New to the servers - but start thinking to get one, help with the basic's required

Doomas

Doomas

Doomas

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Hi, currently in my home running 5 PC + HTPC. I am using Cisco Linksys E4500 router to connect all PC ( 3 connected via cable, 2 via Wi-fi), I have 4Gb USB Flash stick for file sharing between the PC,s
That why I start thinking about dedicated server that able to stream data, media and etc. between the all PC.
Do not have clew how its works, how to connect all together, what minimum specks server have to have for all purposes that I mentioned before. I never used any Linux or etc before, that probably Win based software is the best for me.
I Think to have something around 4-6Tb HDD storage. Can anybody speck me the server and give some kind of guide, how to setup everything.
Budget is important is well - crisis... :confused:
Thanks in advance...
 
You don't need some sort of special server or anything.

You just basically need a computer, connected to the network, with all the storage in it that you require.

To set it up you simply install the OS (Windows in my case) and set all the drives you want to use, to be shared across the network and then on each computer you want to be able to access the drives, you just go to "computer" and choose the "map network drive" option, that'll make the shared drive/s accessible from any computer you want, that's connected to the network.
 
That is not a solution, all computers have large HDD and working quite large data (sometimes) and share between them is can be a problem, that why I thinking about dedicated PC for that.
 
That's what I was suggesting, build a basic computer and fill it with hard disks, that's all you really need to do.

There's nothing special about a computer being used for storage, it's only called a server because of the way you're using it.
 
Well, do you have fairly recent parts laying around? If you've got a CPU, motherboard, and RAM spare from the last 3 years, that'll be all you need to run a file server, you'd just need the hard disks and a case to accommodate the drives.
 
Is that will do the job ?
GA-E350N MB AMD A45 FT1 MITX/GA-E350N GIGA-BYTE
AD3U1333W4G9 Adata 2x4GB DDR3 1333MHz CL9, Retail
WD30EURS HDD WD AV-GP 3.5'' 3TB SATA2 IntelliPower 64MB AFT
IHAS122-18 Optical DRW LiteOn iHAS122-18, SATA, Bulk, Juodas
FD-CA-NODE-3 Fractal Design Node 304
S12II-380 PSU Seasonic S12II-380 380W 80 Plus Bronze retail
 
Doomas said:
Is that will do the job ?
GA-E350N MB AMD A45 FT1 MITX/GA-E350N GIGA-BYTE
AD3U1333W4G9 Adata 2x4GB DDR3 1333MHz CL9, Retail
WD30EURS HDD WD AV-GP 3.5'' 3TB SATA2 IntelliPower 64MB AFT
IHAS122-18 Optical DRW LiteOn iHAS122-18, SATA, Bulk, Juodas
FD-CA-NODE-3 Fractal Design Node 304
S12II-380 PSU Seasonic S12II-380 380W 80 Plus Bronze retail
Click to expand...

Before considering AV-GP drives, understand what they are built to do.

Taken from the review of the 2TB WD AV-GP on Tech Arp (full review here).

Unlike desktop hard disk drives, the AV-GP is designed to skip error correction in favour of completing commands on time. This prevents a disruption of the video or audio stream due to time-consuming error correction routines at the expense of some bad data. This is great for CE-type applications like recording video and audio streams off cable or CCTV feeds. A few off-colour pixels are far less noticeable than a few missing frames.

However, no one can accept bad data in a desktop or server environment. When we copy a document to a hard disk drive, we expect its content to be 100% identical to the original. If a bit is determined to be bad, we expect the hard disk drive to correct the error before writing it. It would not do if the drive simply ignores the error and writes the bad bit in order to ensure it completes the operation on time.

Some unscrupulous or misinformed dealers are promoting such AV-optimized hard disk drives as "superior" versions of their desktop cousins with appropriately higher price tags. Nothing could be further from the truth. These AV-optimized hard disk drives are neither superior nor inferior to their desktop equivalents. They are designed to be used in very specific applications, and are not meant for use in desktop or server environments.
Click to expand...

WD Reds, Seagate Barracudas etc are a better bet. WD Greens (non-AV) at a push.

The rest of the setup is fine but as others have said, the HP Microserver will tick all the boxes for less cost. Just add some drives and an OS and you are good to go.

RB
 
If it's just a file server, you don't need a high spec at all. Your proposed build will spend most of its time being under-utilised (waste of money).

The hp micro server suggested is a much better solution.
 
RimBlock said:
Before considering AV-GP drives, understand what they are built to do.

Taken from the review of the 2TB WD AV-GP on Tech Arp (full review here).



WD Reds, Seagate Barracudas etc are a better bet. WD Greens (non-AV) at a push.

The rest of the setup is fine but as others have said, the HP Microserver will tick all the boxes for less cost. Just add some drives and an OS and you are good to go.

RB
Click to expand...

Many thanks for advice on WD AV..
I am seriously start looking for HP micro server, can you write model number please.
 
Last edited:
I'm in the same situation as you having no experience with servers or the operating systems they use. I bought an HP N40L and downloaded the 180 day trial of Windows Server 2008 R2.

I'm following this playlist of 15 videos in an attempt to teach myself the basics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGfwfWcLFMw

You'll need to hurry if you want the HP N40l as the cashback offer ends tomorrow supposedly (buy one before the end of tomorrow and you'll be fine, the form can be submitted up until the end of January).
 
Spokwiththeears said:
I'm in the same situation as you having no experience with servers or the operating systems they use. I bought an HP N40L and downloaded the 180 day trial of Windows Server 2008 R2.

I'm following this playlist of 15 videos in an attempt to teach myself the basics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGfwfWcLFMw

You'll need to hurry if you want the HP N40l as the cashback offer ends tomorrow supposedly (buy one before the end of tomorrow and you'll be fine, the form can be submitted up until the end of January).
Click to expand...

If you have a desire to learn Win Server then by all means go this route. If you just want something up and running with minimal fuss then one of the 'turnkey' solutions like NAS4Free would probably be easier to get going and it is still pretty powerful.

RB
 
I'm just starting this very project and also know little about servers.

I went with Microserver too with WHS2011

I'm also buying
Gigabit switch
Gigabit cabling
Gigabit wireless n ap

Microserver costs pittance to run and about 120£ after cashback
 
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