File Server Builder's Guide
by Zach Throckmorton on September 4, 2011 3:30 PM ESTConclusion
Home file servers can be enormously useful in a multi-system residence. Adding such a specialty system to a home network is easy, and certain file server operating systems are also very simple to set up and administer. A home file server is also an easy introduction to servers in general. Remember, the primary purpose of a home file server is storage - so rather than building around the CPU or GPU, build a home file server around the HDDs. Home file servers don't need powerful CPUs - instead focus on power savings and adequacy rather than raw processing muscle. While it's difficult - perhaps impossible - to know what HDD models are most reliable, choose your case carefully and take time managing cables so you can maintain optimal environments for your drives. Buy high-quality PSUs so your HDDs are supplied with clean power. And of course, back up your data!
"The files are in the computer. It's so simple!"
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HMTK - Monday, September 5, 2011 - link
I've got one and it happily runs Windows Server 2008 R2, even as a domain controller and Microsoft Security Essentials for AV. Only 1 GB RAM but that's enough for simple file storage. I still have 2 bays free if I need more than the 2 TB mirror I have now. And it has an eSATA port I think.tmensonides - Monday, September 5, 2011 - link
I have a readynas atom as a file server, but have been toying with building an atom based system as 1: A backup for the readynas and 2: a webserver for my wifes business blog (photography)....her blogsite maybe gets 50-75 hits and a max/good day.....Could an atom bases syatem handle that with out super crappy load times?
bobbozzo - Wednesday, September 7, 2011 - link
If you're using wordpress, it can be pretty slow on low-end hardware, but 75 hits is nothing.HMTK - Monday, September 5, 2011 - link
Who's going to have a 10 Gb switch at home? Please get real. Most SMB's don't even have that. Why not go full 8 Gb fiber while you're at it :-)alpha754293 - Tuesday, September 6, 2011 - link
@HMTK12x IB EDR FTW!!!!
(what's up? long time no talk.)
futurepastnow - Monday, September 5, 2011 - link
I'm just going to post the specs of the file server I built a little over a year ago:Windows Home Server (original edition)
Athlon LE-1660 45W processor
2GB DDR2 RAM
Gigabyte 740G mATX mobo
Six WD Greenpower 1TB drives
Antec Sonata case
Corsair 400CX PSU
I originally tried to build a lower power WHS box with an Atom processor, using a PCIe card to add more SATA ports so I could run all six drives. Performance was not satisfactory, drive indexing and balancing took way too long, and (because of the PCIe card) I got no warning that one of the drives was filling up with bad sectors before it died. And due to the slowness of the Atom, not all of my 2+TB of data had yet been duplicated across the six drives.
I replaced it with a very cheap K8 CPU and the cheapest motherboard that had six SATA ports built-in and was from a brand I trust. The Athlon is much faster, although a lower-clocked dual-core would have been better. There are better options for those building today, anyway. I'm still very happy with the server in its current form.
Malih - Monday, September 5, 2011 - link
What about underclocking+undervolting the overheated but cheaper Athlon CPU, that would make it quite power efficient and lower in temps compared with the Pentiums in that regard.I'm hoping some tweaking tips like this in a Builder's Guide article from Anandtech.
GTaudiophile - Monday, September 5, 2011 - link
In the OS section of the article, he writes:"While there is an Ubuntu Server Edition, one of the easiest ways to turn Ubuntu into a home file server is to install and use Samba. (Samba can be used on not only Ubuntu, but also FreeBSD.)"
I am confused by this a little bit.
SAMBA is by no means exclusive to Ubuntu or any other distro. In fact, I use SAMBA shares through FreeNAS and it works quite well. I just think the article alludes (to the lay-person) that SAMBA is somehow exclusive to Ubuntu and it is not.
Secondly, why does the article not touch on NFS at all? From what I understand, NFS is faster and more reliable than SAMBA.
Braumin - Tuesday, September 6, 2011 - link
For the average person, WHS 2011 is just the easiest way to go. If someone is moving up from a NAS, then they don't just want file storage. WHS offers great and pain free PC backups with image based restores, a great remote access page with full SSL, and it is dead easy to configure and use.I think the comments have gotten a bit out of hand with various RAID incarnations that people have. Most people don't need RAID. They need centralized file storage, and then need a backup. WHS does both. It also supports RAID if you really need it.
I have to say, I would rather see a bit more in depth on this topic. It is important for many people these days since everyone seems to have at least two computers per house, if not more.
semo - Tuesday, September 6, 2011 - link
I think that an article of such nature should go in a lot more depth in regards to backups (strategies, equipment and best practices).