Spec me a home server?

[Audigex]

Hey guys and girls.

I need a hand speccing up a home server as cheaply as possible.
It will be running:

• some linux distro or other (yet to be decided)
• an apache (+php/mysql) server used mainly for testing and small scale demos
• general file storage and serving up of media to the other machines in the house
• likely a home CCTV system of perhaps 6 cameras.
• a printer

If the number of machines it's serving makes a difference, I'd assume it to be 3 laptops, 1 desktop and 1 HTPC. With likely no more than 5 concurrent users on the apache server. It's also unlikely that more than 3 machines will connect to the media server at the same time.

What I need:

• A case with sufficient cooling and room for 4 HDDs
• A small hard drive for the linux install (80gb would likely do)
• A bigger hdd for actual file storage. Perhaps 320GB for starters, adding more later
• A PSU with enough juice to run the thing
• A motherboard with the ability to attach 4 HDDs and onboard graphics
• CPU & RAM sufficient to run the above (although I can cut the requirements if the budget is a problem)
• DVD drive (generic)

No screen/OS/keyboard/mouse/speakers/webcam etc required.
Budget is "as low as physically possible", £300 or less would be great and hopefully achievable. £400 is absolute top end, but I'd really prefer less.

 

[zulu9812]

You could actually skip on the DVD drive and install Windows/Linux/whatever from a USB flashdrive.

I recommend getting a large case with room for at least 4 internal 3.5" bays as this will allow you to add extra hard drives if you want to in the future. 3 x5.25" bays would also allow you to install an Icy Dock, should the need or desire arise.

A motherboard consideration would be one with a PCI-E 4X slot, as this will allow you to install a SATA controller in future that will allow for SATA 2 speeds (twice as fast as SATA 1, max allowed by a PCI slot).

A cheap CPU is all that's required, one that you can overclock is a good bet for the future.

Since your home server is probably going to be running 24 hours a day, you will want to invest in a good PSU and a good cooling set up. Nothing too lavish, just a quiet and dependable PSU and a half-decent CPU-cooler.

It's all about future scalability. Buying that capability now will allow you to continue to use this file server for years to come.

I myself am looking into this issue, here is what I've specced so far:

Gigabyte GA-73PVM-S2 NVIDIA GeForce 7100 / nForce 630i Chipset (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
Intel Celeron E1200 1.6Ghz Dual-Core Processor (LGA775) - Retail
OCZ Platinum Revision 2 XTC 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400C4 Dual Channel Series DDR2 (OCZ2P800R22GK)
Corsair VX 450W ATX Power Supply (CMPSU-450VXUK)
Coolermaster Elite 335 Case - Black (No PSU)

Total cost from Overclockers, inc. VAT & delivery = £213.15

I might look into non-stock fans and/or CPU coolers.

I'm planning on slotting in 4 hard drives straight away, with a view to adding up to 4 more if I want to in the future.