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Thread ID: 71026	2006-07-24 07:25:00	Building A Server for the home	Pourhommenz (104)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
473101	2006-07-24 07:25:00	I might be think a little to pie in the sky but I have just bought a laptop and its connected to a router and modem wirelessly and another laptop in the house is connected to the router via a neverwire (which is a ethernet device that puts the network through the power cables in the house, so you plug one neverwire a power socket next to the laptop upstairs and plus the other neverwire downstairs and plug that into the router). What I am wanting to do is .. I have my old computer (its a p4 2.6ghz, 1gb of ddr400) and want to turn it into a server sort of. It has a 160gb hard drive in it and I want to have a very good firewall installed on it, antivirus if possible and have the whole hard drvie shared as a backup/ shared drive so that both laptops can access it aswell as be protected while surfing the new and download from p2p software. What I am wondering is what is the best way to go about this? I remember I left my computer on once for 3 weeks while I was away (by mistake) and came back (from leaving MSN messegner on and that was about it) and it took about 1/2 an hour to open one folder but after a restart it was fine. How can I make it so that if I leave the computer/server on, that is will still run smoothly and be able to protect us well. Also, what software should I be looking at to get this all done (like, is it possible to have anti-virus installed on it to protect the two laptops), should I be using windows or linux (btw, i have NO idea how to use linux) and what AV and firewall software would be good. Hope ya guys can help me on this one :) Cheers James	Pourhommenz (104)
473102	2006-07-24 09:26:00	I might be think a little to pie in the sky but... Not as difficult as you might think. Just need to be a bit persistent. What I am wanting to do is .. I have my old computer (its a p4 2.6ghz, 1gb of ddr400) and want to turn it into a server sort of. It has a 160gb hard drive in it and I want to have a very good firewall installed on it, antivirus if possible and have the whole hard drvie shared as a backup/ shared drive so that both laptops can access it aswell as be protected while surfing the new and download from p2p software. So you want a gateway that everything goes through before the internet, and also a file server? Linux is perfectly suited to this task. I recommend Ubuntu (www.ubuntu.com) - it has a server package and fairly good documentation. Some of the others popular distros are also able to be used as pure servers quite easily. PressF1 runs on FedoraCore.	vinref (6194)
473103	2006-07-24 09:42:00	Ok, but as to the running speed over time?? And also, once again I know nothing about using Linux, how easy will it be to get both laptops (Windows XP pro) to work with Linux?	Pourhommenz (104)
473104	2006-07-24 10:19:00	Ok, but as to the running speed over time?? I do not know much about Windows, but that speed thing over time is not typical of Linux. Some Linux servers are left on until the hardware falls apart - this can be years. Have a look at the NEtcraft survey (uptime.netcraft.com). The uptime units are one-tenth of a day. And also, once again I know nothing about using Linux, how easy will it be to get both laptops (Windows XP pro) to work with Linux? Easy. Ubuntu comes with: DHCP - just plug your Windows machines into it, run DHCP on the Windows machines and you are connected to the internet. SAMBA - just tell Windows neighbourhood network about it and it should work. Save files, get files, modify files etc etc. Firestarter - builds your Linux iptables firewall for you. Try it. If you need help, there are a few people here to assist you. [Edit]: The newer Linux kernel and FreeBSD cannot be reliably estimated by Netcraft for the reasons given in the FAQ shown above.	vinref (6194)
473105	2006-07-24 10:27:00	And the antivirus? Thanks for all this by the way	Pourhommenz (104)
473106	2006-07-24 10:31:00	With running speed over time you should be fine - unlike Windows, you can just leave Linux running, and it'll keep right on going. Another little tweak you can use to increase performance is don't install a GUI - just install the server basics and webmin, and use webmin for all your configuration needs. ...how easy will it be to get both laptops (Windows XP pro) to work with Linux?This depends entirely on what you're wanting to do with it. If you're just after filesharing etc, very easy. It all depends on what you're trying to achieve. Noting that you use a wireless ADSL router - do you realise you will have to purchase another access point (or alternatively a wired router) if you want to use the server as a firewall and still keep the laptops' wireless access? Because the connection will have to pass through the server, you will need a modem/router connected to the public interface (currently your wireless router) and a wireless access point attached to another interface on the server (to provide wireless access to your LAN).	Erayd (23)
473107	2006-07-24 10:35:00	And the antivirus? Thanks for all this by the way Well... Linux doesn't really need an antivirus product, because there simply aren't any viruses (yet, and long may it stay that way) that can affect it. You can install either ClamWin or AVG (yes, there's a Linux version now), but these will only scan for Windows viruses in an attempt to protect your windows machines. Whether you actually use a virus scanner is entirely up to you.	Erayd (23)
473108	2006-07-24 10:46:00	Have a look at this www.howtoforge.com This is what I did. Works an absolute treat. I never turn the linux machine off. You don't actually need samba; I use PuTTY for some admin stuff and Filezilla to transfer files back & forth. Lot of fun setting it up.	jcr1 (893)
473109	2006-07-24 11:01:00	...and Filezilla to transfer files back & forth.Good grief! Why use FTP when Windows talks smb already? (and smb's usually a lot faster)	Erayd (23)
473110	2006-07-24 11:17:00	Well... Linux doesn't really need an antivirus product, because there simply aren't any viruses (yet, and long may it stay that way) that can affect it. You can install either ClamWin or AVG (yes, there's a Linux version now), but these will only scan for Windows viruses in an attempt to protect your windows machines. Whether you actually use a virus scanner is entirely up to you. Sorry, but I disagree that Linux doesn't really need an anti-virus. The Linux computer will not be infected but, as you say, the Windows computers connected to it need protection from the viruses in files being transferred to them even though they should have their own AV installed. The more the protection the better in my view.	FoxyMX (5)
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