Uses for a server

dark_hag666 · 3 Oct 2007 at 16:45

I've got some old bits and bobs lying around, so I've come to the conclusion that I'm gonna have to build a silent server to satisfy my curiosities. So I've been researching some things and have come up with a list of uses for a home server (not WHS btw)

Firewall
DHCP
Web/FTP/email/File
Print
Anti-spam
Skype
Torrent
TS/Ventrillo
iTunes
F@H

Anyone got any more uses?

Obviously I'm not planning to do all of the above with it, probably just iTunes/file/skype/torrent with F@H eating up the extra cyles. But, I son't want to miss out on a opportunity.

bledd · 3 Oct 2007 at 16:47

if it's just a server for home, might as well leave your router do the dhcp part, saves extra hassle

wouldn't bother with a domain either

i use mine as a backup location, primary media location (read only so nobody can mess things up), torrent downloading box, and i've got hamachi on it, so i can access it from anywhere in the world if i need to

Tony Williams · 3 Oct 2007 at 17:01

Yeah get a good few 500GBs and fill them with media, you could build HTPCs around your home and stream what you want, when you want.

uv · 3 Oct 2007 at 17:04

fileserver, downloadserver, gameserver (if you host public servers)

ThatJoe · 3 Oct 2007 at 17:06

I know there are tons out there [remote access programs] like vnc, logmein etc, but could someone recommend one they use often.

Tony Williams · 3 Oct 2007 at 17:09

ThatJoe said:
I know there are tons out there [remote access programs] like vnc, logmein etc, but could someone recommend one they use often.

Try Windows RDP (Windows XP PRO, MCE, Server 2000/2003)

Also VNC it very good too. I use RDP more though since it works at college and VNC doesn't.

Personally I'd install VNC too.

agw_01 · 3 Oct 2007 at 17:16

I like the Windows RDP client... very quick program. I used to use Radmin but that is dog slow compared to RDC.

I built myself a webserver a few months ago mainly to get to grips with Server 2003, but that single server has now outgrown my needs and I recently expanded to two Server 2003 machines... the original system is still acting as a webserver (IIS/PHP and SQL) although more recently, Exchange 2003 has found its way onto it.

That's where the other machine comes in. Having Active Directory and Exchange on one machine is terrible for performance, especially when you come to reboot the server. AD shuts down first leaving Exchange to think WTF and then wait for the timeouts before it shuts down (which takes 10 minutes!!), so the other machine is my domain controller.

I've learnt so much in the past few months and am loving the experience! I'd definitely have a shot at setting up your own web and e-mail server... lots of fun!

bledd · 4 Oct 2007 at 19:15

remote desktop coupled with hamachi (read up on hamachi, really easy to use virtual network creator -no need to mess with port forwarding on router etc) is the best combination i've found