Suggestions For Home Server

[Raistlin]

Hi Guys,

My current setup is:

750k BB Connection > SACM > Linksys Wireless Router > Laptop

This is working fine but is a bit of a pain because it still means having to move my Laptop through to the spare room if I want to print anything (that's where the printer is).

So I was thinking, why not set up a server in the spare room that could have a printer connected to it and then I would just be able to send things to the server.

Basically, I'd like to set up some sort of server that would allow me to print to my printer from my laptop. I'd also like to be able to share / move files across the network so that I don't have large files cluttering up my laptop all the time.

Would it be possible to install the AV software on the server and then run the virus checks from there so that they check the laptop? If so, could this happen in the background or would I have to intervene?

Could I setup the server to perform automated tasks for me as well? For example I might want it to download my email, check for virus's and then transfer the emails to my mail account on the laptop.

If anybody could suggest how I might go about setting this up, what sort of hardware / software I would need and so on, then I would be grateful. I've had a quick look around the forums and can't see this anywhere else. I've googled for it as well, but I get the impression that most sites assume that you are using a purpose built server machine - I was hoping to be able to set something up using cheap / second hand computer parts.

Oh yeah, that's the other constraint. This needs to be cheap (real cheap) or I aint gonna be able to do it

Thanks guys.
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Hmm, just been thinking about this some more.

Maybe I'm asking the wrong question here.

Do I really want a server? Or, more likely, do I just want to connect another computer to the router and then connect the printer to that?

Is it possible to connect just the "beige box" part of a second computer to my router and then treat that like a networked machine but access it entirely from my laptop without having to have another monitor and keyboard attached?

Hmm, maybe I do want a server after all......

Oh heck, I haven't really got a clue!!!

[Richard M]

Would it be possible to install the AV software on the server and then run the virus checks from there so that they check the laptop? If so, could this happen in the background or would I have to intervene?

That would cause more security risks than it solves, you would have to share the entire drive(s) across the network.

Is it possible to connect just the "beige box" part of a second computer to my router and then treat that like a networked machine but access it entirely from my laptop without having to have another monitor and keyboard attached?

Yep that's possible but you'd need the PC on if you wanted internet access.
What you need is something called a switch.
These things might interest you:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...Thumbnails=yes
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=167185

[Matthew]

If all you want to do is share a printer get a print server.

[altis]

Originally Posted by leggom

If all you want to do is share a printer get a print server.

By far the most simple solution - and cheap too!

Plenty to choose from here:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...ilterKeywords=

I can recommend the Edimax ones - good build and good firmware and good support - and cheap.

Shame you didn't pick a wireless router with an embedded print server...

[rdhw]

Originally Posted by Raistlin

This is working fine but is a bit of a pain because it still means having to move my Laptop through to the spare room if I want to print anything (that's where the printer is).

You can get printers that would connect to an ethernet socket in the router.

You can get printers that would connect to the wireless network, with no network wiring at all.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by rdhw

You can get printers that would connect to the wireless network, with no network wiring at all.

Way to go IMO.

http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/defa...pID=19&Alt=Yes

[SMHarman]

If you wanted somewhere else to store your files rather than on the laptop you could also get one of these

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=78705

QuickFind code 78705

This would give you a 160Gb HDD visible over the network (you would plug it into one of the spare CAT5 sockets on your router).

You say you have a spare beige box. If you bought a big HDD for it and plugged your printer into a USB (or parallel port) on it and it had ether (or you bought a £10 card) it could happily sit in the corner running windows file and printer sharing. I've got an old celery333 with a 120 GB hdd and 3 printers connected to it, works a treat.

[Raistlin]

Originally Posted by Richard M

That would cause more security risks than it solves, you would have to share the entire drive(s) across the network.

Hmm, hadn't thought of that but now you point it out it makes perfect sense.
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Originally Posted by leggom

If all you want to do is share a printer get a print server.

Yeah, had considerd that but I kind of like the idea of being able to offload some of the larger files from my laptop onto something else. I know I could archive them to CD but I need to be able to get to them whenever I want and run them without having to go back to discs all the time.

I'm also doing some database and Visual Basic work and will eventually want to see how they run across networked drives.
__________________

Originally Posted by altis

By far the most simple solution - and cheap too!

Plenty to choose from here:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...ilterKeywords=

I can recommend the Edimax ones - good build and good firmware and good support - and cheap.

Although if I did go for a print server they would certainly do the trick I thought I would be looking at a lot more money than that! What are Scan like for buying things from?

Originally Posted by altis

Shame you didn't pick a wireless router with an embedded print server...

It certainly is, to be honest I didn't think at the time
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Originally Posted by rdhw

You can get printers that would connect to an ethernet socket in the router.

You can get printers that would connect to the wireless network, with no network wiring at all.

Already got a new printer (again, wasn't thinking clearly - but it was cheap) don't really want to have to buy another new one. Nice thought though - thanks.
__________________

Originally Posted by SMHarman

If you wanted somewhere else to store your files rather than on the laptop you could also get one of these

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=78705

QuickFind code 78705

This would give you a 160Gb HDD visible over the network (you would plug it into one of the spare CAT5 sockets on your router).

Now that looks like a good idea as well, if not a tad expensive

Originally Posted by SMHarman

You say you have a spare beige box. If you bought a big HDD for it and plugged your printer into a USB (or parallel port) on it and it had ether (or you bought a £10 card) it could happily sit in the corner running windows file and printer sharing. I've got an old celery333 with a 120 GB hdd and 3 printers connected to it, works a treat.

Nope, don't have a spare beige box. Was thinking of picking up some cheapo second-hand components and putting something together myself.
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Sincerest thanks to everybody for their help/advice so far. Lot's of useful info all being assimilated

Oh, and this multi-post hack thing is way cooooool

[iron25]

It's difficult to properly suggest anything if you are unsure of exactly what you want but from what you have said I reckon all you need is a simple windows file and print server. To me it does not make sense to spend money on a print server if you also want to move files onto a backup/storage device as well, the file and print server will handle both jobs. The server can also deal with the anti-virus software as well by installing the server management tools an a windows server box you can setup the virus software to make sure that all pcs on the network are running the correct versions of the virus software. However, to me this is overkill as it sounds like the laptop would be the only other pc on the network, so just install the client version of the virus software on the pc.

If you do setup a windows file and print server you can install Radmin (http://www.famatech.com/) on it so that you can access it remotely from your laptop and use it like any other pc.

Don't forget, setting up a file and print server does not necessary mean installing windows server 2003 enterprise edition. You can achieve exactly what you are after by sticking another windows xp/2000 or even win98 box on your network and just setup the windows networking side of things to include file & print sharing. It really is quite simple.

I have three pcs on a network. Windows 2003 server as my main pc for surfing, playing games and other general stuff, a windows 2000 professional box for downloading from the newsgroups and another windows 2000 professional box that is used as a backup/storage device and only gets switched on when I need to backup files.

Alternatively, if you want to get really geeky/nerdy/fashionable then setup a linux file and print server.

[Raistlin]

Originally Posted by iron25

It's difficult to properly suggest anything if you are unsure of exactly what you want but from what you have said I reckon all you need is a simple windows file and print server. To me it does not make sense to spend money on a print server if you also want to move files onto a backup/storage device as well, the file and print server will handle both jobs. The server can also deal with the anti-virus software as well by installing the server management tools an a windows server box you can setup the virus software to make sure that all pcs on the network are running the correct versions of the virus software. However, to me this is overkill as it sounds like the laptop would be the only other pc on the network, so just install the client version of the virus software on the pc.

you're probably right, I really do want to try and keep this simple. As the other drive (wherever / whatever that might turn out to be) will be networked anyway I suppose I could run the virus check on it from the laptop if I needed to.

[QUOTE=iron25]If you do setup a windows file and print server you can install Radmin (http://www.famatech.com/) on it so that you can access it remotely from your laptop and use it like any other pc.[/QUOTE/

Looks interesting, again though I'm thinking that maybe this could even be a bot of an overkill. Do I really want to go to all this trouble if all I want to do is have some extra storage (maybe a backup area / drive) and the ability to send stuff to a printer in another room?

Originally Posted by iron25

Don't forget, setting up a file and print server does not necessary mean installing windows server 2003 enterprise edition. You can achieve exactly what you are after by sticking another windows xp/2000 or even win98 box on your network and just setup the windows networking side of things to include file & print sharing. It really is quite simple.

TBH, this is more the sort of thing that I had in mind when I first started thinking of this but now I'm not sure what to do or what is going to be best for what I need. I'm on a fairly (really!) tight budget so the less hardware I can get away with buying the better it will be. I assume that if I simply stuck another "box" on the network I could access that box remotely from my laptop in the event that I needed to make changes / install software?

Thanks for your help

[iron25]

I think the first thing you need to decide on is how much you are willing to spend. To setup a file and print server you will need a pc of some sorts and it does not need to be a supercomputer. I'm running windows 2000 on two PII 350 machines and it is more than adequate. For a file and print server your main expense would be on a large hard disk as you won't need much memory or a really fast processor. I'm sure you could pick up a very cheap PII/III from the friday ad or ebay then spend £40-50 on a reasonably large hard disk, install windows 2000, add a network card (£15?) and you've got a file and print server.

If your budget will not stretch to building a file and print server then the only option your left with is a print server on your network.

If you can't stretch to a print server then my suggestion is to get up off your fat lazy arse and walk to where the printer is

What is your budget?

[Raistlin]

Originally Posted by iron25

I think the first thing you need to decide on is how much you are willing to spend. To setup a file and print server you will need a pc of some sorts and it does not need to be a supercomputer. I'm running windows 2000 on two PII 350 machines and it is more than adequate. For a file and print server your main expense would be on a large hard disk as you won't need much memory or a really fast processor. I'm sure you could pick up a very cheap PII/III from the friday ad or ebay then spend £40-50 on a reasonably large hard disk, install windows 2000, add a network card (£15?) and you've got a file and print server.

I think this is pretty much the route that I'll be heading down.

Originally Posted by iron25

If you can't stretch to a print server then my suggestion is to get up off your fat lazy arse and walk to where the printer is

Now, where would be the fun in that?

Originally Posted by iron25

What is your budget?

Not sure, I think I'm probably looking at about £100 at the very most. Obviously the less money I can spend on this the more money I will have to spend at the gym getting my "fat lazy arse" sorted

[iron25]

Okay, I would never suggest buying a second hand hard disk so the first part of your budget would go to buying a new hard disk. £38.72 will get you a
Western Digital Caviar Special Edition 80GB 800JB ATA-100 8MB from www.overclockers.co.uk.

The next item you might need is a network card, £7.99 will get you a Linksys LNE100TX 10/100 PCI Network Adapter from the same web site. Add £5-10 for delivery and your left with about £40-50 to find a PII/III base unit with at least 64mb ram.
__________________

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Pentium III:

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So if you're willing to use ebay then I'm sure you will be able to pick up a base unit to meet your requirements.

[Andy E]

For my home server i use an old p2 box and run clarke connect software on it . The home version is free .
Basically its a firewall/gateway with windows shares and printserver , you need a monitor to set it up , but after its setup the management console is accessed through https .... its a really nice piece of software with tons of features ..

http://www.clarkconnect.com/info/


Andy E
ntl pirate

[Raistlin]

Ok, got the beige box bit.

Ideally I'd like to keep this fairly simple.

requirements are:

Able to access files and folders from the box by using my Laptop (networked through the router).
Able to use the printer that is connected to the box (I know this means that the box has to be switched on but that's ok).
Box needs to be able to run without any problems, and with the minimum of maintenance, almost continuously.
Want to use the box as a sort of pre-publish web-server so that I can try sites out before I upload them.
Need to be able to use the box as a backup machine so that I can get internet and mail access from it if my laptop dies at any point.

With the above in mind I'm thinking that some sort of Windows platform would be best.
I'm also thinking that I could download emails to the main box and then pull them into my Outlook account on the laptop, so probably using the box as a Mail server as well then (would it be easy to do this with Exchange?)?

I'm also going to want to use it as a data-server and connect to SQL Server (or similar) using Visual Basic but that's not a primary concern.

Any thoughts on which OS would be best, or anything else that I might want to consider.

If possible I would like to avoid having to learn complete new software/OS from scratch as this would mean that I can concentrate for now on just getting the thing up and running.

I'd appreciate any advice/help.

Box is an Athlong K6-2 500Mhz, from memory I think it has about 192Mb RAM, the HDD is tiny (only about 4Gb) but that's easy enough to replace. There's a network card, SCSI card, USB ports (USB 1.0) and CD Writer.

Thanks.