Going to turn my old PC into a Server.

[Overkill-GB]

Hello,

It won't be long now until I get my new rig, and I want to research some more about transferring my WinXP SP3 into a windows/linux server so I can host things such as a game server, teamspeak(irc type of server) and a web server for general purposes this is not for a local network it would need to be accessible everywhere.

I am very new to this, and i have no idea where to start I heard you can try microsofts software for a while to get your own server using a license for a while im not sure if this is still the case or if its just mere heresay.

I have ADSL running through the house and my rig is in my forum signature, and I am willing to upgrade proccessor and ram as I here that sometimes needs to be done.

Thanks for all your help.

Rob.

[Negeva]

A game server running off an ADSL connection! You'd be lucky to host a five to ten player match. I won't mention the need for a static IP address or the fact you're connection might not be up to it or the fact that it might actually breach your TOS (Terms of Service) agreement with your ISP. And, have you thought about bandwidth? Game servers eat bandwidth like nobody's business.

In all honesty if there is enough of you that wish to start a server pool your monies together and get one. In the UK I can get a 60 player BF2 server with 30 slot TS for about than £30-40 (UK Sterling) per month. Chuck in a website/forum for players to form a community; include adverts, a donation button and most of that could pay for itself.

[Overkill-GB]

Hmm, I have been down the route many times and ran a few clans in my time where we have rented servers for gaming and teampseak, however I wanted to try something different how about using it as a data server such as being able to access applications through windows terminal and stuff and using it as a web server too??

Using the speed test @ http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk/

I get 6976kb/s which is 880kb/s download speed.

And a upload speed of 420kb/s which is 51kb/s upload speed.

Thanks

Rob.

[glc]

That upload speed is going to kill you. You need a symmetric connection, which usually means a business plan.

[Overkill-GB]

So staying with my current system and ADSL line, it will not be possible to have a basic web server?

And also how do you setup a local file sharing network so you can have shared documents linked by your router.

Rob.

[glc]

It is POSSIBLE to have a basic web server, but if you have more than a very few people hitting it at the same time, it will be too slow to be usable. You also don't have DNS or a static IP.

Local filesharing is simple with XP, just run the network setup wizard on all the machines.

[Overkill-GB]

Hmm, how do i go about getting a basic web server and also aquiring a static IP, and also would i need buy a domain for the dns or will it just be an IP adress.

Thanks.

[glc]

Honestly, it's much better using a cheap web host.

[Overkill-GB]

So what other things can I consider doing with my old machine, apart from sell it

Thanks.

[glc]

There are lots of things you can do with it - I just wouldn't try to make it a public server available to the Internet except for very limited and specific things to specific people.

1. Make it a LAN file server for backups, archiving files, sharing files with the rest of the LAN.
2. Put Linux on it to learn Linux.
3. Hang your printers on it.
4. Use it as a test box for operating systems and applications.
5. Make it a LAN game server for LAN parties.

[Overkill-GB]

Tell me more about this LAN file sharing, and game hosting as that would be awsome for me and my freinds.

And I am not sure that vista would work on it as my freind has it running an on idle it uses 1.25gb of ram just idling, and linux is already on my PS3 but I suppose I could test it out.

Rob.

[glc]

Vista is the LAST operating system I'd put on a machine to make it any kind of server. Use Linux or Win2K Pro for a simple file sharing box, XP Pro for a game server. Note I said LAN game server, not over the Internet.

[Overkill-GB]

Yeah I know what you meant, I have an 80Gb hardrive does this mean I would have to format and install linux and winxp pro on seperate partitions?

I have both Battlefield 2 and Call of Duty 4 which would be awsome to host a LAN game with do you know how I could set that up once I have both OS's installed.

[glc]

Why would you install 2 different operating systems? XP Pro makes an acceptable small file server up to 10 connections.

I have no experience setting up a game server, sorry.

[Overkill-GB]

Well I have XP Pro installed currently, so would you be able to explain how I go about setting it up or perhaps is there some sort of tutorial online? I cant find anythig on Windows KB.

[Detonate]

Originally Posted by Overkill-GB So what other things can I consider doing with my old machine, apart from sell it

I have older machines given to me all the time when I help someone set up their new machine. I clean these machines up, and give them to people who are not able to afford a computer, usually elderly persons living on a small income. Many of them can't afford a good internet connection, and have to use dial-up.

[glc]

Originally Posted by Overkill-GB Well I have XP Pro installed currently, so would you be able to explain how I go about setting it up or perhaps is there some sort of tutorial online? I cant find anythig on Windows KB.

Run the networking wizard - it's exactly the same as setting up file and print sharing between workstations. Treat the "server" as any other workstation. Set up shared drives and folders as desired.