Basic Home server questions

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Bobdabomb

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Nov 23, 2016
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Hello,

I have some questions about home servers and how to set one up.

1) What else can you do with a home server besides backing up a computer?
2) How do you set one up? What do I need?
3) Should I buy a home server or build one?
4) Should I use ssd's or hdd's for storing the things in it?
5) Does it always stay on and do you ever turn it off?
6) Does it require a boot drive (ssd) and/or a storage drive (hdd) like most computers do? Or is everything on one or more drives?
7) How do you connect one to a computer?
8) How much power does one take? I have a pre built computer right now that is just crap; could I use it for a home server? Should I replace anything inside of it? I think I'll replace the power supply for sure but any other suggestions are appreciated. Its got 8gb of ram, an i5 650 that is 6 years old. And I think it has one fan and that's the cpu fan. Would it work good? Thanks for any info.
 
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USAFRet


Mostly. Then...
4. Be able to access it from your other system(s).
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1. I use mine as a central store for shared items, backups, and as an HTPC to play music, and video out tot he TV
2. Mine is just a basic Windows PC
3. Build
4. SSD for the OS drive 120 or 250GB. Lots of HDD's for all that other stuff.
5. Mine is always on
6. Just like any other PC, it requires a drive for the OS. Having the OS and applications on its own drive makes things MUCH simpler
7. They all connect tot he same router, so they are all on the same LAN
8. As much as a regular PC. All depends on what parts. At idle, not that much.

My current config:
Pentium G840
4GB RAM
HD 6670 GPU 1GB
120GB SSD (OS and applications)
~20TB of other HDD space

Soon changing to:
i5-3570k
16GB RAM
HD 6670 GPU 1GB
Same drives
 
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Basic answers:
1) You don't need a server to back up a computer, but you can do that. Short answer is anything a normal computer can do. (Common uses: web server, firewall, network share, domain controller, app server, render farm (de-centralized processing), etc)
2) You have to define what you want the server to be doing before setup can truly begin. But generally you start with a server class OS. Linux, Unix, Windows Server or Core.
3) If you want to learn about enterprise class servers, getting an old rack mount PC is a cheap way. You can build one and put the same software on it, doesn't really matter.
4) The type of storage to use depends on use and cost primarily.
5) Most servers are generally left on. Computers often fail at start up, but can run continuously for a very long time between repairs. Scheduled maintenance and downtime are normal in an Enterprise.
6) You will need something to boot from, doesn't necessarily have to be a fixed drive. Computers can boot off of a network if configured properly. (Though generally it is the server that will provide the boot for a client)
7) Networking, as a simple answer. What the server does determines your interface.
8) That depends entirely on the hardware and what the server does. If it is light on processing the server will sit idle most of the time.

Setting up a small home network with a domain controller can be educational. Lets you understand enterprise networking permissions. I'm not much of a networking guy, but you can use servers as web filters and fire walls and all kinds of things on that end.
 
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1. What do you WANT to do? I generally think of a home server as a computer that is always powered on and always available on the local network. It can do anything that any other computer can do. I have two NAS units and one Linux computer on my home network that fit the above definition of servers. The two NAS units provide shared storage and the Linux box runs applications.
2. It depends. You start with a functioning computer and tailor it to what you want to do.
3. Buy or build? That depends on your desire and experience. If you want something that "just works" then a commercial NAS unit is the simplest and fastest path to a home server.
4. Probably HDDs, the performance is limited to the network for shared storage.
5. I recommend it stay on 24/7.
6. It depends.
7. It is a network connection.
8. You could use your existing hardware if you want to build.
 
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Yes, that Samsung would work quite well for the OS drive
HDD's? WD Blue/Black, or Seagate.
In whatever sizes your needs and budget dictate.

My system:
120GB Sandosk SSD - OS and applications
3TB WD Green
3TB Seagate
2TB Seagate
2TB WD
8TB Seagate
 
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Oh, I think I get it, so you just have it as a computer that you would normally run, but you have it hooked up to your current PC and whenever you wanna backup stuff, you just copy it to those drive(s)? Right?

What is Windows Server 2016? Thanks.

And lastly, which drive of those 2 would be better for 3 or 4 tb? Thanks.
 
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1. It's hooked to the router, and just another PC on the LAN. Just like the other PC's, laptops, tablets, etc...

2. Don't worry about 'Server2016'. That is a Server OS, and pretty expensive. I can make use of it for my various development endeavors. Basically, it is an OS if you wished to serve data to 10,000 simultaneous users...:lol:
Regular Win 7/8.1/10 will work for your purposes.

3. Any of those drives would work. No real difference.
 
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Bobdabomb, why do I get the feeling you read "server" somewhere and they are sold to you like the greatest thing since slice bread?

You are talking about running a dedicated Windows box (because am betting you are not ready to deal with Linux) just about 24x7, that thing is gonna idle, am guessing 30 watts, 24x7. You can implement sleep, but for a server is tricky.

So far you seem to mention about FILES SERVING and nothing else. If file serving is all you need, one of those CLOUD (marketed as) boxes would be simpler, no OS for you to buy and maintain, and they probably idle using much less electricity.
 
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1. Yes. They all connect through whatever router type device you have.
What I do is, on the 'server', share a couple of folders.
On my main PC, map a drive letter to those folders.
For instance, the folder for movies is seen as the 'M' drive on my main PC. Random shared stuff folder is the "S drive"
Backups go to the "Z" drive. Each of those is a different folder on a drive in the house server.

2. 5400 vs 7200 = 50% faster...😀
For your 'house server' functions, there isn't a whole lot of actual difference. Your network throughput is the slow link in the chain, not the drive performance.
 
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Ok. So all I need to do to set one up to backup files is to:
1. Reset my old computer and reinstall Windows.
2. Put in some huge hard drives in it.
3. Connect the pc to my current pc with an Ethernet cable.
Thanks
 
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Mostly. Then...
4. Be able to access it from your other system(s).
 
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Solution
Sounds good. Thanks for all your help.

Also, can I access the files on the home server from something like an Xbox 360? Could I use that for storage for the Xbox 360?

Also, can you just store stuff on a home server? Like I know it's a dumb question but do you have to backup stuff on it or can you just dump tons of files on there?

And lastly, I have this program called syncbackfree, could I use that along with the home server to automatically backup my computer? Thanks.
 
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SyncBackFree is what I use.
It is a very good file/folder automatic copy application.

For full drive backups, I use Macrium Reflect.
Create a full image of the C drive, on whatever schedule you choose.

You can put anything you want on that 'server'.
Mine has music/movies/pics to be shared among other systems....whatever.

Anything you might put on a regular PC, you can put on this.
Because it is a regular PC.
 
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Ok. Thank you. Is that program you use free or do I have to pay for it? Thanks.
Also, can you provide a link to where I can get it? Thanks.
And lastly what version of Windows should I use (10, 8, 7) and should it be home or pro? Thanks.
 
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OK. Thanks for all your help so far but I have a few more questions left.

1. I want a new case to put all of the components of the old computer inside of. I would like a case that is a) easy to open up on both sides. b) has a side panel window on both the left and right side. c) has good ventilation in it so the PC doesn't overheat. and d) looks somewhat okay. Any suggestions? Thanks.

2. What is a good cpu fan that would work with my i5 650 cpu? Since it's gonna be on all the time, I want to get a good fan for the CPU. Any suggestions?

3. Here are my PC specs. I think they're right. Just incase you wanted to see: http://pastebin.com/MzzHi1c1
Now are you sure that this would work good? Because I have ddr memory. Yikes.

4. What are some good fans that I could put in a new case if I get one? Should I have 2 intake and 1 exhaust?

5. What is a good power supply that I could replace with the one it has now?

6. Should I consider raid 5 or 6 at all? Not even sure my MOBO supports it. This PC is over 6 years old I think. At least the CPU model is.

Thanks.

 
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1. Cases and looks are very subjective. I'd hesitate to suggest any particular one over another.
2. The current stock fan should work. Or something from the Cryorig line. Possibly the H7 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA4UF2DZ6565
3. Yes, that should work
4. Most current cases come with fans included or already installed. This is a very low power thing, so you don't need to go overboard.
Add others later if need be
5. What one do you have now?
6. Put the word RAID out of your mind
 
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Well the power supply is pretty low power I think. Why is raid bad? When you were installing the macrium reflect software and you got the installer program on your computer, did you select free or home?
 
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Macrium....the Free version
RAID - needless complexity for what you're doing. In 99% of non-corporate realms, there is little need for a RAID of any type.
PSU - I shall gather suggestions.
 
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