What to do with an old desktop?
- Thread starter tony_ong
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give me?
hahas other than giving it away.. what else i can do with it?
thinking of converting it to nas or something but not sure how to go about doing it...
Is linux or freenas better? is it difficult to config?
Thehim
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IMO, freenas specially for NAS solutions on old rigs.
But I'm a stupid guy, don't know how to configure stuffs, as such, I went for Lightweight distributions of Linux with GUIs, so it's easier.
A complete Linux OS is very flexible and programmable provided user knows how to.
I don't know, but there are Linus users out there who are more than willing to teach.
And there are dummies in the net too.
I used a new Celeron with o/b VGA tried with file storage in my network using Lubuntu, a light-weight Ubuntu variant, and it's quite usable.
Then I changed the hardware, turned that rig to connect to TV, at the same time with 5 HDDs inside.
I tried installing FreeNAS on the Celeron build previously but was futile, that's why i turned to Lubuntu.
You could try FreeNAS though.
There's basically 4 rather popular Ubuntu Distros, namely;
Ubuntu, Xubuntu, Kubuntu, Lubuntu.
You could go read up more if you want, I just went for the most lightweight of the 4.
DeadandBuried
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hahas other than giving it away.. what else i can do with it?
thinking of converting it to nas or something but not sure how to go about doing it...
I converted mine into a secondary PC attached to my TV.
IMO, freenas specially for NAS solutions on old rigs.
But I'm a stupid guy, don't know how to configure stuffs, as such, I went for Lightweight distributions of Linux with GUIs, so it's easier.
A complete Linux OS is very flexible and programmable provided user knows how to.
I don't know, but there are Linus users out there who are more than willing to teach.
And there are dummies in the net too.
I used a new Celeron with o/b VGA tried with file storage in my network using Lubuntu, a light-weight Ubuntu variant, and it's quite usable.
Then I changed the hardware, turned that rig to connect to TV, at the same time with 5 HDDs inside.
I tried installing FreeNAS on the Celeron build previously but was futile, that's why i turned to Lubuntu.
You could try FreeNAS though.
There's basically 4 rather popular Ubuntu Distros, namely;
Ubuntu, Xubuntu, Kubuntu, Lubuntu.
You could go read up more if you want, I just went for the most lightweight of the 4.
guess have to wait till my break then i can go and try it out.
have used the ubuntu before but mainly for school work. so didn't really learn about using it as a server.
Thehim
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Lubuntu isn't file-sharing enabled out-of-the-box.
If you want a complete package, best would be to go for the Original one, Ubuntu.
For Lubuntu, you have to get Samba packages so as to enable file/folder sharing.
You can try it out on your rig which is for school work, just get the Samba package.
i see.
hahas my ubuntu is in VM so. not installed on a actual rig itself. will try to install it on the desktop to try out.
maybe will try out FreeNas first.
Do post back your results and end choice
I am kaypo
sure. but may not be so fast as still got school assignments to do also.
managed to installed FreeNas and added it as a network drive to my laptop.
also managed to install transmission on the FreeNas after some trouble though. but have not try out the program.
so far only tested adding files to the mapped network drive.
Good for you, I couldn't get FreeNAS to work the last time.
ohoh. i see. hmmm. though the speed for wireless kinda bad. haven try with wired connection yet.
have to get a hdd first before really using the system as now only using a 120gb 2.5" hdd.
Thehim
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If you're using desktop, go for wired as much as possible.
Wireless and Homeplugs are limiting factors alot!
I tried Homeplugs and it's not desirable.
If your motherboard has spare SATA ports, then you could install more HDDs
If you still want more options, there are SATA controller cards available, PCI forms.
I've got 1, but yet to utilized.
Wireless and Homeplugs are limiting factors alot!
I tried Homeplugs and it's not desirable.
If your motherboard has spare SATA ports, then you could install more HDDs
If you still want more options, there are SATA controller cards available, PCI forms.
I've got 1, but yet to utilized.
Last edited:
If you're using desktop, go for wired as much as possible.
Wireless and Homeplugs are limiting factors alot!
I tried Homeplugs and it's not desirable.
If your motherboard has spare SATA ports, then you could install more HDDs
If you still want more options, there are SATA controller cards available, PCI forms.
I've got 1, but yet to utilized.
i know wireless will slow down the transfer speed quite alot. but abit no choice for me cause my router is in another room. my room now only able to use wireless.
have to use my brothers' desktop/laptop to try the wired connection since theirs are in the same room as the router.
the motherboard only got 2 SATA ports. and i also got no more spare HDD that is empty. other portable HDDs all got data in them. so i guess the only way out is to get one or two 1TB HDD to put into the system. so can have the option to do raid 1
for now i don think i need that many HDDs for the system yet.
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