want to create a server need help please

Audiopython · May 14, 2016

so i want to build a server, i think what i want is called a home server, i want to be able to backup my desktop, have file sharing between a few dedicated pc's (preferably setup with multi users so i can manage who can do what) and if possible be able to access the server from outside the home and be able to download from it,

if possible i'd like to reuse my old parts from a i5 4670k build i have lying around but i have no idea if any of the parts would actually hold up in a server, it's a gigabyte z87-hd3 mobo a 750w corsair psu and 8 gigs of ddr3 memory and some old drives lying around (i'll get new drives for the system eventually) it's in a atx case with ample airflow, could this setup work as a server? or would i be better off getting some other components? if so what would you recommend for a server of this workload, as i don't want to do a overkill server if building it myself, also wich OS do you reccommend? i've thought about doing it with linux, but honestly i don't even know what the differences is in the os's

gondo · May 14, 2016

You're looking for a NAS (Network Attached Storage). Basically a computer that is designed as a shared network drive for storage. It also streams files so computers, game consoles, phones, media players can all log in to the NAS for storage or to stream music and movies. It can also run apps for downloading, database, webserver, backup, etc.... It's basically a personal server that is configured using a web interface like a home router. It's a personal residential server.

The most popular brands of NAS are Synology and QNap. They are well built with a good OS and are low power designed to be on 24/7. But they are expensive. Another popular solution is to build your own out of a computer using FreeNAS. It's built on Linux as a stand alone NAS OS with a web interface. Look into it. www.freenas.org

The only recomendation I an give is to use FreeNAS since you own the computer. It's the most popular NAS in the world used by many companies. And also use NAS specific hard drives such as Western Digital REDs. Every manufacturer has a NAS specific hard drive designed for multiple simultaneous read/writes. Lets say someone is watching a movie on the TV with a Roku from your NAS, the kids are streaming music on their XBOX, and you are on your computer writing to the NAS, and you have the NAS configured downloading some Torrents. The hard drives firmware is designed for these loads.

USAFRet · May 14, 2016

A 'server', for your stated use, can be pretty minimal.

My house server/HTPC is a simple Pentium G840, 4GB RAM, and a bunch of drives (13TB). Running Win 10, but previous it was Win 7.
Holds movies, music, commonly accessed files, etc.
Various other PC's main drives are backup up to that on a schedule.

Accessing from outside the home is a whole different thing. Can be done, but you have to be really careful with the router settings and permissions.

Inkiad · May 14, 2016

Yes, your old components can work as a server. An i5 for simple home server you want will be a overkill. Something like pentium G is enough in most cases.
As for OS, if you are not familiar with linux, or are building the server for the first time, i would recommend getting FreeNAS, as it is fairly simple to setup and maintain. If you want to go to linux anyway for the learning experience, go with Ubuntu LTS versions or Fedora or anything. It really does not matter. Fedora has reputation for stability but you wont notice that in your home environment.
Run a RAID 5 or RAID 1.

Rookie_MIB · May 14, 2016

I actually do something relatively similar - and to be honest, anything over a Pentium class Haswell is pretty much overkill for a home server. I was running my home server on a Pentium G3220/8GB/5x2TB HDDs running CentOS. So - what you have will certainly run it just fine. If you want to save some money, you could sell the 4670k and pick up a G3220/3240/3258 (which is socket compatible with your MOBO...)

As for Linux as the OS, you can't really go wrong. It supports software raid, is rock solid, supports all the hardware very well, and is free. All you need is to set up Samba/CIFS and create network shares to be able to access everything over the network.

Audiopython · May 14, 2016

@gondo no i'm not looking for a nas, i want something with a dedicated OS, that i can play around with aswell

@USAFRet, yeah i figured it wasn't exactly the high recquirements needed for that, so basicly i'll need to get a hold of new components, i've been looking at HPE ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 Entry with a celeron g1610T/2,3ghz, it seems to be cheaper then if i have to build a box myself, and i'm able to get it for roughly 240$

USAFRet · May 14, 2016

Audiopython :

This is the specs from my house server:

Does exactly what it needs to do.

Audiopython · May 14, 2016

yeah i'm planning on going with linux for the learning experience, i love fiddeling with it ^^ ok thanks for the tip, and yeah had always been planning on running some sort of raid config (i know 0 is bad for this

)

and yeah figured the i5 was too overpowered for a server, i'll probobly end up selling my old parts instead, as i realized my mobo isn't ecc memory reliable wich as far as i understand is a big deal with servers right? if not i'll find some pentium that fits my old gigabyte

yeah the setting up the network part is actually what i'm most worried about, though i have a bit of experience setting static ip's some portforwarding etc.

gondo · May 14, 2016

Audiopython :

The NAS will allow user accounts so they log in and you set permissions. It'll allow file sharing and streaming. It will also do downloading for you. The NAS will do everything you want.

What the NAS won't do is allow a client to run on computers that get logged in when you boot windows and auto set network drives. With the NAS you need to map the network drives in windows and save the username/password the first time, then it's automatic after that. What do you want to do with the Server that a NAS will not?

I'm still recommending freenas. And no, an I5 isn't overkill. The faster hardware will not bottleneck your read/write speeds, and also allow faster real time transcoding for streaming or for a plex server.

Audiopython · May 14, 2016

thanks for posting a spec pic, that's actually what i've been most confused about, wich specs i actually need to run a server, it's way easier with a gaming pc, u need the fastest stuff you can afford

Audiopython · May 14, 2016

@gondo possibly running a game server from time to time, at the moment i don't play much other then paragon, but having your own killingfloor 2 server for private games with friends is nice, and it would be especially nice if i didn't need to run that server locally on the same pc i play on wich i've been doing in the past

gondo · May 14, 2016

Audiopython :

Not really. With a gaming PC you need a fast video card, not fast for the rest. With the server you want a fast CPU for transcoding video for streaming. Also if you have a very slow CPU and limited RAM read/write speeds will be very slow even on Gigabit ethernet. So 4 GB of RAM and an I3 is nice for a server. You can get away with much less such as Atom processors and 2 GB of RAM but the I3 and 4GB is better for plex and transcoding or streaming 4k or multiple simultaneous streams.

USAFRet · May 14, 2016

Audiopython :

A minimal PC, shared folders, lots of drive space, done. It's 'just another PC'. No ECC RAM or other 'server stuff' needed.

Secondarily, outputting to the TV and Onkyo stereo.

If I were building it today, I'd instead rebuild my main PC (i7 and Pascal GPU), and use the current i5-3570k as the core for the house server. Which may happen in a year or two.

Audiopython · May 14, 2016

@gondo depends on the game, some games benefit from having high end cpu like skyrim etc, ok i'll keep that in mind

ok getting by without ecc ram makes the whole thing alot easier, then i can actually do it with my current cpu it'll just draw a shitload of power compared to a smaller one, so i can run a server with my current setup but nice to haves would include a small form factor mobo and case, and a smaller psu

gondo · May 14, 2016

Audiopython :

Freenas will host a teamspeak server and also some game servers. And asside from the game server issues I think freenas is your best bet to setup a home cloud and streaming/download server.

If you don't want a 24/7 game server and only want to run it when you play with your friends then I'd look at a dual boot. FreeNAS 99% of the time, and just boot windows to run a game server when desired.

Audiopython · May 14, 2016

@gondo that's also an option, but i just feel drawn towards a linux based server, the whole making it work and setting it up, i might even end up doing dual boot with freeNAS and linux ^^

gondo · May 14, 2016

Freenas is so popular, professional, and based on Linux. It's used by many companies including the military, Disney, and many Universities. It would be worth playing around with it since you have the hardware already. No need to buy anything.

But for the gaming server you would need to use Windows. Unless there was a game specific server app for Linux or Freenas that existed. Or you could try to Wine it in Linux. it depends on the game and what OS they support for the server. That's why you might have to dual boot if you want to play with Linux or FreeNAS as well as run a game server.

Audiopython · May 14, 2016

yeah i know it's definently not that i'm discrediting freenas, it just sorta feels like it would be too easy, i mean it's just loading a rom onto a usb stick installing the os, and setting it up in your browser, i wanna get my hands all the way in there and get em nice and dirty in the world that is setting up a server

and linux seems like the option for me so far, and i don't need to buy linux either ^^

steam might actually have linux support on the tool i used to run the server

want to create a server need help please

Commendable

Distinguished

Titan

Distinguished

Distinguished

Commendable

Titan

Commendable

Distinguished

Commendable

Commendable

Distinguished

Titan

Commendable

Distinguished

Commendable

Distinguished

Commendable

Share this page