home server/gaming pc?

E

ExplosiveToaster

New member
Hello all!

So I intend to be building a gaming rig soon but I had an idea and need you help: so I'd like my rig to double up as a server of which the rest of my family could remotely access my media (which would end up being a collective of all of our media due to pc specs), and this is mostly for ease. But also id like to be able to access my data when I'm away from my pc. I realise these are probably two separate issues but what do I need to do to achieve all of this? Do I need a server version of Windows? If so do I then need to install it on all the other machines? Does the server version run steam and games okay? Or is it as simple as there's a software out there that allows me to do all this?
 
So I just need the other computers to have win7? and can I set all my default libraries to do this? or does it have to be specific folders? and what about my own personal access when I'm say, at college?

sorry about all these questions! I just know nothing about it! D:

also, would it slow my pc down a lot when they're accessing the drive?
 
'shared' files should be placed on a seperate drive

YOUR file's folder(s) can be passworded and/or made only visible to your USER

it is also possible, via grpedit, to only allow access to certain 'shared files/folders' to a certain amount of users at a time.
 
ExplosiveToaster said:
I missed this little bit in brackets... By that do you mean: not home server or not home premium?
Click to expand...

remote access is only available in PRO, server, or ultimate versions of windows

lol - this is like deja vu: this topic is being covered in another thread that was started less than a few hours ago
wink.png
http://forum.overclock3d.net/index.php?/topic/44815-windows-decision/page__fromsearch__1
 
dugdiamond said:
'shared' files should be placed on a seperate drive

YOUR file's folder(s) can be passworded and/or made only visible to your USER
Click to expand...

My intention was to have all my applications on a pair of raid'd ssds and all my media on a 2tb WD Black. So would this work okay? That way I could just put any private info on my ssds? Thus making only the HDD available to them?
 
ExplosiveToaster said:
My intention was to have all my applications on a pair of raid'd ssds and all my media on a 2tb WD Black. So would this work okay? That way I could just put any private info on my ssds? Thus making only the HDD available to them?
Click to expand...

The SSD's will be not shared unless you tell them to be.

Yes you can just share that HDD.

If you wanted extra security you can add passwords to almost everything. So say you wanted access to your drive from a laptop if your on the same home network it's simple

When you move into the internet area you might want to look at getting a client to help you access your data, unsure of any off the top of my head. But i know there are programs to access home servers out there.
 
Definitely go for Windows 7. Home Premium, Professional or Ultimate should be fine.

File sharing across the network: Share your entire 2TB drive. One can change the permissions under "Advanced Sharing" if you also want your family to be able to add titles to your media archive across the network (Under "Permissions" check the full control box for everyone). Next, go to each one of your family member's pcs/laptops and in windows explorer click tools->map network drive->assign a drive letter->click browse and choose the shared media hdd (leave "reconnect at logon" checked). The media hdd should now appear as a network drive in My Computer. Make sure that the network connection is fast. Will your family members be streaming HD 1080p movie files simultaneously across the network? If so, I would at all costs, try to avoid wireless (unless only music files are being streamed). There is also the possibility of adding in a second NIC in your PC...but you should first test the setup and see if it is necessary. Your best option would be using ethernet cables but these create a lot of clutter and are just ugly. I personally use powerline adapters. Before you fork out the cash for the powerline adapters, make sure that there is a free electrical outlet near each of the pcs/laptops (powerline adapters should not be plugged into a multiplug extension). Now I will quote erichlund from a post on tomsguide.com:
"Another weakness of these systems that was not addressed on the review is where you cross electrical phases. Most houses have two column of breakers, and they are on different phases. Where the powerline units are on the same phase, they do work fairly reliably, but where they are on separate phases, they may not work at all."
File sharing over the internet: Filezilla is awesome!!! Watch this video from NCIXcom on youtube. Quick, simple, effective! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWKE_vEs97o

Sorry for the long post but I went through the exact same situation a while back and just thought I should rather be thorough than miss important points.

Best of luck!
 
Trax0r-DnB said:
Definitely go for Windows 7. Home Premium, Professional or Ultimate should be fine.

File sharing across the network: Share your entire 2TB drive. One can change the permissions under "Advanced Sharing" if you also want your family to be able to add titles to your media archive across the network (Under "Permissions" check the full control box for everyone). Next, go to each one of your family member's pcs/laptops and in windows explorer click tools->map network drive->assign a drive letter->click browse and choose the shared media hdd (leave "reconnect at logon" checked). The media hdd should now appear as a network drive in My Computer. Make sure that the network connection is fast. Will your family members be streaming HD 1080p movie files simultaneously across the network? If so, I would at all costs, try to avoid wireless (unless only music files are being streamed). There is also the possibility of adding in a second NIC in your PC...but you should first test the setup and see if it is necessary. Your best option would be using ethernet cables but these create a lot of clutter and are just ugly. I personally use powerline adapters. Before you fork out the cash for the powerline adapters, make sure that there is a free electrical outlet near each of the pcs/laptops (powerline adapters should not be plugged into a multiplug extension). Now I will quote erichlund from a post on tomsguide.com:
"Another weakness of these systems that was not addressed on the review is where you cross electrical phases. Most houses have two column of breakers, and they are on different phases. Where the powerline units are on the same phase, they do work fairly reliably, but where they are on separate phases, they may not work at all."
File sharing over the internet: Filezilla is awesome!!! Watch this video from NCIXcom on youtube. Quick, simple, effective! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWKE_vEs97o

Sorry for the long post but I went through the exact same situation a while back and just thought I should rather be thorough than miss important points.

Best of luck!
Click to expand...

Nice post, but this thread is over 2 months old so I think the OP has everything sorted by now :p
 
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