whats the point of a file server

csmager · 13 Aug 2006 at 15:32

the top three

comp builder · 13 Aug 2006 at 15:37

could i use the file server to put all my dvds on the hdd of the file server and watch them on my main computer without having to download it onto my main comp

also what other uses could it do apart from file server and the other 2 mentioned

SiriusB · 13 Aug 2006 at 15:45

How can you know what a file server is, but not know what they are used for?

Anyway, yes you can stream data from the file server so you wouldn't have to download it. However, the data does go into a cache - so make sure you nuke your temp folders occassionally.

SiriusB

comp builder · 13 Aug 2006 at 15:52

i have a pentium 2/3 and an old intel board (dont know what its called) does anyone know what the biggest hdd it could handle is.

i was thinking of a seagate ide 160GB

Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 160GB ST3160812A ATA-100 8MB Cache - OEM (HD-047-SE)
Price: £37.95 (£44.59 Including VAT at 17.5%)

or maybe the samsung one (its cheaper lol

)

Samsung SpinPoint P SP1654N 160GB ATA-133 8MB Cache - OEM (HD-030-SA)
Price: £34.50 (£40.54 Including VAT at 17.5%)

comp builder · 13 Aug 2006 at 15:54

also would this pci-card be any good?

D-Link DFE-530TX PCI Network Card (NW-024-DL)
Price: £4.95 (£5.82 Including VAT at 17.5%)

benjo plz. · 13 Aug 2006 at 15:56

comp builder said:
also would this pci-card be any good?

D-Link DFE-530TX PCI Network Card (NW-024-DL)
Price: £4.95 (£5.82 Including VAT at 17.5%)

Yep, should be fine.

Al Vallario · 13 Aug 2006 at 16:16

comp builder said:
i have a pentium 2/3 and an old intel board (dont know what its called) does anyone know what the biggest hdd it could handle is.

Size is not the issue as long as the operating system you'll be using will be able to handle it (and you won't have any problems with just any modern — heck, it doesn't even have to be modern — linux distribution). The limiting factor is the connection.

If my memory serves me correct IDE was around back in the PII/III days so you should be fine with the two you have singled out. However, 160GB won't stretch very far if you're looking at storing video content, and with storage so dirt cheap these days you might find yourself better off splashing out an extra £10-20 getting a 250-300GB drive

comp builder · 13 Aug 2006 at 16:33

yeh probably. But just to make sure do you guys think its better to make this file server rather than storing dvds etc on my hdd in my comp?

Tomsk · 13 Aug 2006 at 17:14

comp builder said:
yeh probably. But just to make sure do you guys think its better to make this file server rather than storing dvds etc on my hdd in my comp?

It will be worth it for the experience gained in learning Linux should you ever decide to enter IT as a career. And you'll gain some experience in building PC's. (I peeked at your profile)

comp builder · 13 Aug 2006 at 17:28

Tomsk said:
It will be worth it for the experience gained in learning Linux should you ever decide to enter IT as a career. And you'll gain some experience in building PC's. (I peeked at your profile)

yeh i do wanna do it as a carrer lol

so the experience on its own is probably worth it

(btw i have built this comp im using now

)

SiriusB · 13 Aug 2006 at 17:30

comp builder said:
yeh i do wanna do it as a carrer lol
so the experience on its own is probably worth it
(btw i have built this comp im using now )

I am quite honestly suprised.

SiriusB

Al Vallario · 13 Aug 2006 at 17:31

comp builder said:
yeh probably. But just to make sure do you guys think its better to make this file server rather than storing dvds etc on my hdd in my comp?

I'd say the primary use for a file server is to act as a central storage device which multiple machines can access. If you only intend on using the machine solely as a file server and furthermore will only be accessing the files on a single computer, it may seem like a bit of a pointless solution.

It can serve other uses though. You could use it for performing downloads (so you don't have the hard drive activity on your primary system whilst gaming, and you can leave it on overnight instead of your primary system), as a development web/email server, a print server (i.e. hook up a printer, then any machine on the network can send print jobs to it) and as a central backup system.

Plus, heck, it's a linux machine for you to tinker around with

rar nigle · 13 Aug 2006 at 18:16

tbh, this sounds like a waste of electricity if you have such a small network and can accomplish this simply with an extra hdd.

It may be better to just run a vpc (virtual pc) if you want to learn linux, you can still tinker with the networking aspects (it seems like this is what you're keen to learn about) and better yet, it's easy to backup and you can try out different distros and configurations without too much hassle

comp builder · 13 Aug 2006 at 18:25

SiriusB said:
I am quite honestly suprised.

SiriusB

is da sarcastic or not?? cant tell

comp builder · 13 Aug 2006 at 18:26

rar nigle said:
tbh, this sounds like a waste of electricity if you have such a small network and can accomplish this simply with an extra hdd.

It may be better to just run a vpc (virtual pc) if you want to learn linux, you can still tinker with the networking aspects (it seems like this is what you're keen to learn about) and better yet, it's easy to backup and you can try out different distros and configurations without too much hassle

yeh i was begging to think it is quite pointless but still not sure

SiriusB · 13 Aug 2006 at 18:29

comp builder said:
is da sarcastic or not?? cant tell

Wasn't sarcasm. For someone who doesn't or didn't know what a PCI slot is to be able to build a PC suprises me. And this thread isn't the first time I have noticed you have big gaps in your knowledge.

This isn't a dig at you or anything and I know you are still learning. Just odd is all. Kind of like someone building a car then asking "what does this steering wheel do?"

SiriusB

comp builder · 13 Aug 2006 at 18:41

SiriusB said:
Wasn't sarcasm. For someone who doesn't or didn't know what a PCI slot is to be able to build a PC suprises me. And this thread isn't the first time I have noticed you have big gaps in your knowledge.

This isn't a dig at you or anything and I know you are still learning. Just odd is all. Kind of like someone building a car then asking "what does this steering wheel do?"

SiriusB

i dont (or didnt) know what a pci slot looked like but i knew what one was

what do you mean by gaps in my knowledge like what?

(not being funny just asking

) and to me building my own comp at 14 aint bad(and yeh the comp works

)

SiriusB · 13 Aug 2006 at 18:43

comp builder said:
i dont (or didnt) know what a pci slot looked like but i knew what one was what do you mean by gaps in my knowledge like what? (not being funny just asking ) and to me building my own comp at 14 aint bad(and yeh the comp works )

I couldn't give you examples without going through all your posts, but your name sticks in my mind as someone who asks a lot of questions a comp builder should already know the answers to

SiriusB

comp builder · 13 Aug 2006 at 18:47

SiriusB said:
I couldn't give you examples without going through all your posts, but your name sticks in my mind as someone who asks a lot of questions a comp builder should already know the answers to

SiriusB

i know everyone has a dig at me for that

i chose comp builder as a name because i joined the forum just after making my comp and i was dead happy that id made one

SiriusB said:
but your name sticks in my mind as someone who asks a lot of questions

i know i do but as you said im still learning

rar nigle · 13 Aug 2006 at 18:52

comp builder said:
i know everyone has a dig at me for that i chose comp builder as a name because i joined the forum just after making my comp and i was dead happy that id made one

i know i do but as you said im still learning

Ask away, only way you'll learn

Going back on topic, I would recommend you go down the extra hard drive route for now, as it doesn't seem like you really need this file server