File Server

[MrKambo]

Im looking to build a file server, thats is all its gonna be nothing more nothing less.

its sole purpose is to feed my HTPC with my ripped blurays and itunes music

Now ive looked into all types of OS's and i dont know what one to use

Freenas/Nas4free seem far to complicated for a file server
Windows 7 seems too bloated for a file server

you guys recommend anything? i know Tom uses a file server, what OS do you use?

 

[NRG!]

I use whs2011 for mine. Costs £30 or so.

 

[dalewakelin]

Im sure there is a linux distro based on ubuntu that is good, ill find out the name for you.

 

[MrKambo]

I use whs2011 for mine. Costs £30 or so.

have you found any limitations with it?

Im sure there is a linux distro based on ubuntu that is good, ill find out the name for you.

if you could that would be good

 

[dalewakelin]

Its not based on ubuntu, it is ubuntu :lol: you just need to install an app called samba and it turns it into a file server, here is a tutorial on it:

 

[MrKambo]

Its not based on ubuntu, it is ubuntu :lol: you just need to install an app called samba and it turns it into a file server, here is a tutorial on it:

oh i know that lol! i was under the impression you knew of as light weight OS version of it, no worries ill carry on my search

 

[NickOmega]

oh i know that lol! i was under the impression you knew of as light weight OS version of it, no worries ill carry on my search

Have you tried using Xubuntu? Afaik that's one of the lighter full OS you can use.

Edit: http://murdernickelsafehouse.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/how-to-build-your-own-file-server-with.html

 

[son of spanner]

im working on a server build aswell im going to use windows home server 2011
I think home server is going to be the best to use if like me all your rigs are running windows theres lots of thing you can do with it like auto backup all pc,s that are on the same network and if your running windows 7 ultimate you can run remote desktop aswell

 

[MrKambo]

Have you tried using Xubuntu? Afaik that's one of the lighter full OS you can use.

Edit: http://murdernickelsafehouse.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/how-to-build-your-own-file-server-with.html

came across this http://www.lubuntu.net/
apparently its lighter than Xubuntu

im working on a server build aswell im going to use windows home server 2011
I think home server is going to be the best to use if like me all your rigs are running windows theres lots of thing you can do with it like auto backup all pc,s that are on the same network and if your running windows 7 ultimate you can run remote desktop aswell

i only have home premium, but i think it has RDP Client, backing up my rigs aren't really that important, due to everything being kept on the file server

But ill be keeping WHS in mind as a very last resort

 

[son of spanner]

if you don't mind me asking what parts are you going to use
I got hold of a hp microserver im hopeing it works out for me as I don't have a lot of room

 

[MrKambo]

if you don't mind me asking what parts are you going to use
I got hold of a hp microserver im hoping it works out for me as I don't have a lot of room

Using my Maximus V Formula, with most probably a i3 cpu, with 3x2TB for storage, connected to a gigabit switch

the HP microservers are awesome! so much love for them over the internet, dont think you'll have a problem with it

 

[son of spanner]

lol I think the asus rog mobo is a bit over kill but if it works out for you then you will have a server to show off with

the hp looks nice and its the size of a small itx that's good as I don't have room for a atx/matx case but it only has raid 1 or raid 0 and it only runs on ecc ram
so theres good points and bad points
by the sound of it your looking at a raid 5 ?

 

[MrKambo]

lol I think the asus rog mobo is a bit over kill but if it works out for you then you will have a server to show off with

the hp looks nice and its the size of a small itx that's good as I don't have room for a atx/matx case but it only has raid 1 or raid 0 and it only runs on ecc ram
so theres good points and bad points
by the sound of it your looking at a raid 5 ?

yeah i know it is, but it saves me getting rid of it and buying something else, i know its a good board and i haven't had any issues with it, and ive got the ability to expand storage via sata cards if need be

nope no raid, i know i should look into raid, but i have no where to move my current data so the disks can be formatted and raid'd

 

[son of spanner]

lol yeah I know that one well ive got a wd 2t nas box im using untell I get the hp going and hard drives are ment to be going up in cost agan

I think your right no point selling a good mobo just to lose money on it and then buy a cheaper one

 

[son of spanner]

im going to buy new drives for mine and keep the nas aswell so I have a back up of the back up lol

 

[Bardock]

May i ask what kind of server do you wonna build?Just a server to store your files or also to stream movies,song,etc? I recently builded a server for my home and i spend many hours indoors,so i might give a tip if you whant!

 

[Rastalovich]

I'm running a home server (off the top of my head) :

Hardware
Abit IP35, Q9400, 8G (Running at stock)
Intel dual MT nic
1x Sil 3124
2x Sil 3132
1x nVidia nvs pci (although it's headless, it's nice to have an option)
1x 1TB
9x 2TB
2x 3TB
1x 32G SSD
750w Corsair something

Software:
Ubuntu 12.04 LTS server (32G ssd)
Greyhole (2x 3TB + 9x 2TB )
Transmission (1x 1TB )

Using Greyhole to arrange the storage as a pool, Samba sharing.

 

[insomnarium]

I recently built a home server (10 year old computer, Celeron 2.4 GHz, 1 GB RAM). If you are going to use it just to make SMB shares which you will later access from your HTPC any Linux distro will do. I even used XP Pro, but Linux has simpler file sharing than Windows. I have a smart TV that is connected to a network, so I use only PLEX media server for streaming, and SMB shares for data access from other computers. WHS 11 is also nice, simple, user friendly, offers a few nice solutions (user management, backup, etc...) out of the box, and it's pretty intuitive to use them. But you have to pay for it.