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andymushu
06-04-2007, 08:58 PM
i got a server just sitting in my room and i want to put it to good use. i am pretty sure it doesn't have an operating system since it just boots and stops mid-boot. what would you guys recommend doing with it? more specifically, what os would you recommend?

SgtM
06-04-2007, 09:06 PM
Depends. What are you going to do with it? File sharing, domain, exchange, web server?

andymushu
06-04-2007, 09:15 PM
i am pretty sure it will just be a file server, but you never know what you might wanna do tomorrow...but i am pretty sure it is just for files.

btw, thanks for the fast reply

SgtM
06-04-2007, 09:19 PM
NP. Well, if you're just doing simple file sharing, and you have an extra copy of XP, then I would start there. I have no experience in filesharing with Linux, but I'm sure there are some cool tuts out there that would explain it though. Best of luck!

OvRiDe
06-04-2007, 09:20 PM
Easy and cheap thing for file serveing would be FreeNAS.
http://www.freenas.org/

or maybe OpenFiler
http://www.openfiler.com/

Hope this helps

andymushu
06-04-2007, 09:22 PM
i don't have an extra copy of XP, unfortunately. i have heard about xubuntu, but i don't know if that would be a viable option for this. could someone inform me a little about running a server on xubuntu or linux?

thanks ovride and sgtm for the suggestions.

SgtM
06-04-2007, 09:23 PM
Ubuntu is DEFINITELY cool. I just did a search, and found this:
http://www.miketechshow.com/2006/01/ubuntu-file-and-print-server.html

I should have figured howtoforge would have something posted.

OvRiDe
06-04-2007, 09:25 PM
Both FreeNAS and Openfiler contain the OS. FreeNAS is BSD based, and OpenFiler uses the Linux Kernel. Nice thing about these.. No Linux or OS knowledge needed. Download the iso.. boot and install, and then follow the prompts, of course reading the manual would probably help some. :D

Also they are Open Source and therefore FREE, so cost isn't an issue.

andymushu
06-04-2007, 09:28 PM
wow. exactly what i was looking for. both of you helped me immensely. im gonna try these out, hopefully they work. thanks guys, you helped a lot.

OvRiDe
06-04-2007, 09:40 PM
Glad we could help.. Let us know how you make out.

.Maleficus.
06-04-2007, 10:03 PM
Yeah, like the other suggestions, Linux/BSD is the way to go. Free, easy to use (once you get the hang of it) and customizable. I don't know anything about the two Overide listed, but if you want to be able to use it as a desktop computer (something I'm not sure the others can do) you should look into Xubuntu (http://www.xubuntu.org), FreeBSD (http://www.freebsd.org), or Arch (http://www.archlinux.org).

andymushu
06-04-2007, 10:13 PM
k thanks for the suggestions maleficus

OvRiDe
06-05-2007, 01:14 AM
As Mal said.. If you want to use it as a desktop as well as a fileserver, my 2 solutions are not the way to go. Both FreeNAS and Openfiler turn the system into a dedicated web based NAS. No monitor or keyboard needed once you get it up and running. So it will basically boil down to what you want to do with it.

As always I hope this helps and let us know how it goes!! :)

andymushu
06-05-2007, 01:38 AM
i did not plan on using it as a desktop as well as a fileserver, so i think i will go with your suggestions. thanks for all the help guys, +rep all around.

OvRiDe
06-05-2007, 08:24 PM
Talk about timing!! For those of you that would like to go the Ubuntu route.. Bit-Tech just published a guide on their site.

http://www.bit-tech.net/bits/2007/06/05/build_your_own_server/1

EDIT: I must give credit where credit is due. b4i7 sent me that link earlier. :P

b4i7
06-05-2007, 08:41 PM
heh...good find ovride :)

SgtM
06-05-2007, 09:13 PM
Great article link OvRiDe! I would +rep you again if it would let me.

andymushu
06-05-2007, 10:37 PM
nice find! i will definitely be using that in the near future. thanks for the link.

like sgtm said, i would +rep you again if i could.