Looking to build cheap-as server to live in my av unit, so desktop style case. The intent is to use it as a central point for data storage, accessible by the other computers scattered across the house, a download box, and media player. I'm expecting a low spec running quite and cool is the way to go, also, is windows home server the way to go, would I be able to run a media management type software over it? Please help spec me up!
Desktop Style Server
- Thread starter MyBoxLife
- Start date
Sparky__H
Sparky__H
You can use anything as a server.
Research is the key. You need to get down exactly what you need and find the best hardware software combo to match it.
If you want cheep look at an ATOM-ION build or source second hand parts.
Research is the key. You need to get down exactly what you need and find the best hardware software combo to match it.
If you want cheep look at an ATOM-ION build or source second hand parts.
Any case can act as a server, so I'd measure your space and then take a look at the cases section to see what fits.
Then you need to consider how much storage you want and whether you want this in say 1 large HD or split over many HD's in raid or duplication (if your using Windows Home Server).
As for media management windows home server does that reasonably well and you can add in components (called add ins) that allow you to manage the media in better ways than the default out of the box. e.g. MyMovies (www.mymovies.dk), Firefly for ITunes.
For downloads you can install something like uTorrent.
If you don't want the expense or WHS you could install a number of different linux clients (though I have no actual experience of them).
Also you can set up remote access to the server either using something like logmein or Remote Desktop connection so that after set up you won't need a keyboard or monitor connected to it.
I run my server with the following specs (which was basically my old gaming rig so overpowered really for a server)
E6600 Intel Dual core
2GB ram
3 * 1tb Hard Drives
1 * 500gb Hard Drive
Windows Home Server with Service Pack 3
Tsumani Dream case
Basic GFX card (can't remember what it is (but fanless was a main factor). But I have been told that you can run a WHS without a GFX card.
If you've got access to the Members Market that would be a good way of setting up a server as you can buy a lot of old kit dirt cheap that people now don't want as they've upgraded.
I use this to stream to my living room HTPC, my main gaming rig and my Netbook.
If you use WHS it will also act as a back up server and take copies of any of the PC's connected to it on a defined basis so that you can recover any PC from a point in time shoulkd it fail or you want to roll back after a problem.
Hope that helps in a small way
Taff
Then you need to consider how much storage you want and whether you want this in say 1 large HD or split over many HD's in raid or duplication (if your using Windows Home Server).
As for media management windows home server does that reasonably well and you can add in components (called add ins) that allow you to manage the media in better ways than the default out of the box. e.g. MyMovies (www.mymovies.dk), Firefly for ITunes.
For downloads you can install something like uTorrent.
If you don't want the expense or WHS you could install a number of different linux clients (though I have no actual experience of them).
Also you can set up remote access to the server either using something like logmein or Remote Desktop connection so that after set up you won't need a keyboard or monitor connected to it.
I run my server with the following specs (which was basically my old gaming rig so overpowered really for a server)
E6600 Intel Dual core
2GB ram
3 * 1tb Hard Drives
1 * 500gb Hard Drive
Windows Home Server with Service Pack 3
Tsumani Dream case
Basic GFX card (can't remember what it is (but fanless was a main factor). But I have been told that you can run a WHS without a GFX card.
If you've got access to the Members Market that would be a good way of setting up a server as you can buy a lot of old kit dirt cheap that people now don't want as they've upgraded.
I use this to stream to my living room HTPC, my main gaming rig and my Netbook.
If you use WHS it will also act as a back up server and take copies of any of the PC's connected to it on a defined basis so that you can recover any PC from a point in time shoulkd it fail or you want to roll back after a problem.
Hope that helps in a small way
Taff
Sorry MyBoxlife, I don't mean to hijack your thread but maybe this is what you are after as well. First prize for a server would be to use an old machine as really anything will do as some posters have said. However my old machines always goes to wife, children etc.
So what I would have loved to see is if you have to start from scratch and say buy new components what would you go for to still come in with a cheap (or reasonable price).
Start off with maybe 2 Eco 1TB hard drives but leave room for expansion. Which motherboard to support 4-5 hard drives? Small as possible case (although size is not really an issue in my case) and still fit the 4-5 hard drives internally? Which low power CPU's are available to buy as new?
So you get the idea what I am looking for, I have read up a bit and something like HP mediasmart looks like a pretty nice idea but comes at a bit of a cost.
I will keep my mouth shut now and let the OP decide what it is he wants to see
So what I would have loved to see is if you have to start from scratch and say buy new components what would you go for to still come in with a cheap (or reasonable price).
Start off with maybe 2 Eco 1TB hard drives but leave room for expansion. Which motherboard to support 4-5 hard drives? Small as possible case (although size is not really an issue in my case) and still fit the 4-5 hard drives internally? Which low power CPU's are available to buy as new?
So you get the idea what I am looking for, I have read up a bit and something like HP mediasmart looks like a pretty nice idea but comes at a bit of a cost.
I will keep my mouth shut now and let the OP decide what it is he wants to see
Last edited:
No problem jbs.
I was in the same boat with old machines going to kids, but now they want better specs, so it would probably be wise for me to use their hardware for the build; Socket A Abit NFS-S v2, unlocked 2500+, 6800 GS or 9800 Pro, etc.. Also got an older Silverstone LC13 I think it is, which if I don't install an optical, I could get away with 4x HDD, even maybe 5x if I'm not mistaken.
I expect the latter would work well with WHS, even if simply off the on-board graphics, but not sure how it would perform when playing HD content on my main AV display?
jbs, even if you don't have any old components you can use, it may be worth buying them 2nd hand instead of spending the extra on higher spec new, because that's what's available.
Thanks Supertaff for the media management suggestions, that would do just fine IMHO.
'Also you can set up remote access to the server either using something like logmein or Remote Desktop connection so that after set up you won't need a keyboard or monitor connected to it.'
I was in the same boat with old machines going to kids, but now they want better specs, so it would probably be wise for me to use their hardware for the build; Socket A Abit NFS-S v2, unlocked 2500+, 6800 GS or 9800 Pro, etc.. Also got an older Silverstone LC13 I think it is, which if I don't install an optical, I could get away with 4x HDD, even maybe 5x if I'm not mistaken.
I expect the latter would work well with WHS, even if simply off the on-board graphics, but not sure how it would perform when playing HD content on my main AV display?
jbs, even if you don't have any old components you can use, it may be worth buying them 2nd hand instead of spending the extra on higher spec new, because that's what's available.
Thanks Supertaff for the media management suggestions, that would do just fine IMHO.
'Also you can set up remote access to the server either using something like logmein or Remote Desktop connection so that after set up you won't need a keyboard or monitor connected to it.'
Quick question based on your response.
Are you wanting to use this box as the client as well to play media files to the TV or just as a server to provide to other devices?
If a client as well then WHS would be the wrong choice. WHS is great for serving content to other PC's and devices, it is not correct choice as say a OS for a HTPC.
If you want to serve information and use to play stuff, then you might be better looking at something like Win7 and it's media sharing capabilities. It doesn't have the rest of the server type stuff that WHS has, but could be another option.
Based on the spec below, you might struggle running it for High Def and other items as a client, but it would work ok as a server, you don't mention RAM but 1GB is fine, 2GB would be better, no need to go above that.
Taff
Are you wanting to use this box as the client as well to play media files to the TV or just as a server to provide to other devices?
If a client as well then WHS would be the wrong choice. WHS is great for serving content to other PC's and devices, it is not correct choice as say a OS for a HTPC.
If you want to serve information and use to play stuff, then you might be better looking at something like Win7 and it's media sharing capabilities. It doesn't have the rest of the server type stuff that WHS has, but could be another option.
Based on the spec below, you might struggle running it for High Def and other items as a client, but it would work ok as a server, you don't mention RAM but 1GB is fine, 2GB would be better, no need to go above that.
Taff
If you are looking for backup etc, and media sharing, I would recommend doing some research on linux distros for the likes of that. They tend to have a much lighter overhead than WHS and many come with a web interface so no RDP, but most importantly I tend to find that linux can run on much lower specs than WHS due to the overhead - so I would definitely give it a thought
I was hoping I could use it for both; as a HTPC to play media on the AV TV and as a global access point for the other PCs in the house. Haven't tried W7 on the mentioned spec, but did test it to play SD on the AV TV, using XP, which it did well enough, all apart from 5.1 sound. Yes, running 1GB at the moment.
EDIT
brad82, never got around to having a play with Linux, but I expect there wouldn't be much of a learning curb to say using WHS for the 1st time, with my experience with W7 etc..
EDIT
brad82, never got around to having a play with Linux, but I expect there wouldn't be much of a learning curb to say using WHS for the 1st time, with my experience with W7 etc..
Last edited: