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Thread: tips on setting up a server

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    2nd hardest inthe infants petrefax's Avatar
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    tips on setting up a server

    ok. so i i'm too tight to spend any money on a NAS drive and fancy learning a bit more about server set up anyway, so i was thinking of setting up an old PC as a server. initially to use as a file server for music, photos etc

    i was thinking of installing windows server 2003, mostly because i'd then have to opportunity to branch out & tinker with the server side of things it a bit more once its set up. (use & maintain a few servers but not had any experience of setting one up from scratch)

    how difficult a task would this be to implement? what sort of considerations should i be thinking of before starting & what pitfalls / drawbacks are there?

    alternatively, could i just set up another win7 machine & run this as a server? if so what are the limitations of this method

    i'd be connecting 2 PCs running windows 7 ultimate, a laptop running xp pro and possibly an xbox360 to whatever solution i end up with.

    current network is fully wired & running via a sky netgear DG834G router

    basically, any useful tips or tales of woe to avoid would be gratefully received
    if it ain't broke...fix it till it is


  2. #2
    Splash
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    Re: tips on setting up a server

    Just a pointer - your license for Server 2003 will cost you more than a small NAS. While I applaud your wish to recycle old equipment I'm not sure that you're looking at things in the correct manner. Perhaps Windows Home Server would be more cost-effective, and is handily designed for the sort of use you're suggesting.

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    mutantbass head Lee H's Avatar
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    Re: tips on setting up a server

    If your wanting to cut back on the cost and don't want to invest in windows Home Server which is a good buy and want a NAS-like system, there is always Freenas, Openfiler and various other open source NAS systems that can be employed.

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    Re: tips on setting up a server

    well as they say WS2k3 could cost more than a simple NAS
    i dont know how you are geeting it as there are programs that give it to you for free (like dreamspark for students) anyway without taking in consideration that cost the main cost will probably be the drives
    for a free OS look at FreeNAS for a BSD based system or OpenNAS for a linux based system
    on the long run win server 2003 would be better as you can do other things when you need to
    the easyest way to set it up would just be the same as setting a shared folder i think
    but theres lots of great network guys on here im sure someone will give you a hand

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    Re: tips on setting up a server

    thanks for tips here to guys, im also planning on doing this very thing just forgot to create a thread for it.

    i just have 1 small question.

    if i have tons off IDE hard drives around the house, could i set them up in a raid sort off array for JBOD? they tend to be more off 40gig ish and i dont want to spend on buying new drives
    Quote Originally Posted by MadduckUK View Post
    now that i think about the word "throttled" in a certain light... its not so far different to strangled really

    our boiler broke so we has no heating or hot water, this is the bloody result ^^

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    Jay
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    Re: tips on setting up a server

    the biggest bit of advice I can give you when setting up a server is start as you mean to go on, if you start using old IDE disks etc it won't be long before you wish you hadn't. Save a bit of cash, put the disks on the for sale section and get some decent new disks.
    □ΞVΞ□

  7. #7
    Splash
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    Re: tips on setting up a server

    Quote Originally Posted by Georgy291 View Post
    thanks for tips here to guys, im also planning on doing this very thing just forgot to create a thread for it.

    i just have 1 small question.

    if i have tons off IDE hard drives around the house, could i set them up in a raid sort off array for JBOD? they tend to be more off 40gig ish and i dont want to spend on buying new drives
    As Jay says - this way madness lies. While you could certainly setup a software RAID under your OS if you're looking to use them as JBOD bear in mind that chances are they're approaching their MTBF (mean time before failure) - when one of those disks fails (and it's a case of when, not if. This holds true for all mechanical parts) how are you going to deal with the loss of data?

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    Re: tips on setting up a server

    Windows Home Server I believe is good value.....

    Quote Originally Posted by Advice Trinity by Knoxville
    "The second you aren't paying attention to the tool you're using, it will take your fingers from you. It does not know sympathy." |
    "If you don't gaffer it, it will gaffer you" | "Belt and braces"

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    Senior[ish] Member Singh400's Avatar
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    Re: tips on setting up a server

    If you are just looking to tinker about, then grab an evaluation copy for Server 2003/2008 from Microsoft.

    If you are looking for more of a permenant solution then look at WHS.

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    2nd hardest inthe infants petrefax's Avatar
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    Re: tips on setting up a server

    tbh software isn't a major problem, the company i work for has enough links with enough manufacturers etc that i'll be able to sort out server 2003 easily enough with a minimum of outlay

    i spose i'm looking to (a) tinker about a bit & learn as i'm going but (b) aim towards a point where i can actually use it as a proper server eventually
    if it ain't broke...fix it till it is


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    Re: tips on setting up a server

    Quote Originally Posted by petrefax View Post
    tbh software isn't a major problem, the company i work for has enough links with enough manufacturers etc that i'll be able to sort out server 2003 easily enough with a minimum of outlay

    i spose i'm looking to (a) tinker about a bit & learn as i'm going but (b) aim towards a point where i can actually use it as a proper server eventually
    To be honest with you, if you want to learn "server" stuff, you should setup AD, play with GPO, backup/authoritative restore, trust between domains, etc. Build a powerful desktop with fast HDD + loads of RAM and run a Virtual Home Lab.

    I don't see much learning on a standalone server. That's my opinion anyway.

  12. #12
    Splash
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    Re: tips on setting up a server

    Or in that case... do what I did. Buy a cheap quadcore like this, jack the RAM to as much as it'll hold (non-ECC is fine), get yourself a chunk of storage and run ESXi on it, then carve it up and run yourself a home lab. It's basically what I have (I use my Thecus N5200Pro with 5 1.5Tb disks in for SAN storage). Combined with a technet account it's a very good way to get to grips with server OSen, as well as networking and the like.

    EDIT - except that's probably not what you'd call "cheap"

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    Re: tips on setting up a server

    Quote Originally Posted by Splash View Post
    Or in that case... do what I did. Buy a cheap quadcore like this, jack the RAM to as much as it'll hold (non-ECC is fine), get yourself a chunk of storage and run ESXi on it, then carve it up and run yourself a home lab. It's basically what I have (I use my Thecus N5200Pro with 5 1.5Tb disks in for SAN storage). Combined with a technet account it's a very good way to get to grips with server OSen, as well as networking and the like.

    EDIT - except that's probably not what you'd call "cheap"
    That's the way to go if you have the dosh + space. I live in a shoe box and that is an issue. If you want to play with esx, you can install it on VMware WKS and nest VMs. Having said that your solution is the perfect one.

    Slightly of topic, I am after a home NAS. Any suggestions??? Which forum should I post a thread?

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    2nd hardest inthe infants petrefax's Avatar
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    Re: tips on setting up a server

    Quote Originally Posted by pardal51 View Post
    To be honest with you, if you want to learn "server" stuff, you should setup AD, play with GPO, backup/authoritative restore, trust between domains, etc. Build a powerful desktop with fast HDD + loads of RAM and run a Virtual Home Lab.

    I don't see much learning on a standalone server. That's my opinion anyway.
    having thought about it i'm starting to agree with what you've said there chap, i'm working at cross purposes

    on one hand i fancy learning a bit more about the back end stuff, on the other i actually want a useable central repository for music, photos etc & i've realised that trying to do both off one box, there's only one outcome, i'll end up thinking "wonder what happens if i..." 10 mins later i've mashed all my data, losing 60 gig of music & a lifetime's worth of photos. bad times!

    have downloaded an evaluation copy of windows home server & am currently giving that a whirl. despite feeling that its all a bit too easy & feels like cheating, i'm loving it so far



    Quote Originally Posted by Splash View Post
    Or in that case... do what I did. Buy a cheap quadcore like this, jack the RAM to as much as it'll hold (non-ECC is fine), get yourself a chunk of storage and run ESXi on it, then carve it up and run yourself a home lab. It's basically what I have (I use my Thecus N5200Pro with 5 1.5Tb disks in for SAN storage). Combined with a technet account it's a very good way to get to grips with server OSen, as well as networking and the like.

    EDIT - except that's probably not what you'd call "cheap"
    hehe...yeah, there's "don't mind spending a bit of cash" and there's "you spent HOW MUCH on that lot!" then me having to sleep in the shed for a week!

    still, i'd have remote access to my data from the shed for as long as my laptoop battery held up i spose
    if it ain't broke...fix it till it is


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    Re: tips on setting up a server

    I wanted to tinker with this as well. Recently built a NAS machine and running FreeNAS from a USB pen drive.

    FreeNAS is simple and effective. And free.

    I would definitely recommend using your old machine, but:

    1) Get some fast SATA disks
    2) Get a Gigabit network - makes a huge difference in file transfer rates

    Here's one I built earlier
    http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-hardwa...-needed-3.html

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    Re: tips on setting up a server

    hi what parts did you go with at the end?
    how much did it all cost?
    im interested in something similar for web server

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