Just thought that it would be useful to chart the progress of my server/networking build that i am starting tonight.
I thought i would start a thread so that others may give it a go/slag it off/chart it's progress etc.
Recently moved house so that we now have much more space and i was getting fed up using my main pc, which 80% of the time, is gaming/downloading etc.
I wanted the option to store 8gb and rising of pictures and videos of my little boy, more central storage for music/films etc and the ability to at some point in the future, stream music/films etc to other parts of the house. Also to be used as a low powered download box.
I wanted to strip my main pc back to the minimum single drive and store all my other files in a more storage oreanted place
I started to consider prebuild NAS devices but the cost started to put me off. I have a rumble round all the old bits of pc's i have lying around my house and decided that i would probably be better to build a cheap fileserver etc and put it in the loft.
Also i liked the idea of the upgradablility of a diy build rather than a prebuilt NAS or alike.
Parts already i have -
Old Coolmaster case (way to big tbh but it's lying about doing nothing)
Old 530W Tagan PSU (again way to much but very efficent and costs nothing)
15" lcd monitor (again no cost)
120gb hard drive.
Parts needed
CPU
Motherboard
gfx (or onboard the m/board)
ram
hard drives
Got hold of a motherboard and gfx from a friend. Gigabyte P31 board and an X1600 passive gpu. Cost £25
Ram - again a friend, 2gb PC5400 ram - £10
CPU - ebay special! - got an E2180 for £25 inc postage
Hard Drive - 1TB Samsung F1 - £60.
I have a sagem 2054 stock Sky router at the moment and have purchased a gigabit switch (netgear) that i will use to hook up fileserver, main pc and a couple of outlets in the lounge for the laptop and/or WD TV streamer.
Got a bunch of Cat5e cable from a recent office move that was kindly left by the IT boys!!
So basically it's probably way over spec'd/powered for a fileserver/streamer but it's cheap and straighforward to build.
Now i will say at the outset that i know nothing about linux etc etc. So i decided to use an old copy of XP that i have lying around for the time being to get things up and running.
The idea is to build the server - get that up and running as it will be going in my loft. Once up and running then get the Cat5e cable installed and wired in to connect my main pc to this new server. After that it will be connecting the router (downstairs) to the switch.
Main pc is currently wireless connected to the router. All the cabling will have to be under carpets and cupboards etc so as "she who must be obeyed" is happy.
Started tonight and put all the bits together for the server - running a quick boot test and all good so far. Installing XP on the 120gb drive and then will put all the components in the case after that.
Will update as we go and any comments or questions -fire away.
I thought i would start a thread so that others may give it a go/slag it off/chart it's progress etc.
Recently moved house so that we now have much more space and i was getting fed up using my main pc, which 80% of the time, is gaming/downloading etc.
I wanted the option to store 8gb and rising of pictures and videos of my little boy, more central storage for music/films etc and the ability to at some point in the future, stream music/films etc to other parts of the house. Also to be used as a low powered download box.
I wanted to strip my main pc back to the minimum single drive and store all my other files in a more storage oreanted place
I started to consider prebuild NAS devices but the cost started to put me off. I have a rumble round all the old bits of pc's i have lying around my house and decided that i would probably be better to build a cheap fileserver etc and put it in the loft.
Also i liked the idea of the upgradablility of a diy build rather than a prebuilt NAS or alike.
Parts already i have -
Old Coolmaster case (way to big tbh but it's lying about doing nothing)
Old 530W Tagan PSU (again way to much but very efficent and costs nothing)
15" lcd monitor (again no cost)
120gb hard drive.
Parts needed
CPU
Motherboard
gfx (or onboard the m/board)
ram
hard drives
Got hold of a motherboard and gfx from a friend. Gigabyte P31 board and an X1600 passive gpu. Cost £25
Ram - again a friend, 2gb PC5400 ram - £10
CPU - ebay special! - got an E2180 for £25 inc postage
Hard Drive - 1TB Samsung F1 - £60.
I have a sagem 2054 stock Sky router at the moment and have purchased a gigabit switch (netgear) that i will use to hook up fileserver, main pc and a couple of outlets in the lounge for the laptop and/or WD TV streamer.
Got a bunch of Cat5e cable from a recent office move that was kindly left by the IT boys!!
So basically it's probably way over spec'd/powered for a fileserver/streamer but it's cheap and straighforward to build.
Now i will say at the outset that i know nothing about linux etc etc. So i decided to use an old copy of XP that i have lying around for the time being to get things up and running.
The idea is to build the server - get that up and running as it will be going in my loft. Once up and running then get the Cat5e cable installed and wired in to connect my main pc to this new server. After that it will be connecting the router (downstairs) to the switch.
Main pc is currently wireless connected to the router. All the cabling will have to be under carpets and cupboards etc so as "she who must be obeyed" is happy.
Started tonight and put all the bits together for the server - running a quick boot test and all good so far. Installing XP on the 120gb drive and then will put all the components in the case after that.
Will update as we go and any comments or questions -fire away.
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