Hi everyone ! I just need some help for setting up my Home Server, thought someone here could help out.
A few months ago I took scrap hardware parts from all the old unused computers in my garage and made a working desktop machine. I needed a server to host my >1Tb of data so that everyone in my house could access it (9 computers total). So I slapped Windows Home Server on it, and its been working for a while now: through my home's network, anyone can access the files on the server.
Now it's time to upgrade.
I've bought a Vostro 200 from Dell with all of the needed specs to replace my homemade box, now I just have a few questions for setting it up:
1) It comes with Vista. Is it necessary to put windows home server on it? I need the computer to be able to be used as a media player as well but Vista basic doesn't have the remote desktop or the advanced network settings needed to set this up. Knowing that I can use ANY OPERATING SYSTEM (really, any of them), which should I use?
2) I would like to make the contents of the new server's hard drive available to other people outside my house (familly and friends). How can I do that ? I'm guessing I'd need to run an FTP Server on the box, but does anyone know a good FAQ on this or a tutorial? I want the hard drive to be accessible from anywhere around the world, through the internet, with user accounts and passwords easily managable and with a correct bandwith (at least enough to stream a DivX DVDRip so i'm guessing around 1.5-2.5 mb/s). Is that even possible? If so, how ?
For question 2: I've already taken a look at WarFTPDaemon, and assuming I can set it up correctly, assuming 20 mbps (downstream) connections for any of my users, and assuming that the server is plugged into a fiberoptics network to connect to the web, what kind of download speeds can my users expect?
Thanx in advance ! Oh and by the way if we have some networking geniuses here who want to give me tips go ahead any criticism is welcome.
A few months ago I took scrap hardware parts from all the old unused computers in my garage and made a working desktop machine. I needed a server to host my >1Tb of data so that everyone in my house could access it (9 computers total). So I slapped Windows Home Server on it, and its been working for a while now: through my home's network, anyone can access the files on the server.
Now it's time to upgrade.
I've bought a Vostro 200 from Dell with all of the needed specs to replace my homemade box, now I just have a few questions for setting it up:
1) It comes with Vista. Is it necessary to put windows home server on it? I need the computer to be able to be used as a media player as well but Vista basic doesn't have the remote desktop or the advanced network settings needed to set this up. Knowing that I can use ANY OPERATING SYSTEM (really, any of them), which should I use?
2) I would like to make the contents of the new server's hard drive available to other people outside my house (familly and friends). How can I do that ? I'm guessing I'd need to run an FTP Server on the box, but does anyone know a good FAQ on this or a tutorial? I want the hard drive to be accessible from anywhere around the world, through the internet, with user accounts and passwords easily managable and with a correct bandwith (at least enough to stream a DivX DVDRip so i'm guessing around 1.5-2.5 mb/s). Is that even possible? If so, how ?
For question 2: I've already taken a look at WarFTPDaemon, and assuming I can set it up correctly, assuming 20 mbps (downstream) connections for any of my users, and assuming that the server is plugged into a fiberoptics network to connect to the web, what kind of download speeds can my users expect?
Thanx in advance ! Oh and by the way if we have some networking geniuses here who want to give me tips go ahead any criticism is welcome.