I want to build one of my PCs in to a home server to live under the stairs, so it needs to have:

Remote access (I dont want a monitor etc under the stairs!)
data protection (raid array is it called?)

The idea is to be able to put all my music, videos, pictures. I have tens of thousands of files and its getting to the stage I cant remember what PC they are on!!!

So, what software do I need?!

Thanks!

 

would be interested in the replys to this aswell

have a lil bump

 

http://www.whatpc.co.uk/personal-com...311/living-nas

Article may help you Alex

 

sounds like all you need is a small NAS box if its just file access youre after, loads on the market

 

Remote access - use remote desktop included with Windows.

For data protection, I have a USB drive I copy to every so often, then store at the parents house. Backups need to be stored somewhere completely different. In the event of fire/theft/virus (really hope it never happens) a RAID setup won't help.

NAS is a good idea, but again BACK IT UP!

 

Another idea - if you have a PC that is usually turned on anyway, put a big ass drive in it and share it on the network. 1TB can now be had for under 50 quid ebuyer.

 

if you give a more detailed list of exactly what you want to acheive i can advise a bit better.

 

Everything you'll need is detailed above,

With RAID (Redundant Array Inline Disks) you'd want Raid 1 or Raid 0, cant remember which is mirroring (duplicates everything) and which is striping, (spreads data accross disks), Not really usefull for home use, as said there are better easier ways.

 

Thanks adrain!!!

llooks like all I need is a NAS

 

i have a NAS to do that job but also back it up onto a USB hdd

 

i was under the impression this was old school way of doing things. Is it not widely available to hold all this sort of stuff on a virtual server?

or is it not really available yet to joe public?

by this i mean buy space on a 3rd party hosted server so you physically dont have any hardware? - i thought this was the future/ way forward?

i'm sure the IT people will put me right

 

Done a similar thing at my house, I have a Lacie 1Tb drive on my network (drive has built in ethernet port), linked it to my 8 port hub which is connected to the PC's in the house, which also means I can access it wirelessly via my router. Works well, i can stream audio / films via media centre from there without a problem. I would still however back the drive up as well.

 

Data Warehousing?

Everything is available to the public, but the costs may sway people away.

 

Windows home server works well and will back up all other PC's on the network and provides a simple restore process too. You only need a low spec machine with lot of storage.

I built mine for under around Ł300

 

Can this type of set up be used as a Home Entertainment hard drive to acsess dvd's and music from ?

Mike

 

mike R, what youre talking about is a media center PC/server which will require a bit more than just a NAS.

as for virtual servers, virtualisation is only there to reduce the physical harddware need, from a user perspective it doesnt matter if something is vitual or physical. as for hosting via the internet, do you really wanna access all your files over your broadband connection?

 

I bought a D-Link DNS-323 - supports 2 drives, gigabit networking, has print server built in - Ł120 without disks. Includes 'Memeo Autobackup', which mirrors all the folders you select to the NAS drive as a live backup. Also features a UPnP AV server and iTunes server facility. Haven't had a single problem

 

I use Windows Home server - does everything you need and it can backup your PCs/laptops!

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro...r/default.mspx

Found it very good.

 

what's the best way to back up your stuff though?
dvd discs?
usb drives?
something else?

 

Early mac mini with ext tb drive has served me well, just works as youd expect like all apple products

 

depends how much you have dojj.

if you have a few gig, then dvd's are fine.
if however you have 100's of GB, then you will want USB drive.