Setting up a Linux Home Server from scratch

[No1Joker]

Yep, I am planning on trying to setup a Home Server on my redundant PC running Linux and eventually having a backup solution, media streaming and file storage.

So i currently know nothing about Linux , apart from the fact it is an alternative OS. But i guess that is true of everyone at some point.

I have a redundant PC at home which i was going to install WHS on but i fancied a challenge and learning something new.

From memory it is a AMD chip on an AS Rock K7S41GX Motherboard, 1Gb Ram, 2x HD (an 80Gig and a 40Gig) and not much else. (before i start am i peeing into the wind with this box??) or

I'll do some reading about which Linux etc, other things to consider and prepare for. If anyone wants to chuck some "been there done that" advice please let me know.

First question is do i need a static IP address? (not sure if i'll need to have a chat to BT about that). Thx

[Trollslayer]

Ubuntu is a very friendly and populr distro and the formus (Ubuntu Forums) are very helpful.
For simple functions that looks fine.
The other issue about it being seen from the outside world is more complicated, I would visit the Ubuntu forums.

[pumpman]

Im running Ubuntu on a couple of pc's. I had set up WHS but had seen this and thought Id give it a try. I can't recommend it highly enough

You wont need a static ip

I have had mine running for a couple of months at least and it is every bit as good if not better than whs

Amahi Linux Home Server

[No1Joker]

The very first thing i have found is the concern with security (a few people have blown is all out of proportion ) I'll register with the forum, and keep this thread going with my progress. Everyone else who has one of these uses loads of Linux codes and secret language so i might try and translate it all for us mere mortals!

WRT security, i'll get it hooked up to my LAN (Local Area Network ) first. Then see if i can sort the whole www bit out.

[No1Joker]

So i am going to start by formatting the old hard drive tonight and download the ISO for the Linux Operating System on my other machine. I am confident the install will go smoothly and tomorrow i can report my success.

[graham.myers]

I setup a server using fedora linux and think its great. I've also a WHS server too as that backs up the desktops. My Linux server runs twonky for video, music, and photos, but the whs is going to take over the video share. My linux server also runs my security system and I can dial-in and look at the cameras and captured footage when I am on site.

with security you can never be too careful. As far as I can tell my box is locked down tight (famous last works). Despite nobody really knowing my static name the number of hits I get with people trying to log in as root or other standard usernames is amazing - upwards of 1/2 dozen per day every day.

I use a good little tool called denyhosts which holds a central list of naughty IPs and it tweaks your hosts.deny file to not allowing connections from those IPs. Also it uploads any attempts to your server onto thier database for other people to deny too.

I email myself the security log every morning and just keep an eye out....

--------------------- Denyhosts Begin ------------------------

new denied hosts: 200.35.149.160

---------------------- Denyhosts End -------------------------


--------------------- pam_unix Begin ------------------------

sshd:
Authentication Failures:
root (200.35.149.160): 2 Time(s)
root (cpc1-fare5-0-0-cust648.cos2.cable.ntl.com): 1 Time(s)
unknown (cpc1-fare5-0-0-cust648.cos2.cable.ntl.com): 1 Time(s)
Invalid Users:
Unknown Account: 1 Time(s)


[root@xxxxxxxxxx ~]# ./show_hackers
5426 hackers

this is the number of IPs that is in my hosts.deny specifically blocked by denyhosts

[No1Joker]

Well....

I installed Xubuntu 8.10 on the 40Gig HD and its running fine. I had no problems with samba and i can browse the server from both my XP home machine and the wireless laptop running vista.

I used this guide page. The mistake i make was not putting workgroup = WORKGROUP

If you are using 8.10 i wouldn't recommend the rest of this guide, it is clearly outdated with the new version and some of the directions just don't exist. For example, the VNC instructions.

Which leads me onto my current problem. I cannot remotely connect to the Xubuntu machine from my XP home machine.
1. Both are permissioned for remote connection
2. "sudo tcpdump -v port 5900" (<<learning!!) shows that when i attempted to connect the Xubuntu machine "heard something" but i get "failed to connect to server" when i try and connect thru tightvnc.
3. i can ping both machines in either direction.

It is possibly a tightvnc or vino setup issue on the Xubuntu machine but i haven't found someone else in my situation to find help ... yet

**ON a side note, i can't see my other HD anywhere? is there something i need to do? and how do i then format it ready for my music and video? Thx

[Tolly]

This site might help you, apcmag.com/howto_home.htm

[SeanT]

Here's a little gem that I need to get around to too - Build a Virtual CD-ROM Jukebox

[Tolly]

Sorry wrong page, try this one
apcmag.com/superguide_the_open_source_challenge_how_to_replac e_windows_completely_with_ubuntu.htm

[No1Joker]

Thanks for those bits of reading guys its most appreciated.

I managed to complete some of my XUbuntu "to do" list last night.

My second hard drive is now "mounted" and recognised by the Operating system. You need to mount your extra hard drives so Linux can then do stuff with them. It was ish simple but as ever a few stumbling blocks.

I followed instructions from this post on the Ubuntuforums (if you're going to follow this - you MUST read the whole thread else you'll probably repeat this guys mistakes!)

Then i used gparted to format the hard drive to ext3. I have linked it to the Xubuntu desktop and tonight i am hoping to move my music across. fingers crossed too.

Next step is VNC and SSH, so i can go head-less!

[robod]

Originally Posted by No1Joker

Next step is VNC and SSH, so i can go head-less!

Hi there,
First you need to install assh server. The easiest way is to start synaptics package manager and search for openssh-server. Let it install & configure ssh and all dependent packages. Then you can try connecting to the Linux PC from another PC. The best SSH client program for Windows is Putty.

If this is working you can now move on to VNC. Use synaptics again to install package called tightvncserver. When done open a terminal window (or use your ssh session) and type in:

vncserver

It will ask you for a password (twice) and whether you want to setup read only password (probably not). When done a new X desktop with <pc_name>:1 should be started.
Download (if you haven't already) TightVNC or UltraVNC (ultravnc.com) and connect to <pc_name>:1. You should see your desktop!

The problem with this approach is that you have to start the VNC server from a terminal session manually after each reboot. I can probably provide a script that does it automatically. Let me know if you want it. It's just too much for one post. :-)

The vino package you installed is integrated with GNOME graphical interface which is the default on standard Ubuntu. As you've installed Xubuntu which is using XFCE instead of GNOME, vino doesn't work.

If you want to go headless it is a good idea to disable the local X session running on the PC as it will just use memory. You can disable it using
Application -> System -> Services and untick the Graphical Login Manager (GDM). However please make sure that your VNC is working, so you can keep changing things from the graphical interface without the need to use the command prompt.
Hope this helps.

Rob

[No1Joker]

Originally Posted by robod

The vino package you installed is integrated with GNOME graphical interface which is the default on standard Ubuntu. As you've installed Xubuntu which is using XFCE instead of GNOME, vino doesn't work.

Not sure if it is something unique to XUnbuntu 8.10 but Vino works fine. I use tightvnc on Windows XP to log in.

I am going to find out the Putty setup procedure now and hopefully by this evening i'll be sorted.

[s7mx1]

Originally Posted by No1Joker

Yep, I am planning on trying to setup a Home Server on my redundant PC running Linux and eventually having a backup solution, media streaming and file storage.

So i currently know nothing about Linux , apart from the fact it is an alternative OS. But i guess that is true of everyone at some point.

I have a redundant PC at home which i was going to install WHS on but i fancied a challenge and learning something new.

From memory it is a AMD chip on an AS Rock K7S41GX Motherboard, 1Gb Ram, 2x HD (an 80Gig and a 40Gig) and not much else. (before i start am i peeing into the wind with this box??) or

I'll do some reading about which Linux etc, other things to consider and prepare for. If anyone wants to chuck some "been there done that" advice please let me know.

First question is do i need a static IP address? (not sure if i'll need to have a chat to BT about that). Thx

I would suggest you better play around with linux first and do not afraid to use console.

[No1Joker]

Cheers for the suggestion. I have got quite far, but time hasn't been on my side and its been sat under my desk for a bit now. Just trying to find a way to move my files over. I haven't had much luck - but then i also haven't looked into it much.