home network/server setup

[SXRguyinMA]

Alright I've been doing some research, still unsure of a bunch of things when it comes to networking. I picked up a dual-p3 server from NighttrainSrt4, and I'm going to put it into a custmo case so it'll fit pretty in the house. It's got 4-4.3GB SCSI hot-swappable drives. Can I swap these for something else? Is there a SCSI to PATA or SATA adapter? How would I hook up the server? I plan on installing Win2k server, would I just hook it to my router? Its going to be a file storage more than a server, any help is appreciated. Thanks!

[nevermind1534]

I don't know of any SCSI adaptors. You should be able to hook the server up to the router. Do you need any floppy, IDE, SATA, ethernet, or other random cables/cords?

[SXRguyinMA]

holy crap that was quick lol :D

I may need an ethernet patch cable, but not for some time as I still need to build its "indoor-living-room-friendly" case lol I've got a ton of spare IDE/floppy cables, etc, thanks though :up:

[nevermind1534]

I'll throw a spare ethernet cord that I have in with your package for you. You might want to look on ebay for a SCSI PCI card cheap to use with the hard drives.

[SXRguyinMA]

sweet thanks! :up:

[NightrainSrt4]

If you want to use the existing hard drives, I would just plug those directly into the onboard SCSI ports.

If you want to use either IDE or SATA drives, then all you need is a pci card for the correct type of drives.

I picked up This Rosewill PCI SATA Card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816132001) for my 1u p3 800Mhz server and it worked great. Just toss it into a PCI slot, and plug in your drives. Install the drivers, and you are good to go.

Because you are swapping to a different case you don't have to worry about the existing SCSI backplane. Just take the mobo and toss it into the new case. Add card, and drives, and pick your OS of choice and run with it.

Edit: By toss it into the case, I meant your new custom case. As you are going to need to either seriously mod a case, or scratch build a backpanel for one. The motherboard isn't a standard motherboard, and the only pci slots are on that riserboard which sets the cards at a right angle to the direction regular ATX boards are.

And if you are trying to figure out how to get the mobo out of that case, you have to remove all the screw things for the ports on the back, then remove the processors and unscrew the mounts. Then the board will slide toward the front of the case and can be removed.

[SXRguyinMA]

thanks for the info :up:

[NightrainSrt4]

No problem. Post any more questions, and I will do what I can to answer them!

[SgtM]

+rep NightrainSrt4

[slytherock]

for the OS I recommend FreeNAS (http://www.freenas.org/).

Real easy to set up
secure
Fast
Free