Comments on: What Is A Home Computer Server?

By: Saverio

Saverio — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:59:12 +0000

I guess it depends on what you intend to do with your file server. For example, I have a Linksys router and I use an old Pentium 3 as a server and I can flawlessly playback video files remotely with any media player from my Athlon 2000 client. My guess is that it has more to do with how good or how bad your router and cables are, rather than your server. Samba is maybe a bit of a pain to configure at first, but then everything works great.
Anyway, my server machine runs a stripped-down linux system without X. I’m sure that helps a lot, especially if the box is very old. Not to mention the stability: The only way for my server to fail is in case of a blackout!
If the server is Windows based however, then I guess you need a more powerful (recent) machine.

By: Fred

Fred — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:14:40 +0000

Microsoft Windows Home Server (WHS) is available stand-alone, you don’t have to purchase the HP Mediasmart box. It does more than just file serving (client backups, remote access, website hosting, photo gallery hosting, iTunes server, etc.) WHS is an affordable alternative for the not-so-tech-savvy home user. WHS is also a good alternative for the small office/home office with up to ten clients – much cheaper than Microsoft’s Small Business Server (SBS). I have installed HP Mediasmart boxes for several home and small biz cleints, including one for myself – everyone is very happy with the setup.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:38:39 +0000

You price a MediaSmart server @ $500 (which is about $100 more than many spots, now), but the Windows Home Server software itselft, based around Windows Server 2003, is going for something like $100.

My point is that there are numerous variables that should be considered when recommending a “home server” for users, not the least of which should be the costs incurred in time and learning curves. If you’re recommending Linux simply because it’s “free,” then I think that is the least consideration for most new users.

I’m not knocking Linux; I used the Red Hat distro for years.

By: Rich Menga

Rich Menga — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:11:02 +0000

I am not about to tell anyone that in order to get a file server you need to spend that kind of cash just to have it. An HP MediaSmart 500GB Windows Home Serv is $500 and a Time Capsule 500GB is $300.

If you want server-specific apps, go to the cloud. Serving locally is not inherently portable and requires way too much effort to get the same thing you can get online for free.

By: Larry Zellner

Larry Zellner — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:00:53 +0000

The home server article was a timely article for me. I just bought a Dell Poweredge 4400 server. I’m planning to set it up as a file server to store files that load down my other machines. I am having a bit of trouble figureing out how to initalize the hard drives. It has six of them and when I tried to load Linux I got an error message that it could not find the hard drives. The answers I found at Dell Support haven’t been very helpful.

By: Rich Menga

Rich Menga — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:55:13 +0000

To answer your question directly, yes.

Being there are several types of Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T, etc.) it is better to term it as “network cable” unless referring to a very specific setup.

By: Rich Menga

Rich Menga — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:51:51 +0000

I wouldn’t even think about using a gigabit NIC on anything less than a 1.5GHz or greater file server box with some speedy hard drives to handle the traffic.

My general rule of thumb is that if files transferred are CD-sized (i.e. 700MB) and under, 10/100 is fine even on a slow file server computer box. But for 700+, 1000mbit is more or less required along with better hardware and drives that are better suited to the task.

By: Rich Menga

Rich Menga — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:45:58 +0000

Good deal, nice to see Linux-specific home serving options that make it easier.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:15:28 +0000

You missed Windows Home Server — but of course, you knew that already. Vista as a server?

How about Apple’s Time Capsule?

How about notations about server applications vs. desktop apps?

Really, if you’re going to recommend Linux as the primary OS for a file server, you’d better be prepared to talk about the user learning curve with regard to installation, security, navigation, etc.

By: Chalupa

Chalupa — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:17:55 +0000

By “network cable” do you mean Ethernet cable?