Author Topic: Spec me a cheap fileserver please.  (Read 3117 times)

Spec me a cheap fileserver please.
on: July 01, 2008, 09:06:51 AM
I need a computer to run Windows 2003 Server which will just be used as a file server, it will only have a maximum of 5 people connecting.

Whats the minimum spec i can get away with?

Cheers.

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  • Offline Rivkid

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Re:Spec me a cheap fileserver please.
Reply #1 on: July 01, 2008, 09:51:16 AM
Pretty much anything. We ran an old 600 mhz machine last year with about 256mb of Ram and w2k3 server for about 20 people as a fileserver and it was fine. Would think anything you can buy new today would breeze it.
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Re:Spec me a cheap fileserver please.
Reply #2 on: July 01, 2008, 09:52:21 AM
sweet thanks for that, helps alot mate.

Re:Spec me a cheap fileserver please.
Reply #3 on: July 01, 2008, 19:28:58 PM
Is it purely a file server? Or do you need it to be part of a domain etc?

Just thought you would get better performance with FreeNAS or something like that? And then the spec is even less of an issue?

 

Spec me a cheap fileserver please.
Reply #4 on: July 01, 2008, 19:56:06 PM
FreeNas is bloody awesome. Runs on almost nothing! :D

Re:Spec me a cheap fileserver please.
Reply #5 on: July 01, 2008, 20:05:11 PM
Even if in a Windows network environment it is still compatible to active directory...

...I had a play with it ages ago... might give it an install later to have a play looks really awesome now

  • Offline Mark

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Re:Spec me a cheap fileserver please.
Reply #6 on: July 01, 2008, 20:58:03 PM
If it has to be as cheap as possible, then the cost of a server 2003 license must surely swing it in favour of something free


Re:Spec me a cheap fileserver please.
Reply #7 on: July 01, 2008, 21:45:08 PM
Sounds like i should take a gander at FreeNAS, that would possibly do the trick.

Tis purely or a file server for a very small 3 person business.

Re:Spec me a cheap fileserver please.
Reply #8 on: July 01, 2008, 22:36:33 PM
Quote from: adam2975
Sounds like i should take a gander at FreeNAS, that would possibly do the trick.

Tis purely or a file server for a very small 3 person business.


just get a nas drive then

Re:Spec me a cheap fileserver please.
Reply #9 on: July 01, 2008, 22:55:46 PM
Quote from: adam2975
Sounds like i should take a gander at FreeNAS, that would possibly do the trick.

Tis purely or a file server for a very small 3 person business.


FreeNas will do it with capacity to spare :)

I boot it from a 32mb usb 1.1 key :) Runs samba, nfs, iscsi, ftp, http, integrates with Active Directory :). Can do raid and all sorts of goodies.

Wish they made plugins for it though, if it could be a print server Id be running it all the time.

  • Offline Beaker

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Re:Spec me a cheap fileserver please.
Reply #10 on: July 01, 2008, 22:56:16 PM
Quote from: adam2975
Sounds like i should take a gander at FreeNAS, that would possibly do the trick.

Tis purely or a file server for a very small 3 person business.


Stick a big fat drive in someones PC, share it out over the network, and make sure they have a decent backup proggy doing nightly copies.  

Re:Spec me a cheap fileserver please.
Reply #11 on: July 02, 2008, 09:25:26 AM
Actually these look good and would save alot of hassle.

Can use as print server and you can access it over the internet.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/140781

  • Offline Beaker

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Re:Spec me a cheap fileserver please.
Reply #12 on: July 02, 2008, 09:27:59 AM
Quote from: adam2975
Actually these look good and would save alot of hassle.

Can use as print server and you can access it over the internet.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/140781


Those arent bad to be fair, however they are £129.99 at staples when i was in last week.  cheaper than ebuyer, and easier to get.  I paid £40 for a 250Gb one that was end of line.  

Re:Spec me a cheap fileserver please.
Reply #13 on: July 02, 2008, 18:50:07 PM
Has anyone played with the raid on this? I know there used to be problems?

Considering just mirroring drives just for a bit of data security, maybe raid 5 even?

  • Offline Mark

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Re:Spec me a cheap fileserver please.
Reply #14 on: July 02, 2008, 21:17:38 PM
Quote from: M3ta7h3ad
Quote from: adam2975
Sounds like i should take a gander at FreeNAS, that would possibly do the trick.

Tis purely or a file server for a very small 3 person business.


FreeNas will do it with capacity to spare :)

I boot it from a 32mb usb 1.1 key :) Runs samba, nfs, iscsi, ftp, http, integrates with Active Directory :). Can do raid and all sorts of goodies.

Wish they made plugins for it though, if it could be a print server Id be running it all the time.


Just run a BSD server? Or hack freenas to include CUPS or the like.

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