Home server from spares

Telecaster · 8 Mar 2015 at 15:55

I've got plenty of spare bits lying around and I've often considered offloading my media from my main PC, so I'm thinking of knocking something together.

Question: I've never used any form of network storage before, there are numerous other people in the house with their various devices connected to the network, they're also complete tech dunces who won't need access to my media so can I keep access restricted to me only to prevent them from inadvertently deleting/messing with things?

Are there any downsides to running a small dedicated PC as a server rather than a ready built/standalone NAS?

Can it be made to wake from a device like a tablet or phone?

Cheers for any advice.

Steveocee · 8 Mar 2015 at 20:32

The only downside is that a spare PC bits home server will take more power than a NAS. Other than that it's a great way of doing stuff.

Windows or Linux can do what you need. Personally I prefer my linux box for file shares (samba does this) and for sharing to devices you can install plex server. Run it in low power consumption mode (windows) and you're good to go.

chroniclard · 8 Mar 2015 at 20:46

Had a Windows Home Server(WHS) 2011 box for a few years(shoved in a cupboard near my router) and its been great. Built it from old PC bits after upgrading. Its not the most economical with the juice but works fine.

Telecaster · 8 Mar 2015 at 20:55

I have some low power bits and bobs (Kabini + mobo, pico PSU etc) plus a spare windows key as I use JRiver as my media centre, it's just the control side of things over the network I've no experience of.

Telecaster · 9 Mar 2015 at 15:08

This is looking even better now, I've just discovered an ASRock mobo with a DC jack that will take a 19v PSU brick I already have, so it should be really really low power which is ace.

All I need to do now is brush up on sharing files over networks and security etc. (hint hint)

Steveocee · 9 Mar 2015 at 17:05

Telecaster said:
This is looking even better now, I've just discovered an ASRock mobo with a DC jack that will take a 19v PSU brick I already have, so it should be really really low power which is ace.

All I need to do now is brush up on sharing files over networks and security etc. (hint hint)

Easy.
Everyone=Read only (unless there stuff you don't want them seeing)
Yourself=Read and write

Not too much to worry about security wise as long as you don't open up gaping holes in your firewall or give people access to your network whom you don't want on it.

Aston998 · 10 Mar 2015 at 14:03

Telecaster · 10 Mar 2015 at 21:15

Steveocee said:
Easy.
Everyone=Read only (unless there stuff you don't want them seeing)
Yourself=Read and write

Not too much to worry about security wise as long as you don't open up gaping holes in your firewall or give people access to your network whom you don't want on it.

Well on one of my drives that will go in this rig I do keep business documents, some financial records and details, so I would like to limit what can be seen, in fact all of it can be restricted because it will be for my use only anyway.

Steveocee · 11 Mar 2015 at 08:32

Telecaster said:
Well on one of my drives that will go in this rig I do keep business documents, some financial records and details, so I would like to limit what can be seen, in fact all of it can be restricted because it will be for my use only anyway.

Just have authenticated session only then.
Everyone=No access
Administrator (or your own user group) = Full access

Next question is what OS are you going to use?

Telecaster · 11 Mar 2015 at 17:40

8.1 with a view to the free W10 upgrade if it's any good.

Steveocee said:
Just have authenticated session only then.
Everyone=No access
Administrator (or your own user group) = Full access

No idea how to do any of that, but I'm sure if I click enough stuff something will happen.

Steveocee · 12 Mar 2015 at 08:24

Windows is monstrously easy to do this.

Telecaster · 12 Mar 2015 at 17:56

TBH I've never used any features in any version of windows I've had, I pretty much just browse and game plus the media file playback.

I've never had to learn how to use the software any more advanced than that so I'm at a disadvantage, I just have fun building and tweaking the things!

dhallam · 20 Mar 2015 at 10:07

On my server 2012r2 at home i just have 1 main user for all my htpc's and this user is the only one with access to my shares on the server.
To make it even simpler in a home enviroment you can connect the htpc's to the 2012r2 server via their connector software, this then fires up when you log on and gives you access to all the shares automaticaly.
This is also good as this allows you to also backup your workstations to the server daily as well.