Is this ok for small home server?

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#390837 12-Oct-2010 11:26

You do the realize that the system in your first post is rack mounted? If your in Auckland there is a place in Penrose that I visited called Computer Recycling which have a bunch of racks. You may be able to get one for a few hundred $$.

Go for a tower if you can.

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#390839 12-Oct-2010 11:27

While the identified server is cheap, its probably not ideal for your circumstances. 1U don't often have a lot of room for expansion so if you do need to add additional hard-drives it may be expensive or even impossible.

For $100 its probably fine but I wouldn't spend more than that on it. Once you out grow its capabilities it will probably need to be replaced as opposed to upgraded.

If you can squeeze a bit more money into the budget its probably worth considering a NAS or dedicated WHS box, granted you could install WHS on the above server some of the dedicated WHS boxes made by HP and ACER are a bit more flexible.

WHS is dead easy to install and setup and would be the ideal candidate for a home network. Realistically the OS choice won't affect you too much, desktop OS's such as XP or 7 may just require the installation of additional software to perform tasks such as backup or media sharing.

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#390840 12-Oct-2010 11:27

Zeon: You do the realize that the system in your first post is rack mounted? If your in Auckland there is a place in Penrose that I visited called Computer Recycling which have a bunch of racks. You may be able to get one for a few hundred $$.

Go for a tower if you can.

There's a place on Porana Rd as well, bit hidden.

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#390841 12-Oct-2010 11:28

You will need to check if that system can actually run 64-bit or not.

As far as connecting 32/64-bits systems together, it is non-applicable. You don't need to worry or know if the system you're connecting to be 32-bit or 64-bit or whatever, they connected on the right protocol, the rest is up to the OSes to handle the "calling" for you. So underlying thing, as long as the hardware is properly supported by the OS, then all is fine.

And not sounding to be rude, but if you have limited knowledge on configuring a network sharing, I'd suggest to go for the easiest way out, WHS is on the top if you can afford the device, or otherwise the OEM license to install on the system suggested above. Next be Windows 7 license on it and enable Homegroup sharing then at least you have the easiest file sharing capability.

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#390842 12-Oct-2010 11:29

magu: If you want to use it with a keyboard and mouse, then WHS is not good for you. Neither is a NAS. WHS/NAS is good for file storage/media streaming/backups.

What's wrong with using RDP to WHS? Or if you install it yourself on an old box,, nothing to stop you having a keyboard, mouse and screen attached. On my homebuilt WHS, I've got them attached via a KVM switch, in case I ever need to login directly to the console. Hardly ever actually, except for things like Air Video.

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#390843 12-Oct-2010 11:32

allan:
magu: If you want to use it with a keyboard and mouse, then WHS is not good for you. Neither is a NAS. WHS/NAS is good for file storage/media streaming/backups.

What's wrong with using RDP to WHS? Or if you install it yourself on an old box,, nothing to stop you having a keyboard, mouse and screen attached. On my homebuilt WHS, I've got them attached via a KVM switch, in case I ever need to login directly to the console. Hardly ever actually, except for things like Air Video.

The problem is not RDP'ing into it. The OP said he wants to run stuff like imaging software (as in, cloning computers, etc). That's more of a job for a workstation, not a server.

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#390848 12-Oct-2010 11:44

magu: If you want to use it with a keyboard and mouse, then WHS is not good for you.

Do you mean that I want to use it as a normal desktop?

No I dont. I would only use a keyboard and mouse etc to set it up I assume and then wouldnt need to use them.

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#390850 12-Oct-2010 11:47

MooPoo:
magu: If you want to use it with a keyboard and mouse, then WHS is not good for you.

Do you mean that I want to use it as a normal desktop?

No I dont. I would only use a keyboard and mouse etc to set it up I assume and then wouldnt need to use them.

You mentioned you want to image some computers. Can you explain how you plan to do that?

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#390853 12-Oct-2010 11:52

magu: The problem is not RDP'ing into it. The OP said he wants to run stuff like imaging software (as in, cloning computers, etc). That's more of a job for a workstation, not a server.

I will be plugging this straight into my 24 port switch so I would not have to access it directly to use it (apart form keyboard and mouse etc).

We have a small server at work that runs PXE software and allows us to image computers so I thought I may be able to do that as well.

Maybe I am dreaming with this whole setup but my needs are really modest for the network at home and I have the opportunity to grab this server at a reasonable price so I am trying to convince myself that I need it (as you do).

Its not like it will be used for mission critical tasks. It will simply sit there and be used to load movies etc on so the family can access stuff from another drive on their computer.

I still have the biggest hurdle to get over with this yet, convincing the wife we need it :)

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#390854 12-Oct-2010 11:53

The server at work only runs xp pro so maybe thats all I need? although the one at work is only used for imaging.

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#390855 12-Oct-2010 11:55

PXE boot for Windows is called WDS (Windows Deployment Services) and comes as part of server 2008 (it has a different name in earlier versions). MS Server is probably overkill for what your trying to do? I'd say go with WHS and find a 3rd part PXE boot software.

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#390856 12-Oct-2010 11:55

MooPoo:
magu: The problem is not RDP'ing into it. The OP said he wants to run stuff like imaging software (as in, cloning computers, etc). That's more of a job for a workstation, not a server.

I will be plugging this straight into my 24 port switch so I would not have to access it directly to use it (apart form keyboard and mouse etc).

We have a small server at work that runs PXE software and allows us to image computers so I thought I may be able to do that as well.

Maybe I am dreaming with this whole setup but my needs are really modest for the network at home and I have the opportunity to grab this server at a reasonable price so I am trying to convince myself that I need it (as you do).

Its not like it will be used for mission critical tasks. It will simply sit there and be used to load movies etc on so the family can access stuff from another drive on their computer.

I still have the biggest hurdle to get over with this yet, convincing the wife we need it :)

That's what I was wondering. I just didn't know if you were doing imaging locally or though PXE. In this case, yes, it will work fine once you set PXE boot up. I did a setup like that with Norton Ghost that worked wonders at my previous work.

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#390857 12-Oct-2010 11:56

I realise it is rack mounted, but there are no fans etc underneath it so does it really have to be mounted in a rack and not on a shelf?

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#390858 12-Oct-2010 11:57

Zeon: PXE boot for Windows is called WDS (Windows Deployment Services) and comes as part of server 2008 (it has a different name in earlier versions). MS Server is probably overkill for what your trying to do? I'd say go with WHS and find a 3rd part PXE boot software.

Not exactly. PXE boot is PXE boot.

WDS is Microsoft's version of Norton's GhostCast.

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#390860 12-Oct-2010 11:57

MooPoo: I realise it is rack mounted, but there are no fans etc underneath it so does it really have to be mounted in a rack and not on a shelf?

Bear in mind that rack-mount servers usually are LOUD.

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