[Mebby]

Since lately I've a lot of ISO's Photos and Music, Ive been thinking of setting up a small file server with a DVD burner, hardware isn't an issue but the Operateing system is. What can I use?

Preferably something free.

All current machines are useing Windows XP Home edition (bar My MacBook). Wireless network, connecting wireless would be great as then I can hide it out of the way somewere.

Probably going to use some form of sempron based shuttle, low space and power usage.

 

[chaos40]

Linux. Or any Windows OS will do this (even Windows 95).

 

[Mebby]

Any recomendations torwards any specific linux distro? / software.

 

[chaos40]

Ubuntu is excellent.
http://www.ubuntu.com/

I've used it a little and was extremely impressed.

Systems specs should be in line with a low-end Windows box. 512MB of RAM, a standard VGA adapter, standard mobo/CPU. A year or two old Windows machine would be perfect. The more mainstream/plain vanilla it is the better the Linux distro will like it.

Good luck!

Keep in mind you could use one of your existing Windows workstations to do this without having to build anything extra if you want to.

 

[frontrunner57]

how do you do it with windows xp?
is there any guides somewhere?

 

[Mebby]

My sig rig is doing so at the moment, but I'd just rather have something seperate.

Any way of burning DVD's CD's Remotely?
I don't need another monitor then...

 

[kc-tr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by frontrunner57 how do you do it with windows xp? is there any guides somewhere?

If you give me a few I can make a guide, with screenshots on how to do this. Anyone else want me to?

 

[SoBe8503]

XP's (Home or pro, doesnt matter) probably the easiest. You just set one folder to share, and boom access to your files.

Linux is a little more difficult. I used it for a while, but it was too much maintenance. I setup Samba sharing. It was great to figure out and get going, but I was ALWAYS messing with it, so I chucked it.

Now I have Server 2003. It's perfect.

 

[chaos40]

Its very easy to do. But if kc-tr is going to do it, I won't bother typing it up.

If the machine you build is Windows, you can use RealVNC or Remote Desktop to controller the target machine from your computer. You won't have to sit in front of it or have a monitor on it if you really don't want to.

Remote Desktop is built into Window XP, so it is very easy to set up and works extremely well. You could burn DVDs that way with ease.

 

[SoBe8503]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaos40 Its very easy to do. But if kc-tr is going to do it, I won't bother typing it up. If the machine you build is Windows, you can use RealVNC or Remote Desktop to controller the target machine from your computer. You won't have to sit in front of it or have a monitor on it if you really don't want to. Remote Desktop is built into Window XP, so it is very easy to set up and works extremely well. You could burn DVDs that way with ease.

Actually XP Home doesn't have a Remote desktop server built in Like Pro does. So you can connect to other machines, but you cant connect to an XP home machine.

So RealVNC would have to be installed.

 

[gonX]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaos40 Its very easy to do. But if kc-tr is going to do it, I won't bother typing it up. If the machine you build is Windows, you can use RealVNC or Remote Desktop to controller the target machine from your computer. You won't have to sit in front of it or have a monitor on it if you really don't want to. Remote Desktop is built into Window XP, so it is very easy to set up and works extremely well. You could burn DVDs that way with ease.

You don't even need to do that. All you need to do is to share whatever folder (Win XP) you want to share, then write the IP of the file server down and when you want to access it, go to your address bar and write:

Code:

//<ip>

Then you're in on the computer and you can freely navigate around.

 

[chaos40]

Ah, good tip. I've used Remote Desktop *from* Home, but I never used it to get to a Home machine.

 

[SoBe8503]

ummmmm... sry to be a stickler, but you need back slashes "\\\\" for windows. "//" are for a *nix machine.

 

[kc-tr]

Turning on File and Print Sharing:

First find the folder that you want to store all of your files in via network. You can but Its highly recommended that you do not share C:. In this quick guide Ill just show how to share your My Documents Folder.

1. First right click on the folder then go to properties, and click on the "Sharing" Tab.

2. Put a checkmark in the box that says "Share this folder on the network" The share name will be automaticly populated.

3. Check the box that says "Allow Network users to change my files"

4. Hit ok! Now from the remote computer, click on "My Computer" then in the common tasks bar on the left click on my network places, give it a moment to search and you should see the other computer in the list. Click on it just as if it were a folder on your local machine.

This is the fastest way to do this. You might be prompted by a screen on the sharing tab that asks if you want to enable file/print sharing, if so follow the directions that come up wich usually consists of keep hitting next untill it prompts you to reboot. You may need to do this on both computers. If you need help or run into a problem let me know.

 

[SoBe8503]

you may also have to mess with the firewall to get things to work.

 

[kc-tr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoBe8503 you may also have to mess with the firewall to get things to work.

If you do this via windows, it will configure the firewall for you if you are using windows firewall, otherwise if you are using a 3rd party software such as zone alarm etc.. you will need to go into there and unblock port 139 for netbios sessions, and I belive there might be one other port you will need to unblock.

 

[jph1589]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kc-tr If you give me a few I can make a guide, with screenshots on how to do this. Anyone else want me to?

NVM

 

[kc-tr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jph1589 I would greatly appreciate knowing how you recommend to do it. Thanks in advance!

Already done scroll up a bit

http://www.overclock.net/1704050-post14.html