Should I turn this build into a server? - Overclock.net

muels7 · 09-13-09

Hey, I have been hearing that my friends have been turning their old builds into servers. What would be the advantages of doing this, as in getting a server?
The comp that I have to work with has these specs

Mobo: Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L
CPU: Core 2 Duo E6750
Ram: 6GB of PC-6400 (800Mhz)
VGA:Asus 8600GT
HDD: Seagate Barracude 250GB

I am a member of the MSDN-AA so I can get a copy of windows server 2003 or 2008 no problem. Should I turn this into a server?

Raptor_Jesus · 09-13-09

Throw in a bigger hard drive, salvage that VGA, and you're set. Servers are good for centralizing data and backups. My house has 5 people in it, so I decided that centralizing the data would help out alot. It is also good because you can install smaller drives on local machines, and store all your big stuff on the network (if you have a gigabit connection that is).

MalVeauX · 09-13-09

Heya,

The question is.... serve what?

As it is, that hardware is way overkill for a home file server. It's overkill even for a web server. That thing would be plenty enough hardware to be a server for a small school. Get what I'm saying? Old systems can be made into servers readily. A system this new is actually just going to use a lot more wattage to achieve what a lower powered system can do. But it works either way. If you leave it on 24/7, consider how much power draw that machine will use. It can be pricey over time unless you're not footing the bill. In general, you want a home server to be as low powered as possible, while being optimized and efficient for it's needs. A general file server on a single core CPU with a gig of RAM is all you need. The main thing from there would be a quality PSU, a good UPS to prevent power outage during use (saftey), redundancy (can be software level or hardware level) and quality hard disks (and I'd go for green drives that are lower power).

That said, I wouldn't turn your computer into a server. It's really just overkill for that hardware. But if you do end up doing it, get Server 2008--it's fantastic and that machine will run it really well.

Edit: Overkill for hardware power. Under powered in terms of HDD capacity.

Very best,

**GH0** · 09-13-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by MalVeauX

Heya,

The question is.... serve what?

As it is, that hardware is way overkill for a home file server. It's overkill even for a web server. That thing would be plenty enough hardware to be a server for a small school. Get what I'm saying? Old systems can be made into servers readily. A system this new is actually just going to use a lot more wattage to achieve what a lower powered system can do. But it works either way. If you leave it on 24/7, consider how much power draw that machine will use. It can be pricey over time unless you're not footing the bill. In general, you want a home server to be as low powered as possible, while being optimized and efficient for it's needs. A general file server on a single core CPU with a gig of RAM is all you need. The main thing from there would be a quality PSU, a good UPS to prevent power outage during use (saftey), redundancy (can be software level or hardware level) and quality hard disks (and I'd go for green drives that are lower power).

That said, I wouldn't turn your computer into a server. It's really just overkill for that hardware. But if you do end up doing it, get Server 2008--it's fantastic and that machine will run it really well.

Very best,

That isn't overkill for a home file server.

Code:


Host Name:                 HOMEFILESERVER
OS Name:                   Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard
OS Version:                6.1.7600 N/A Build 7600
OS Manufacturer:           Microsoft Corporation
OS Configuration:          Standalone Server
OS Build Type:             Multiprocessor Free
Registered Owner:          Windows User
Registered Organization:
Product ID:                55041-507-0007491-84121
Original Install Date:     8/18/2009, 9:11:27 PM
System Boot Time:          9/11/2009, 6:18:45 PM
System Manufacturer:       System manufacturer
System Model:              System Product Name
System Type:               x64-based PC
Processor(s):              1 Processor(s) Installed.
                           [01]: AMD64 Family 15 Model 107 Stepping 2 AuthenticA
MD ~2611 Mhz
BIOS Version:              Phoenix Technologies, LTD ASUS CROSSHAIR II FORMULA A
CPI BIOS Revision 1210, 11/28/2008
Windows Directory:         C:\Windows
System Directory:          C:\Windows\system32
Boot Device:               \Device\HarddiskVolume8
System Locale:             en-us;English (United States)
Input Locale:              en-us;English (United States)
Time Zone:                 (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
Total Physical Memory:     4,094 MB
Available Physical Memory: 3,389 MB
Virtual Memory: Max Size:  8,187 MB
Virtual Memory: Available: 7,460 MB
Virtual Memory: In Use:    727 MB
Page File Location(s):     C:\pagefile.sys
Domain:                    MDKGROUP
Logon Server:              \\HOMEFILESERVER
Hotfix(s):                 2 Hotfix(s) Installed.
                           [01]: KB972636
                           [02]: KB973874
Network Card(s):           3 NIC(s) Installed.
                           [01]: Marvell Yukon 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Co
ntroller
                                 Connection Name: Local Area Connection 2
                                 DHCP Enabled:    Yes
                                 DHCP Server:     N/A
                                 IP address(es)
                           [02]: Intel(R) PRO/1000 PT Desktop Adapter
                                 Connection Name: Local Area Connection 3
                                 DHCP Enabled:    Yes
                                 DHCP Server:     N/A
                                 IP address(es)
                           [03]: MAC Bridge Miniport
                                 Connection Name: Network Bridge
                                 DHCP Enabled:    No
                                 IP address(es)
                                 [01]: 10.10.10.254

Microsoft DiskPart version 6.1.7600
Copyright (C) 1999-2008 Microsoft Corporation.
On computer: HOMEFILESERVER

DISKPART>  list disk

  Disk ###  Status         Size     Free     Dyn  Gpt
  --------  -------------  -------  -------  ---  ---
  Disk 0    Online          189 GB  3072 KB
  Disk 1    Online          698 GB      0 B
  Disk 2    Online         1397 GB      0 B
  Disk 3    Online          232 GB      0 B
  Disk 4    Online          232 GB      0 B
  Disk 5    Online          232 GB      0 B
  Disk 6    Online           74 GB      0 B

Sadly, it reads the data wrong... but rest assured, I have space left on my drives.

muels7 · 09-13-09

well, I do have another older build. not sure on the exact specs, but it has a socket 478 P4 3Ghz with HT.

MalVeauX · 09-13-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by muels7

well, I do have another older build. not sure on the exact specs, but it has a socket 478 P4 3Ghz with HT.

Heya,

I would use the lowest system you have (well, maybe not something less than an old celeron). Basically whatever it takes to run Server 2008. As mentioned before, a single core with a gig of ram is more than enough for a file server at home for personal use. Save that better system for another build idea, or rework it for a friend or family member perhaps?

Very best,

the_beast · 09-17-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by MalVeauX

Heya,

I would use the lowest system you have (well, maybe not something less than an old celeron). Basically whatever it takes to run Server 2008. As mentioned before, a single core with a gig of ram is more than enough for a file server at home for personal use. Save that better system for another build idea, or rework it for a friend or family member perhaps?

Very best,

This is true, you don't need much horsepower for a home server.

But the advice to go with an older computer rather than a Core-based one is totally wrong in this case.

Your C2D will use much less power than your P4 system, and in fact will idle lower than anything post-Pentium III. Although your C2D system can use a lot of power when it needs to, the Core Intel chips are very power efficient when idling and much better than anything the netburst architectures can manage.

To get lower power than the C2D system you mention you need to go 45nm, Atom, Via or MoD chips. You can even underclock your e6750 (drop the fsb down if your mobo will let you) to save even more money.

Manyak · 09-17-09

You can do plenty of things with that C2D as your home server.

- LDAP/Active Directory lets you centrally manage settings and programs for all your home's PC, so that if you reformat you don't have to tweak everything to your liking again. It also allows you to use roaming profiles so that your entire user directory (Desktop, My Documents, Start Menu, etc) moves with you from computer to computer.
- WDS/RIS allows the server to automatically install and configure Windows for you on any networked PC, simply by allowing it to boot through the network card
- Terminal Services lets you use the server's power to run resource heavy applications (or even the entire OS) on your weaker PCs, bringing your old PCs back to life and giving your netbook a new one.
- Endian and Untangle allow you to use your server as a router, providing tons more power than your standard consumer grade one. And if you run an Anti-Virus you'll no longer need to, as they have their own built-in one that catches viruses before they even hit your PC. Just keep in mind that if you want to use one of these combined with other roles and services you'll need to do it through a Hypervisor to be safe.
- iSCSI lets you use one of the server's hard drives or RAID arrays on your desktop as if it was local. Certain NICs also allow you to boot off of them, allowing you to use a single, super-fast RAID array to run all your PCs so you don't have to compromise by giving up some performance to fit a budget or keep noise levels down.
- Proxy Services allow the server to make internet requests on your PC's behalf, increasing security. If you have a slower internet connection it can also be used to automatically cache web pages so that you can access them through local network speeds, making frequently visited sites load a lot faster.
- A VPN gives you a lot more remote access than a simple FTP server. It allows you to use your computer as if it was on your home network, but from anywhere in the world with internet. This means easier access to your files, and access to other services as well.

mazza- · 09-20-09

manyak you have given me a whole lot of great ideas for a server i am building at the moment!
thank you for this information +rep

Metrofx · 10-05-09

I personally run a laptop for my home server. Helps me save on electricity and all I have to do attach external hard drives. Personally I would get the biggest hard drive you can buy and run with one the you have. Install Windows 2008 on the first drive and use the 2nd for file storage. Just remember that more hard drives you have the more power it uses. These days watts = money.

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Should I turn this build into a server?

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