file and music server from old PC
file and music server from old PC
My friend told me that you can use an old pc to store files and music on. I was told you don't need any monitor or keyboard just the computer. If this is true How do I do this? I currently have a router with built in switch that has 4 ports and I am using 3. Information would be helpful in newbie terms. Thanks in advance. These forums are batting 100% in answering my questions.
several methods of doing what you want to do;
1. install an operating system on the comp and share the drive and data, access the data from other computers on the network.
2. install an operating system on old comp and also install www server like apache, config it, upload & store the files there using ftp or other transfer protocol.
If use www server method then best to use linux & apache instead of windows operating system.
If use windows operating system, then make sure that no login name & password is required.
Once comp is setup, just boot it and that's that, you do not need a monitor to boot it, nor do you need a keyboard & mouse either, unless you need to directly do something on the comp.
I've 2 linux servers running on my home network. I use the same monitor, mouse & keyboard for them and a windows xp comp, using a KVM switch.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/K/KVM_switch.html
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... ?CatId=202
1. install an operating system on the comp and share the drive and data, access the data from other computers on the network.
2. install an operating system on old comp and also install www server like apache, config it, upload & store the files there using ftp or other transfer protocol.
If use www server method then best to use linux & apache instead of windows operating system.
If use windows operating system, then make sure that no login name & password is required.
Once comp is setup, just boot it and that's that, you do not need a monitor to boot it, nor do you need a keyboard & mouse either, unless you need to directly do something on the comp.
I've 2 linux servers running on my home network. I use the same monitor, mouse & keyboard for them and a windows xp comp, using a KVM switch.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/K/KVM_switch.html
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... ?CatId=202
No one has any right to force data on you
and command you to believe it or else.
If it is not true for you, it isn't true.
LRH
and command you to believe it or else.
If it is not true for you, it isn't true.
LRH
If you want to do this using a Windows PC it is actually very simple. Just install a copy of Windows on the old PC and setup the hard drive as you normally would. While no special work is necessary you might want to consider using multiple drives, or at least multiple partitions on a single drive. This allows you to keep Windows and your data seperate, a very important thing to do on a file server. If your copy of Windows gets corrupted (which it shouldn't on a server) just reinstall, and your data will still be intact. You also should never be using the server as a regular PC, just as a box sitting in the corner that holds your files. This way it is harder for the thing to get corrupted by virus or spyware picked up by surfing the web, reading email, etc.
What version of Windows are you planning on using? The basic setup would be to install the OS as normal for a PC. You will need the keyboard, mouse, and monitor for this process. Create a user account for everyone who wants to have access to the server. This should be identical to the one used on the regualr PC. So if on your primary PC you use User1 with password 12345, then create an account named User1 with password 12345 on the "server".
Depending on the version of Windows used on all of the computers some more work might be required to set permissions and who can access what.
Honestly setting up a Linux server wouldn't be that much harder, and would be much mroe secure. It might take a bit of experimenting and reading to get everything setup at first, but it will be worth it in the end. The only reason I don't have a Linux server is because I run Windows 2003 Server.
What version of Windows are you planning on using? The basic setup would be to install the OS as normal for a PC. You will need the keyboard, mouse, and monitor for this process. Create a user account for everyone who wants to have access to the server. This should be identical to the one used on the regualr PC. So if on your primary PC you use User1 with password 12345, then create an account named User1 with password 12345 on the "server".
Depending on the version of Windows used on all of the computers some more work might be required to set permissions and who can access what.
Honestly setting up a Linux server wouldn't be that much harder, and would be much mroe secure. It might take a bit of experimenting and reading to get everything setup at first, but it will be worth it in the end. The only reason I don't have a Linux server is because I run Windows 2003 Server.
Actually, if just serving data on a local net, you can use windows 98. 2k & xp will also work, but you don't need any passwords, just enable a guest account that has privledge to read the shared partition or directory with the data. ZIf use win98, all you need to do is share a dir or partition because there's no security anyway.
No one has any right to force data on you
and command you to believe it or else.
If it is not true for you, it isn't true.
LRH
and command you to believe it or else.
If it is not true for you, it isn't true.
LRH
You can just browse to the other computer by looking in My Network Places. If you don't see anything try clicking on the option to show entire network, and then finding the computer you are using as a server.
From there it is just as you would do locally. Save, copy, paste, selete, whatever you want to do. That is as long as you set the permissions correctly.
From there it is just as you would do locally. Save, copy, paste, selete, whatever you want to do. That is as long as you set the permissions correctly.
What OS are you using for the file server? I will assume WinXP or 2000.
Just create a directory (folder) that you will use for all of your data storage on the computer, then right click the folder and select 'Sharing and Security' and select Share this folder and check the box that says "allow remote users to modify my files" and click ok.
Now on the regular computer, start > run and then type in \\<server's IP address>
This should open a window that shows the shares on that computer and you should see the folder that you shared out, right click on that and select 'Map Netowrk Drive' and then select the drive letter for it. This folder will now show up as a 'Drive' on your local machine, but will in fact be on the server.
Just create a directory (folder) that you will use for all of your data storage on the computer, then right click the folder and select 'Sharing and Security' and select Share this folder and check the box that says "allow remote users to modify my files" and click ok.
Now on the regular computer, start > run and then type in \\<server's IP address>
This should open a window that shows the shares on that computer and you should see the folder that you shared out, right click on that and select 'Map Netowrk Drive' and then select the drive letter for it. This folder will now show up as a 'Drive' on your local machine, but will in fact be on the server.
Edward Abbey wrote:A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.
buy a cheap switch and a cross-over cable and connect a port on the switch to a port on the router and you are all set! (if the switch has an 'uplink' port you can use a regular ethernet cable).
I got an 8 port d-link switch for about 24.00 at compUSA.
I got an 8 port d-link switch for about 24.00 at compUSA.
Edward Abbey wrote:A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.
I never saw what OS you were using.
I use Windows XP Pro on an old PIII/600MHz...and manage it using Windows own Remote Desktop Connection. That way, I can view the actual screen on the server and use your keyboard/mouse to work on it. I've got passwords enabled for accessing that but just make my music folder a "share" on the network. It won't ask for passwords. I can even log into my music server from hotels around the world.
Be sure to set this server to a static IP.
SlimDevices makes a great server for Windows/Linux/Unix etc. that you can download free. Get the Slimserver software here. Works with Winamp and any browser...enabling you to view by Song, Artist, Album, Genre etc. or Search.
The cheap network switch is the way to connect. Most of the new ones won't require a crossover cable and automatically sense which port is linked to the router.
I use Windows XP Pro on an old PIII/600MHz...and manage it using Windows own Remote Desktop Connection. That way, I can view the actual screen on the server and use your keyboard/mouse to work on it. I've got passwords enabled for accessing that but just make my music folder a "share" on the network. It won't ask for passwords. I can even log into my music server from hotels around the world.
Be sure to set this server to a static IP.
SlimDevices makes a great server for Windows/Linux/Unix etc. that you can download free. Get the Slimserver software here. Works with Winamp and any browser...enabling you to view by Song, Artist, Album, Genre etc. or Search.
The cheap network switch is the way to connect. Most of the new ones won't require a crossover cable and automatically sense which port is linked to the router.
reader
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