guide to making a server

[Nick Smith]

i may be making one in the near future for storage, as my Current PSU and mobo have space for only 1 more HDD, and i dont want a ton of externals around me, so im wondering how i should go about making one.

if anyone knows of a good one can you link here

Thanks

[BlindMelon7]

A server is just a regular low powered computer isn't it? Theoretically you could use almost anything. Just downclock the cpu and add loads of storage.

[Nick Smith]

how do i go about connecting it to my PC?

[BlindMelon7]

I use a cheap switch box (about £20 tops) and a load of ethernet cable. Its not very tidy though .

[Nick Smith]

i want it to be moderatly tidy

anyway of doing it wirelessly?

[Metier9]

wirelessly hehe

[XA04]

My server is just my old computer, I just use it for BitTorrent and lots of storage really.. I sometimes run Vmware Server on it too though.

Specs are:

AMD Athlon XP 2000+ Overclocked to 2.0ghz,
512mb RAM,
200gb + 40gb HDD,
Windows Server 2003 (I would say Linux would be good, but I want things to just work, and I know my way around Windows very well, and I can't be arsed using Linux.. but maybe I'm just a Microsoft fan).
2mb graphics card (hell yeah baby, I didn't use that card in my old system btw haha - it's useful though if something goes wrong and you need to plugin a monitor).


And runs pretty nicely, it's connected to an 8 port switch, which is also connected to my router. I control it remotely using Remote Desktop Connection (with Windows).. I like it because the graphics stuff is done on the client side rather than the server side (especially with having a crap graphics card in.. or not one at all!)

It's in a normal PC case at the mo, but it used to be in an old MiniDisc player case I modded for it.. but the PSU went and I couldn't be arsed looking for a new small one, so its pretty much in a normal PC case.


Edit: Yes you can do it wirelessesslessesslyyy... hehe. Just buy a wireless USB adaptor.. they cost about a tenner so not much. But I recommend a wired connection, its faster and more stable. If you have the cash get a gigabit LAN.

Edit2: To make this post even longer!.. Does anyone know of a 3rd party app so I can stream media from the server to the Xbox 360?.. Windows Media Connect doesn't work. Windows Media Player 11 (which isn't actually compatible with Win2003, but there is a long pain in the arse work around) doesn't work either.. so I'm guessing something 3rd party is needed...

[directhex]

you're better off buying an off-the-shelf dedicated NAS box of some kind, unless you know EXACTLY what you're doing

[CrazyMonkey]

Just do what im doing.

You can either use an old pc or an extremely poo one.
Im gonna build a small cheap shuttle (Need it to be small)
Make sure it has lots of HDD space.

Then either run it wireless or wired (Router) then setup a network with it. (I will use Windows Server 2003, or linux if i can be assed to dload a distro)

Then use Remote Desktop Connection and run it that way.

Its pretty simple, or yeh get a NAS box.

[directhex]

how can you afford windows server 2003 but no hardware?

[Nick Smith]

how much is server 2003?

[directhex]

starting at £430 for server 2k3 standard w/ 5 client access licenses

that's oem, by the way. £750 for retail

[Nick Smith]

any alternatives to use?

[directhex]

any alternatives to use?

anything open source?

or xp, if you don't want an actual server

[Nick Smith]

hmm...may use XP then, if and when m mums PC "dies" or atleast she thinks it does, and she forks out another grand or so on a PC ill nick her old one got a 200gb sata in it anyway...so thats a start

[CrazyMonkey]

Linux, works fine. I would use it but i cant be bothered to go through the whole process again.

I have Server 2003, from my dads work