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Setting up a file server?

H

Hate_Bot

2[H]4U
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Jan 23, 2005
Messages
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Are there any links on how to set up a single PC for a host of up to 4 or 5 HDDs to be used in a home network?

Thanks
 
What do you need a guide for? Just build the machine, put it on the network, and open up the shares on the drives.
 
Othersider said:
What do you need a guide for? Just build the machine, put it on the network, and open up the shares on the drives.
Click to expand...

What I basically need a guide for is what Ill need, To make a System with a cheap CPU and such, but will support 3 or 4 drives, and can connect to 2 or more systems, so each computer can share the hard drives.

Im completely new to this sort of thing.

Oh and it has to be reasonably small also (Like SFF size)

Edit: Also any Canadian sites that sell these products would be great.

Thanks Again!
 
As said..
any machine should work.

basic needs:
Computer with OS (Linux with SMB - if you want a free OS)
3-4 HD
Ip address
Switch (For the network)
Share Points.

Or if you want ... get the Linksys NSLU2( under 100.oo us) and 2 USB HD's and you have the same thing.

Plus the Firmware has hacks as well.
 
Im sorry, I dont mean a Internet file server. I've heard of computers with something called a Raid SATA Controller, and that is directly connected to 2 or more computers, without the Net. So in a sence its just a single huge HD, that can be used by any computer.

Or if those dont exist... nvmnd
 
Yea you can get a cheap md with a software raid controller that would let you hook up a few drives and make them as one. You can also do it with software but i think that the card or one built to a mb would be easer for you.
 
Hate_Bot said:
Im sorry, I dont mean a Internet file server. I've heard of computers with something called a Raid SATA Controller, and that is directly connected to 2 or more computers, without the Net. So in a sence its just a single huge HD, that can be used by any computer.

Or if those dont exist... nvmnd
Click to expand...

Switch is for a NETWORK not Internet ..

You need to make sure that your computers can talk to each other. Easy way is to make a small home network (LAN).
 
Ya I know how to setup a lan and all that...

It's just I wouldnt really know what to buy and such...

I know I need one of those little trays (that holds 3 or more HDDS) and some form of Mobo+CPU (does it matter which one) then I need to do... something else... to set it up...
 
I think the new terabyte nas server from buffalo would be very good for you, it will run about a $1000 raid 0 1 and 5, runs linux gigabit ethernet for fast transfers to computers on the network and a built in print server. I'll be getting one. I figure it'll be cheaper than building one, and a whole lot easier. 250GBx4=$600 not to mention proc, mobo case/ps os. If you don't like that you could get this, doesn't let you run raid 0, which is a bad idea in the first place, but i don't know what you want to do.
http://www.rebyte.com/content/view/132/
 
I believe Raid 5 is what I want, Just to have 4 or 5 HDDs set up, as seperate HDDs, connected to 2 comps.

For the CPU, does it matter all that much how fast it is? Mind you Im just using this setup incase say Windows gets corrupted (on s single HDD in my actual comp) while all the important files are saved on the server
 
ok.. what do you want? a lot of storage space? or redundancy..

do you want 5 hard drives that all have different info on them just so you can have a terrabyte of space?

or do you want the hard drives to run in raid so if 1 dies, the other ones will have the same info on them? that is what raid is for..

as far as sticking 5 hard drives into a small case, i wouldn't reccomend it.. instead get the biggest case you can.. a good power supply.. and then cheap mobo/cpu combo.. something with built in video and ethernet will be fine.. then you can either do a wireless network or wired one.. get a router, why? because it will have a built in dhcp server and you won't have to set up ip addresses on the computers, it will do that for you...

if you want a list of what i reccomend.. then i can give you one.. but i don't think it is too neccessary..

also you could go a different route and get soemtihng this this:
http://www.cooldrives.com/quretrfienin.html
it wouldn't be a file server but instead would only connect to 1 computer directly with firewire.. i know it is possible to set up SAN (simple area networks) with firewire, but i have no idea if something like that would support it, but i would assume not..

it sounds like you just want to dump all of your stuff to a single computer so that you can reformat the other one when you feel like it with no worries.. therefore i would just get something like one of thsose $80ish sempron/mobo combos.. 512mb or ram, maybe 256.. and a case and power supply.. that will let you plug 4 hard drives into the motherboard.. any more would require controller cards... and everything minus the hard drives shoudl be less than about $250...
 
Thats pretty much exactly what I want (the HDDs where I can just put all My stuff)

So ya, I have a router (it sees no use because I only have 1 comp right now) but soon I will have 2.

So what I need is: the cheapest Mobo+cpu that will still work, a case, a PSU and all my HDDs...

Are those Controller cards nessisary? would it just be safer to just get like a cheap one?

Thanks
 
for jsut a simple file server.. just get a cheap mobo and cpu..

this:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-138-241&depa=0

plus some ram:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-146-214&depa=0 (the free shipping makes it cheaper than all the other memory, and i like mushkin, that's what all my memory is right now)

hard drives.. you probably already have these..

and i would personally get a good case and power supply.. but maybe you want a cheap case.. but with 4 or 5 hard drives.. don't get a cheap psu and risk frying them with it..

antec, enermax, sparkle, fortron, pc power and cooling are names to look for with power supplies.. i would consult the power supply section to ask about running several hard drives and see what they reccomend..

something like this will probably be fine:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-129-117&depa=1
but ask about the psu first..

that's about it.. you don't need a keyboard, mouse, monitor,
the video, sound, and lan are built in...

so i would just find a good case that can hold 4 hard drives without them overheating.. and make sure it has a good psu, or you get a good one in it..

a controller card is only necessary if you have more than 4 ide devices.. are any of your hard drives sata? if so i would find a motherboard with that built in.. if not.. that motherboard will support 4 hard drives with no controller cards..
 
Get the cheapest, oldest system you can find locally (a 133mhz Celeron will be more than you need) and stick one of these in it. Done.
 
Ya thanks this has been a help, so total, without HDDs, os around sau $200? which is about $300CDN?

k good, I already have 2 160GB Sata drives, And Ill buy another 1 or 2 200GB ones, that 720GB should do me fine.
 
Hate_Bot said:
Ya thanks this has been a help, so total, without HDDs, os around sau $200? which is about $300CDN?

k good, I already have 2 160GB Sata drives, And Ill buy another 1 or 2 200GB ones, that 720GB should do me fine.
Click to expand...

if the drives you have now are sata, then get a motherboard with built in sata... or an sata controller card...

also.. another thing i didn't think of.. if the motherboard is older than a few years it will not detect anything above 137gb.. i don't know where to find stuff online in canada.. so someone else can help you out there..

personally i would get a sempron/mobo combo, because they are pretty cheap for what you get.. and a decent case.. and if you need one an sata controller card.. the 200gb drives can be ide.. there is no difference in speed...i don't even think a raptor is fast enough to exceed ide specs..
 
Hate_Bot said:
Ya thanks this has been a help, so total, without HDDs, os around sau $200? which is about $300CDN?

k good, I already have 2 160GB Sata drives, And Ill buy another 1 or 2 200GB ones, that 720GB should do me fine.
Click to expand...
To do raid 5, you'll want to match disk capacities, or the size of the smallest disk is the limiting factor. I'm running into this too: I have 2 120s and 160s are cheaper per GB so normally I'd get those, but the extra 40 gb would be wasted.

If you did get the 200s the extra 40gb would be unused, and the extra $ would go to waste. Just get 160s.
 
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