So you ended up watching some tech podcast from way back when and are convinced that with a little bit of time and perhaps a free weekend, you can build a cheap server. Well if this is the case I have good news and I have some bad news. The good news is there is a TON of great software that can help make this dream a reality. The bad news is there are a number of types of servers to choose from. Generally speaking, you’re looking at a file server, web server or perhaps a media server. In this article, I will share some options for each and also provide you with some things to know before jumping into this kind of thing too deeply.
The media server
Having already touched on this recently by sharing my thoughts on a good media server, I figured this is a good time to elaborate on this a bit more. In the previously linked article, I talked a bit about XBMC and how it makes for a fantastic media server software tool. But there are alternatives out there still. Basically, if you’d soon just run a hard drive into a small appliance and call it a day, I’d recommend going with TViX. They provide a number of different small hardware appliances that can fit into the tightest spaces with the coolest looking styles available. Their PVR R-2230 looks like an old Sony Walkman from the 1980s. Another cool software option, based on XBMC with a friendly face to it would be Boxee. Not the appliance, but the software running on the computer of your choice. You can have a small laptop downstairs connected to the server upstairs. A little Samba sharing and you’re streaming video to our TV via HDMI or VGA.
The file server
This is perhaps among the most practical things to use. Simple to enable as Windows, Linux and OS X make turning this feature on brain dead simple. And for the casual user, you can go ahead and just opt for whatever OS happens to be on the machine you plan on making a file server for your home LAN. I have used everything from network attached storage options (NAS) to a laptop bundled with a 2TB external hard drive. Clearly the NAS is the way to go due to speed, but if you’d rather, taking the “file sharing” approach with an external drive hooked up to a notebook is also totally doable.
In a perfect world, I recommend using a NAS solution with something like FreeNAS. Using FreeBSD, FreeNAS enables its users to take an existing computer tower and turn it into a very stable, powerful file server that can provide you with years of reliable use. If at all possible, this is the approach I’d take. It’s by far, the most stable and reliable means of sharing files with a machine meant to be left on for months at a time.
The Web server
Going to say a couple of things right off the bat. First, keep this machine isolated on your LAN. Yeah, yeah, you run Windows Essentials, etc. Don’t care. You’re screaming “exploit me” by simply having this connected to the Internet already. So allowing this box to be taken over and accessing other PCs is beyond stupid. Don’t do it.
Assuming this is destined to be a Windows PC, which will serve as a small web server for family, friends and perhaps a few others, you can run a web server from home. And also assuming you don’t have cable Internet, your ISP won’t penalize you once caught, this can be a very cost effective way to share a website without spending any extra money.
To make this happen, you will want to install Apache HTTP Server. Easy enough, just install the software and follow along with this home web server guide as there are a number of details to address. Once everything is setup and configured, you will be free to access your home server from anywhere in the world. If this feels too risky for you, there is nothing wrong with simply opting to pay for web hosting. After all, why take a chance making your ISP mad, right? But for those who liver dangerously, here we are.