What OS should I use for a file server?
03-11-2011, 11:11
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#1
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cf.geek
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What OS should I use for a file server?
Hi,
I am thinking about settings up a small file server, for the PC in the host, and wondering what OS I should use.
The spec of the file server would be
512Mb ram
Intel CPU around 2ghz
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03-11-2011, 13:56
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#2
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cf.geek
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Re: What OS should I use for a file server?
How about FreeNAS?
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03-11-2011, 15:18
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#3
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Warrington Wolves
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Re: What OS should I use for a file server?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Big-Gaz
How about FreeNAS?
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You know what they say about talking to yourself.
I have used Freenas and its very good.
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03-11-2011, 15:48
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#4
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Old dog, New tricks
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Re: What OS should I use for a file server?
I've used freeNAS for a backup machine in the past and it works very well for that. What sort of file serving are you planning? Is this to be a file store or a media server for streaming music/films etc?
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03-11-2011, 16:06
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#5
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cf.geek
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Re: What OS should I use for a file server?
I was hoping to have some document we all use, setup between 3 PC, 2 Wired and 1 Wireless. So we can edit them and it saves to the file on the server.
I may want to put my MP3's on to streaming, but haven't fully decided on that.
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11-11-2011, 13:47
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#6
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cf.addict
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Re: What OS should I use for a file server?
Why not just buy a NAS. 2Tbyte £119 from Maplin.
I steered away from using an old PC because of noise and cost of having it running 24/7.
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11-11-2011, 16:22
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#7
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Re: What OS should I use for a file server?
Any Linux distribution set up properly can be a file server, as well as other tasks such as email storage, web server, etc.
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11-11-2011, 16:48
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#8
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cf.member
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Re: What OS should I use for a file server?
Windows 7 with JBOD.
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11-11-2011, 19:29
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#9
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Old dog, New tricks
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Re: What OS should I use for a file server?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dush
Windows 7 with JBOD.
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An interesting idea. That way I guess you could re-use a bunch of smaller disks so it could be economical. Wouldn't this increase the chance of data loss compared to a RAID mirror?
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Under socialism ideology always trumps rationality.
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11-11-2011, 22:28
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#10
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We have always been here!
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Re: What OS should I use for a file server?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham M
Any Linux distribution set up properly can be a file server, as well as other tasks such as email storage, web server, etc.
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Any experience with setting up a webgui on a normal Linux district? E.g Ubuntu?
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14-11-2011, 09:45
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#11
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cf.geek
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Re: What OS should I use for a file server?
Thanks for all the replies 
I am now thinking about buying a NAS whent he hard drive prices go down.
May see if I can get an external drive till then.
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14-11-2011, 10:09
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#12
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Re: What OS should I use for a file server?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ZrByte
Any experience with setting up a webgui on a normal Linux district? E.g Ubuntu?
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Samba with SWAT (Samba Web Administration Tool) and the CUPS (Common Unix Printing System) Web Interface is probably enough to get a working File & Printer sharing server. I've never really bothered with Web Interfaces for anything else but they do exist and are usually reasonably self explanatory!
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15-11-2011, 15:55
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#13
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cf.member
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Re: What OS should I use for a file server?
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaiNasty
An interesting idea. That way I guess you could re-use a bunch of smaller disks so it could be economical. Wouldn't this increase the chance of data loss compared to a RAID mirror?
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Oh yeah it will result in a higher chance of data loss. However with 100mbit internet and 3.5 years retention of usenet most of my data is already out there available again if I have dataloss. Any truly valuable data (photos, emails etc.) I backup to the cloud so don't need my own redundant storage at home.
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16-11-2011, 10:21
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#14
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cf.member
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Re: What OS should I use for a file server?
I'm a big fan of Debian. If you need a web UI, Webmin works nicely.
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17-11-2011, 12:58
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#15
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Virgin Media Employee
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Re: What OS should I use for a file server?
How about a free Solaris with ZFS?
ZFS can handle all the disky stuff for you, even NFS and SMB sharing without needing extra software. Need more storage. Pop in drive, add it to ZFS pool and it's there, already shared and ready.
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