My old PC = good for setting up my own server ?

[Morvak]

So now that I have a new rig, I still have my old one.

One of the things I am thinking about doing is running and checking out Linux/Unix on it.

I'm really looking to teach myself some networking stuff because I want to change careers and get into computers somehow and while I don't expect anyone to say "oh you taught yourself how to setup Windows Server, you're hired!" i figure it can't hurt to mention it in a possible interview.

So with that said, does anyone have any recommendations on what latest network server I could setup on my old PC?

Or can't I because it's not a server motherboard or whatever?

It's an A7N8, 1gb ram, 80gb hdd.. generic older PC.

I just thought I could teach myself some server stuff I dunno maybe not.

[Turd Furguson]

Look up FreeNAS if you want to do a little bit of Linux. :)

[OkydOky]

Look up FreeNAS if you want to do a little bit of BSD. :)


Now Fixed :)


FreeNAS is based on a Minimal FreeBSD, if memory serves me right.




An Older PC makes perfect Choice to Fiddle around with Servers.
It coudl be as mentioned above great for a NAS. You could also Try and Install apache and set up a web server, just for practice. Also an FTP server (though that may be part of NAS)

[Morvak]

Cool cool thanks for the info.

1 more question - so I setup the "Server" and all that.. would I need another computer to hook into it to test it out?

Like I have my new rig on a d-link wireless home network.

Would I create this server, put it on the network and then use my new rig to connect to it? Or am I totally off base? lol

Or can I simply test/play with the server without needing another computer to test a connection to it and stuff like that?

[JamesXP]

You could just hide the computer somewhere with no monitor or anything just power and network. and VNC into it..


You'd need to load your OS of course, what exactly do you want to do with your server :P


theres lots of options.

[Morvak]

Nice!

I am not sure what I want to do with the server. I just want to set it up first, for that experience alone. And then I guess go through settings, security... teach myself whatever I can. Just like how I learned from setting up Windows OS environments.

Then go from there. Maybe try out Linux, and then Apache.

Can you install both? Like, switch between them?

[JamesXP]

Teehee

Apache isn't a OS. it's a program that lets you host a website :D

You could make a firewall,network atttached storage, Game server? online radio server?


The possibilitys are endlesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

[gangaskan]

you can install server 2003 on very minimal hardware actually. i've got 2k3 working on as little as a dual pentium 200 (yes PENTIUM :) ) mhz server with i think 256 mb ram.....

[OkydOky]

Yes MS' server OS is possible.
Though I would suggest dabbling with Either BSD or Linux.

Once You have one running, install whatever you want and play with it :)

[TalRW]

you really wanna learn linux? Try doing a gentoo install. You will learn linux doing that.

[Enablingwolf]

Apache isn't a OS. it's a program that lets you host a website :D



Apache does more then just web sites. It supports web applications also and the transfer of files.

Apache is used for many other tasks where content needs to be made available in a secure and reliable way. One example is sharing files from a personal computer over the Internet. A user who has Apache installed on their desktop can put arbitrary files in the Apache's document root which can then be shared.

What is Apache? (http://httpd.apache.org/docs/1.3/misc/FAQ.html#what)

[JamesXP]

That's the main use of it though :P

[Enablingwolf]

There is many things about Apache that are well beyond the simple page or two on a site. Many things about Apache that are way beyond someone using it as a website.

Simplest terms. If you make an intranet, which alot of internal uses are. It is not web anything. Mail is not a website. Which is usually powered by the Apache(or IIS) backend.

Yes, most the best parts of the web are powered by Apache. But the majority is not websites. There is Apache modules that actually do the work. You don't need Apache for html pages. PERL,CGI,PHP,SQL.. That is waht does the website as deemed needed.
The list goes on. Each part has its use and may or may not be used for a web page or site. Apche does the job serving files, not just for websites.


It is not nitpicking, it is making sure Apache is not viewed as just for webpages, or the primary use of it. It is a great and powerful application.

[nd4spdbh2]

i am going to recommend windows server 2003... i have it running on my server and it runs so nice. i ust it as a Counterstrike, web (php, mysql, perl), and file server for the network. Also use it as a torrent downloader...

Like said the posibilites are endless.. but you have so much a broader option with windows server 2k3 compared to linux cus well, 1 its easier, and 2 windows is just more supported.

Pluss win2k3 is very stable... coming up on 37days of it being on 24/7 and being used 24/7 also without a single hitch...

only reason it hasnt gone longer is because it needed to restart for windows updates and before that it was on for a good 3 months striaght w/o probs.


and i did exactly what you did... got a new comp, turned old one into a server!

fogot to mention... with win2k3, you can use it as a regular comp to as well as a server... i got mine in a corner with no monitor, and i use remote desktop to manage it.

[Enablingwolf]

Win2k3 is actually a nice OS. XP64 is based off this. Also Vista borrows off of it IIRC. Easy way to nutshell it. XP Pro on steriods.

If properly ran. IIS is not so bad. Honestly, if your more comfortable in Windows. This is a better option. Though Linux is the actual pick for secure server.
Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0 is a powerful Web server that provides a highly reliable, manageable, and scalable Web application infrastructure for all versions of Windows Server 2003. IIS helps organizations increase Web site and application availability while lowering system administration costs. IIS 6.0 supports the Microsoft Dynamic Systems Initiative (DSI) (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/dsi/default.mspx) with automated health monitoring, process isolation, and improved management capabilities.
Being comfortable and knowlegable in the operating system will greatly increase making it work for your needs and be secure. You have a reduced chance of making a glaring boo boo. Leaving a gaping hole and not even know it. Plus getting the server running and tailored to your needs.

I have heard of folks gaming on 2003 also.

Even though I feel a Linux server box would be best. A properly fed and groomed Windows 2003 box can do the job very well. Good suggestion nd4spdbh2.

[Soichiro]

Comparatively, Apache is much more secure and has more features (because of modularity) than IIS. IIS has ASP support, which Apache doesn't have (AFAIK), but I doubt you'll really want to use ASP (it sucks :p compared to PHP and Javascript IMO).

Yes, you can run Windows Server 2003 on a minimal environment with little RAM and CPU usage, but you can run Linux on even less. Plus you said in another thread (I think) you wanted to learn Linux, so now is your chance. Someone else suggested Gentoo, and I would too, as just by installing it you get to learn quite a bit about how Linux works.

[nd4spdbh2]

Win2k3 is actually a nice OS. XP64 is based off this. Also Vista borrows off of it IIRC. Easy way to nutshell it. XP Pro on steriods.

If properly ran. IIS is not so bad. Honestly, if your more comfortable in Windows. This is a better option. Though Linux is the actual pick for secure server.

Being comfortable and knowlegable in the operating system will greatly increase making it work for your needs and be secure. You have a reduced chance of making a glaring boo boo. Leaving a gaping hole and not even know it. Plus getting the server running and tailored to your needs.

I have heard of folks gaming on 2003 also.

Even though I feel a Linux server box would be best. A properly fed and groomed Windows 2003 box can do the job very well. Good suggestion nd4spdbh2.


big time... you said it Win2k3 is xp on steroids... it just runs faster. heck i had it running on a 466mhz celeron with 348mb of ram and it ran super smooth. Then you also have the option of IIS or Apache on it, i use IIS as its easier to setup and use in my case... although apache is just about as easy, but not as gui friendly.

Plus linux as we all know can some times be a huge PITA.... yes it can be more secure / stable, but only that can be achieved when a person who knows how to use it, configures it correctly.

so again my vote is win 2k3... you can get a trial of it at microsoft, then you can go from there with various "loophole exploiters" as i like to call em :p

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/bb430831.aspx

btw i run windows server 2003 enterprise edition (NON R2 version)

Btw i have gamed on win2k3 (a lil test of mine) and bf2 just felt smoother with all same game and gfx settings, its hard to splain but it was. But it was quite a pain to get it working as win2k3 is definetly not by default designed to do n e thing 3d.

[Morvak]

Well again, thanks for all of your input!

As per my other thread.. I am going to go with Linux for now. (Gentoo).

[nd4spdbh2]

Well again, thanks for all of your input!

As per my other thread.. I am going to go with Linux for now. (Gentoo).


i will give you all the luck in the world to your endevours into gentoo (great os once you get it working)... but you might be doing a lil of this :bang head and some of this :cry: while being :mad: and :confused: ... hopfully you dont have a :temper:, cus then ur up the creek without a paddle.. but in the end you are either going to be one of 2 things, :) or :(, probably the later of the 2 but only time will tell :beer: