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Need a file server
ChewyWaffles
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Like the topic says, I just need a computer I can stick on my network to serve up media (videos, mp3's etc). So I don't need a nice video card - just lots of storage and a gigabit nic. Help!
edit: I should amend this and say I don't care a lot about backing up my content. Maybe I'll just shove 2x2TB drives onto an older windows XP machine and be done with it. Maybe upgrade the NIC to a gigabit nic. My maiin problem is the computer is a P4 1.7 and only has 512MB of ram and it seems like the CPU/ram combo is the bottleneck sometimes when serving up several files at once.
edit: I should amend this and say I don't care a lot about backing up my content. Maybe I'll just shove 2x2TB drives onto an older windows XP machine and be done with it. Maybe upgrade the NIC to a gigabit nic. My maiin problem is the computer is a P4 1.7 and only has 512MB of ram and it seems like the CPU/ram combo is the bottleneck sometimes when serving up several files at once.
ChewyWaffles on
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If your building something a bit newer though and want to spend the money WHS for about $100 is a good backup sever OS.
Debian Linux should suit your needs nicely, for a lump sum of $0. Bonus points for setting up a lightweight window manager so it takes up as few resources as possible. Then, all it has to do is sit there for four years straight. You can get to work on your repulsive Linux neck-beard in that time period.
It's "would have".
Second.
And if you want to watch the videos on your PS3 or something, you can also install MediaTomb for kicks.
edit: Investigated the WHS thing...never really knew those products existed. The most tempting part about it is the relative ease of setting it up versus the linux route.
I installed the ccpd codex pack and it works nicely. It's got 4 hot swappable drive bays supports up to 7tb. I also installed playon on it so I can watch hulu / netflix with out a gold 360 account.
It will also allow you to remote control any system on your home network remotely from it.
It was the best I could find in a decent price range.
Its got about 45 mins of initial set up its damn near plug and play.
Very well supported by HP, a number of popular websites with tweaks, hacks, upgrades and software for it. Totally worth the investment.
Advantage of a computer is it's upgradable and FreeNAS is pretty great.
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I've got a spare copy of Portal, if anyone wants it message me.
Serves media great to my 360 and PS3, runs my home automation, and I'm really very pleased with it's backup capability, which I have had cause to use. Does a great job on bare-metal restores, which I think is critical for any backup solution. Booted off the CD with it plugged into the network, it found the server, the correct backup set, and gave me a 14-minute restore estimate. Utterly painless, which is what you want in a crisis.
They're not super-expensive, and while they're not as flexible or as open-source as a Linux box, the platform is designed to be quite a bit quieter and sip power a bit lighter than a normal desktop box, which can also be worth something as well.
I was eyeing this particular model:
http://www.amazon.com/EX495-1-5TB-Mediasmart-Server-Black/dp/B002N8A098/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1X7BGE84PME8K&colid=1ZFI6NIM8MW46
Looks fuggin amazing.
Also, I just want to give a huge recommendation to the WD TV Live unit from Western Digital. It's an amazing unit, and I don't even have to fire up the PS3 or 360 anymore to play my favorite shows, etc.