages
11
I have spare parts off of an old HTPC that I'd like to use to make myself a home router that will connect to 2 other PCs.

The machine's purposes are going to be:
Home router (with multicast enabled)
Firewall
uTorrent
FTP server
Printer server
HTTP/PHP Server
Constantly play music (connected to home speakers on ceiling throughout house, will play in background) via winamp. Includes web control via browser.
File Server

My reason for using the PC as a router is to enable multicast - from what I've seen, multicast routers costs boatloads of money, and I need multicast for some internet services I get.


I'm also going to be streaming my music and hdtv video files to the other 2 computers. According to wikipedia, HDTV video files stream at 27 Mbit/s. So according to this, regular ole 10/100 NICs should be sufficient right? Would getting gigabit NICs (via PCI) be a lot better?
Also, my gaming PC will be connected to this - will internet speeds be affected much (i.e. it won't be 100mpbs or full speed becasue it's connected to a computer vs dedicated router)? Say if I play counter stirke source online (and assuming all downloading activities are paused), will I still have the same data routes as a dedicated router?

Finally, will my old system be able to do all of this? I think it will, but I'd like some other opinions. System:
3100+ Sempron (1.8ghz, socket 754)
1GB DDR RAM (512x2)
A couple of hard drives
Onboard everything else, except for 2+ extra NICs.
 
Multicast routers don't cost boatloads of money. My Dlink DIR655, which is multicast enabled IIRC, costs around $115 these days.

Anyway, theoretically 10/100 NICs will be enough for HD streaming. However there are other factors involved such as hard disk speeds, CPU speeds, network transfer protocols, quality of NICs used, whether or not those NICs are connected via PCI, USB, onboard, PCI-X, or PCI-E, etc. Any combination of those could impact HD streaming.

So in other words, get three gigabit NICs. One for the connecting to the modem, and one for each PC to avoid any issue of bandwidth.

A properly configured home built router setup should not affect your internet speeds. Hit up the networking subforum we have to see if you can find out how people setup their routers. Speaking of which, which OS will you be using?

At the very least, your Sempron PC will be able to handle everything you listed except for the router and possibly the firewall. My Pentium III server, specs in sig, does Bittorent via Torrentflux, FTP, LAMP, file and print server functions without any problems.
 
What kind of modem will need a gigabit NIC? Unless price is not an issue, buy one 10/100 for the modem. If the MB has a 10/100, use that for the modem and get gigabit NICs for the computers.
 
the setup should be ok. tho streaming 2 hdtv file to 2 computer might be the limit.
 
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