The first file server I installed in the house ran Windows Home Server. Then as the hardware started to die, I replaced it with a new server running Ubuntu Linux. This is still a work in progress.
The main reason for choosing Linux are:
- Software will run on an existing motherboard ($300 to complete the machine versus price of an OSX machine)
- Provides a test bed for Linux builds
- Provides a platform for Linux based software
The main disadvantages are:
- Remembering how the thing is configured
In an attempt to reduce the configuration cost issue, I am gathering together some info here on the build.
Installed Software
Ubuntu
The installation is an out of the box Desktop install.
Samba
Exports a portion of the hard drive for access from Windows or OSX.
On OSX it is more reliable to connect up using cifs://orac.hallambaker.com/ than using smb.
SSH
Installation
Minecraft
The main service it runs for the house.
X11
There is a server installed, need to be able to turn it on/off and work out how to log into the desktop remotely.
Future Plans
- I have yet to find any good backup strategy for any of my machines. Most have RAID disk capability but there is a big difference between having RAID capability and being able to turn it on. The documentation on doing so for Windows is usually execrable. For Linux it is often non-existent.
- DNS
- Want to install a DNS service for testing etc. purposes. This is currently on Dogbert which is an OSX box.
- DHCP
- Want to perform the DHCP management from one of the machines I control rather than the Verizon network gateway.