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General => General discussion => Topic started by: golf-sib on 31 August 2011, 10:12
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I'm after a server os that will fit my needs for a SOHO environment, but at the same time be easy to use. I tried using MS server 2003 but I could not get foldersharing to work even though I was easily able to set it up on a win7 and XP machine.
The functions I need it to carry out are:
Foldersharing
Print server for 1 printer
Web hosting with FTP (this is only really to host two-three small website for test/internal purposes and to log on to download files off server).
Email server for 10-15 emails.
Work load is not huge, just really looking for something easy to use or a simple learning curve as Unix is completely alien to me.
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XP Pro
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XP Pro
Was thinking that, but there's the 10 connection limit on XP which seems to be a bottleneck.
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XP Pro
Was thinking that, but there's the 10 connection limit on XP which seems to be a bottleneck.
with that many users you're not really looking at a SOHO solution, you're probably going to need to either figure out windows server :undecided:
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I was informed that the connection limit is not a count of how many users/PC's are linked to it. Plus don't XP have a maximum staying on period?
With the servers I didn't know if server nt, 2000, 2008 or the new home server are easier to work out or use.
I don't mind learning/working it out just wanted to know where the easiest start point on the windows front is. If that makes sense that would also meet my needs.
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Have you added the file server role from 'Manage your server'? :huh: You'll need to do that for Print Server too.
I'd suggest 2008/2011 SBS.
Very easy to use, provides all the same functions of a normal server but with a Wizard to set it all up and comes with Exchange email :smiley:
Don't forget to add in extra Shadow Copies so you have more than the default 7am and 12noon Shadow Copies :afro:
Edited: Don't want the feds seeing that bit
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Not enabled it in the manage the server bit, I suppose that would help.
what's a shadow copy?
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If a file on the server gets deleted you can recover it easily without restoring from daily backups :smiley:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_Copy
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For your needs MS SBS as already suggested.
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Thanks, any over sound advice for servers?
Also what am I better off using the IIS service, or a Wamp package with Apache, SQL and control panel for webhosting. Either way I will need to install Apache and MySQL.
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if you are going to use apache and mysql, i would go for linux
its free, does the job and much more secure
it will also do all other jobs you want it to
file server, email server etc
with the advancements in install programs its very easy nowadays
and no cost either
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with Linux which variation would you recommend. would you say its easy to work with for someone new? Also with variations they seem to come in many variations from, home to Soho to full blown server, what edition would you recommend for my functions.
I've been on a machine withe fedora and red hat, but I was stumped.
hows the driver support? and how does it work out with windows with the file system and drivers.
Are there automated schedules I can setup for back up etc?
Any remote desktop functions as well?
I got some time to fiddle around and try different OS's but I am looking for the easiest solution.
Windows home server looks tempting as its really dumped down.
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For out of the box functionality i would go for Suse or Red hat, Fedora isn't too bad but aimed at the workstation
Suse have a very nice install program aimed at new users, they are trying hard to make it as easy as possible
Which ever version you get, you can download applications to do the job you need, what ever it is
So far i have not come across any driver issues, i don't use technology that came out this morning though, if its a good brand name like HP/IBM or Dell then you should have no problems, HP and Dell even support Linux themselves
There's a bunch of automation stuff out there, some have good GUI's others are for the die hard users
You can use exceed to remotely control a box from windows, works a bit like Remote Desktop on Windows, or VNC into it from any OS
End of the day, if your a Frank Spencer it would be best to keep to Windows, Linux does have a learning curve but can be get to grips with fairly easily, once past the learning curve i find nothing is better
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Hardware wise its nothing special, nothing new, I'm sure its more than enough for the job.
2.4ghz pent 4
2gb ram
pci ide raid card
pci Ethernet card
6 x 20gb hd's
nvidia 5200
I got it on a kvm switch at the moment, remote access is not a major issue.
Will try the Linux option and see how I get on, will try suse.
Any guides on setting up web hosting, printer and folder sharing.
With the webhosting, with windows you got the IIS service otherwise you can install something like a Wamp, with Linux how do you stand and what's recommended?
Also any chance on a quick explanation on the Linux partitions?
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For webhosting I use Apache and MySQL, Suse's Install GUI can do that for you as well as the printer and folder sharing (i use Samba)
I just create a root partition /, everything else goes inside that
Oh and a swap, but Suse again has a GUI for that during the Install process
Suses Install Program is called YaST (Yet another Setup Tool), its pretty good
for a system with 2gb ram i would normally create a 4gb swap and the rest as root
You can obviously separate that out
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its free, does the job and much more secure
:huh: :grin: :grin:
Sorry, I used to believe all that crap about Linux being more secure, but it's not. But hey ho, that's a debate for another day on a IT forum.
SBS is the way forward for SME's, also much easier to set up than Linux as it's all click, click, click enter a little info, done. Especially for someone who doesn't know Linux and how to fix problems it can throw up.
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So is swap an extension off the ram such as page filing, if so is it not worthwhile making a HD completely a swap.
I remember in the past Linux created 3partitions all different types, is there a third type?
Also what's the best way off backing up and protecting the system (antivirus etc...)
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So is swap an extension off the ram such as page filing, if so is it not worthwhile making a HD completely a swap.
I remember in the past Linux created 3partitions all different types, is there a third type?
Also what's the best way off backing up and protecting the system (antivirus etc...)
swap is basically a paging file, but under linux instead of a file its a partition
there are 3 different type of partitions, primary, logical and swap
and on the secure part, i have not come across any malware, spyware, viruses even on any of my linux/unix setups, cant say that about windows or even mac os
if you dont set it up right, no matter what os you use, it is going to be insecure
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Thanks, is it possible to have the swap on a seperate hard drive or is it not advisable?
Regarding back up on Linux what is advised?
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you can have swap on a seperate drive, shouldnt be a problem
with backup i use zip, full backup of what ever on a weekend and incremental during the week
there are backup solutions out there, check this link out
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10things/10-outstanding-linux-backup-utilities/895
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I have truly discovered how incompetent I am with servers. I tried Linux and Windows server 2003 and could not understand neither. With workstations I'm happy as a squirrel but servers just baffle me, any guides on setting up windows server 2003 for home use as from guides/reviews it seems the somewhat easier one to workout/use.
There's a lot I dont understand such as how to configure simple file sharing... I've used the wizard and gone around the manual way but no avail, on my other machines if I say \\odin\Share they can't see what I am referring too.
Then whats the difference between a workgroup/domain?
What is an active directory?
Why does the server want to be a DHCP server when my hub already does so?
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Workgroup = small office/home use and pants, domain = awesome, same users/groups/printers/shares controlled centrally
Is this 2003 standard, SBS 2003 or other 2003?
Active directory is the database that essentially holds all the Domain info, users/password/groups etc
The server will only be a DHCP server if set up that role and authorised it, if it detects another dhcp server (your hub) it will stop being a dhcp server until you manually disable the hub being the dhcp server and start the dhcp server service again, or restart the server.
Sounds like you need someone to come in and sort it out tbh otherwise you'll be reading guides for days to grasp what everything is implement it, I'm not saying you're thick it's just there is a load to learn and understand how it all integrates and works together, and what effect certain things have on other things... 'tis a little complex at times :grin:
What's your time worth to the company vs what you'd pay for someone to come in and sort it? I would estimate 4-6 hours for the server and depending on how many users you have 1-2 hours per user for migration and a bit of training, maybe more depending on how much you've already setup or broke :grin:
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I've noticed how some things have an effect on others and I'm lost in terms of what I am doing, lack off understanding doesn't help.
I got a spare windows xp disc and license which is tempting me, reason being is I have about 5 pc's, non with network accounts (ie a username+password) they are just machines with the default account as nothing fancy is needed. Really all I'm after is a machine to install:
Printer
Share folders off the drives and backup
FTP
Wamp package (prob go with XWAMP, basically apache and mysql, I have the router configured with a DYNDNS account for a url and to deal with the dynamic IP)
The version of the server and license I got is the Enterprise edition.
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Sorted, with my week off I did a few lame ass server idea's. Since all the other computers are win7 I got the server to run win7 on a trial to see how it goes. I got it sharing files which was a bit more whacking round the bush than xp, but printer is sharing etc so I am chuffed.
I got xampp installed with apache and mysql. I configured it and sorted out a DYNDNS account to deal with the dynamic ip and got a subdomain off them. Instead off setting up FTP i went the lazy way off using "live mesh".
Server now does everything I want, but I think a crash course in win servers or linux is something I will need to do for the near future. I had a positive experience with one of the linux OS's as I really enjoyed the way it was done, just the command lines through me off.
Thanks for all the help guys, really appreciate it :afro:
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with Linux which variation would you recommend. would you say its easy to work with for someone new? Also with variations they seem to come in many variations from, home to Soho to full blown server, what edition would you recommend for my functions.
I've been on a machine withe fedora and red hat, but I was stumped.
hows the driver support? and how does it work out with windows with the file system and drivers.
Are there automated schedules I can setup for back up etc?
Any remote desktop functions as well?
I got some time to fiddle around and try different OS's but I am looking for the easiest solution.
Windows home server looks tempting as its really dumped down.
for a new user i would say ubuntu by far! my nan uses it on her laptop! thats no joke, it just doesn't go wrong and get fat and slow like windows.
just install ubuntu desktop thats fine for using for a server. i recommend a program call webmin for controlling you server. Its a php program you view in your browser and you can install and configure webservers etc from the click of a button!
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I tried FreeNas, its just the command line off linux, so you see no desktop, instead it's like what you described you log onto it via it's ip on the network. Only problem is it never came with php or mysql and the install process scared me off. But as a file server it was brilliant.