home server setup

[ahkaiz]

not so sure whether this is the correct place to ask but this so mod please move this thread if it is not right place.

i actually want to setup a home media server at home so the rest of the computers can able to access the file or data via the home network.

i have a old laptop, a router, a external 3.5" hardisk.
can the combination of these be setup to become a home server?

 

[MoneyFace =p]

not so sure whether this is the correct place to ask but this so mod please move this thread if it is not right place.

i actually want to setup a home media server at home so the rest of the computers can able to access the file or data via the home network.

i have a old laptop, a router, a external 3.5" hardisk.
can the combination of these be setup to become a home server?

Yes just connect as such:

External HDD --USB--> Laptop <--LAN-- Router --> Other PCs and modem

What OS is the old laptop and the rest of other PCs on the home network using?

 

[ahkaiz]

Yes just connect as such:

External HDD --USB--> Laptop <--LAN-- Router --> Other PCs and modem

What OS is the old laptop and the rest of other PCs on the home network using?

the laptop run ubuntu/window 7.
main rig is 2 mac and 1 pc/window 7.

 

[MoneyFace =p]

the laptop run ubuntu/window 7.
main rig is 2 mac and 1 pc/window 7.

Are you trying to create home network across just Windows 7 and Mac or also viewable on Ubuntu?

 

[ahkaiz]

Are you trying to create home network across just Windows 7 and Mac or also viewable on Ubuntu?

just across window 7 and mac only.

 

[MoneyFace =p]

just across window 7 and mac only.

Then you can first create a homegroup on the old laptop in Windows 7. Join the other Windows PC into this homegroup and later follow steps here to get your Mac connected to the old laptop:
How to access a Mac's files on your PC

Homegroup is a much more convenient option than manually sharing each and every Windows 7 PC on the network.

You should change the homegroup password to something easy to remember first before joining other PCs for simplicity.

 

[coyote]

If your router has an USB port, you can go

External HDD --USB--> --LAN-- Router --> Other PCs and modem. Skipping the laptop.

Yes just connect as such:

External HDD --USB--> Laptop <--LAN-- Router --> Other PCs and modem

What OS is the old laptop and the rest of other PCs on the home network using?

 

[MoneyFace =p]

That will be even better especially if extra software isn't needed. My own D-Link DIR-655 supports USB Storage with SharePort software but it doesn't supports Macintosh.

 

[Swiftbladez]

do note that for such a connection the transfer speed will be slow. It will be capped by your USB port.

 

[MoneyFace =p]

do note that for such a connection the transfer speed will be slow. It will be capped by your USB port.

Oh ya if TS's router got such functional USB port you should test its speed cos my router that claimed to be USB 2.0 effectively only transfer files at 1+ MB/s running with SharePort.

 

[Swiftbladez]

Oh ya if TS's router got such functional USB port you should test its speed cos my router that claimed to be USB 2.0 effectively only transfer files at 1+ MB/s running with SharePort.

Yup, if connecting directly to router must check reviews for benchmarks on how well they perform.

 

[lunaraven]

its not recommended to do network file sharing using a USB hard drive.

There will be speed bottlenecks, if you're looking for a no frills kind of NAS, you could check d-link NAS.

 

[MoneyFace =p]

its not recommended to do network file sharing using a USB hard drive.

There will be speed bottlenecks, if you're looking for a no frills kind of NAS, you could check d-link NAS.

The bottleneck actually comes from the wireless router. USB 2.0 HDDs are capable of transferring data at typically 15-30 MB/s, which is way ahead of router's wireless capability. I've also no problem streaming Full HD H.264 movie over my D-Link DIR-655 and Intel 4965AGN from my WD Passport USB 2.0 HDD connected to my laptop FYI.

 

[limster]

sata drives can receive commands to spindown from idle. important for home server HDDs to be able to spindown and idle when not in use.

usb drive, not sure whether can receive commands from server to idle and spindown.

Of course, best is if the server can wake up on LAN (with SSD, WOL is very fast), no reason for home server to be on 24/7.