Setting Up A File Server

[handscombmp]

As the title say i want to set up a file server for my home network using my current pc which i'm about to replace.

I want to be able...
To share files (obvisouly) and have them mapped as a network drive in Vista.

To let it be able to shut off the hdd after about 2 hours if they haven't been accessed to save power and wear on the drive.

To let my xbox 360 access any music and video on it and play them

Plus to be able to set it up to download things like game demos (and steam if it's possible) to it by clicking download on my main pc but then being able to to turn off my main pc so the server can download it overnight.


My first thought was the Vista it already has on it as it know vista fairly well but then i thought off all the security weakness and stuff like that it has.

I don't know that much about linux but i'm more than able to learn if i can have a good guide.

What software would be the best?

[Splash]

Openfiler and FreeNAS are both pretty much tailor made for what you're trying to do. FreeNAS is a little more user friendly.

[SiM]

Debian/Ubuntu server will do all the above and will have much more flexibility

Edit: FreeNAS is designed for n00bs

[strike-down]

+1 for freenas, recently downloaded it to have a play with and its really simple to set up, use and manage.

[Jay]

The steam Client is Windows only so for this you will probably need an XP/Vista based home "server" (I doubt you will need a true server setup)

If you can live without steam downloads then I would say use FreeNAS.

[handscombmp]

The steam Client is Windows only so for this you will probably need an XP/Vista based home "server" (I doubt you will need a true server setup)

If you can live without steam downloads then I would say use FreeNAS.

I'm not to bothered about steam it was just a if it's possible it would be good.

Otherwise it looks like freenas.

Is it fairly easy to set up as i'm about to go to their website and have a look.

[strike-down]

It is, on the site they have a walk through guide on how to set it up follow that, and it'll be done in a few minutes. Downloads wise, freenas does support torrents (needless to say legal torrents )

EDIT: http://www.freenas.org/contrib/sloan/freenas1.htm thats the walkthrough available on the site. The layout has changed, but where things are in freenas is still the same.

[handscombmp]

Well just installed it on a virtual machine and i like it alot.

Nice and easy and very clean.

Definatly going the freenas route.

Thanks guys

[Moby-Dick]

Try the liveCD version with a USB stick for config , then all of your drives can be for data.

[handscombmp]

Try the liveCD version with a USB stick for config , then all of your drives can be for data.

I'm planning to partion it in the install it gives you so i have only 250mb for the install.


One problem i've found is when i try to use BitTorrent its doesn't do any downloading. Do i have to set it up to allow it to connect to the internet.

[Moby-Dick]

you'll proably need to set a port forward rule on the bittorrent port selected on your router.