Richard; Before deciding what to do with your server, start by asking yourself if you plan on using it for quite a while, and whether or not it will become an important piece of your network. Slapping a server together out of spare parts and setting it up as a learning experience is always a good thing, but if you plan on relying on that server for storing important data, Internet gateway, FTP site, web-site, email, etc., then it makes good sense to invest some money into a reliable piece of equipment.
Once you know the answer to these questions, you'll know how much money to invest in the server. By the way, sounds like your motherboard is NFG, and don't consider running a server on a Cyrix CPU, unless it's only for fun. Assuming that you've got some additional PC's connected to your network, consider using one of the more powerful ones as your server, and replacing that PC with something better. As an example, a PII-350 with 512 Mb of Ram, and a 10Gb drive to run the server, should do pretty good, as long as you install a second hard drive for storage purposes. If you install a CD burner in the server, then all the systems on your network should be able to share it via "webmin", or Samba, allowing everyone in the house to burn CD's without disturbing anyone else. I haven't heard of a cablemodem that allows you to plug a hub into it, but the easiest way to solve any issues with that, would be to install 2 network cards in the server - one for the cablemodem, and one to the hub for the rest of your network. Get started with that and get back to the list. Lanman *********** REPLY SEPARATOR *********** On 10/11/2002 at 3:45 PM BCSoft@TowerTraining wrote: >Help, help, help >Since downloading and installing ML 8.2 I have been bit by the Linux bug >and >now want to set up a home network. I ordered ML 9.0 from CheapBytes and >have >tried to install it on an old Hsing Tech motherboard with a Cyrex 686 >processor and a BocaLAN 2000 network card. I apparently order the wrong >kind >of DRAM because only 65 meg of the 256 meg is recognized and the mouse only >works sporadically. >I'm serious about this network so I'm asking for suggestions. If I'm having >trouble with the serial port on the motherboard then it seems unwise to try >to upgrade the processor, buy the correct memory (if I can figure out what >that is) and change the network card. I also think a 7 gig hd isn't enough >for a server so I'm looking at something 20 gig or so. >Of course, budget matters and also, I would like to make this a learning >experience rather than buy a server box configured. >The end result should be a server with and old HP printer connected to it >(just in case) that is storing files for two Compaq Armada laptops, five >Toshiba Satellite laptops and old iMac running System 8.6 and an even older >Apple Workgroup Server that I use to run the ancient Mirror scanner. >I don't care if the server is an internet gateway since I have a couple of >5 >port hubs connected to the cable modem to allow internet access for >multiple >machines. I would, however, like to learn how to set up a mail server so >that I can take advantage of the fact that I own a couple of domain names >without paying someone like Hypermart 40 or 50 bucks a month. >I also don't care about form factor. I can screw the motherboard right to >the wall in my 'server closet', use the power supply from the tower case >and >string cables all over the walls if necessary. I just want the thing to >work. >So..... >Upgrade the processor or replace the motherboard? >----- >Richard L. Babcock, Owner >Tower Training >At Tower Training, We Bring the Classroom to You! >www.towertraining.net > > > >Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? >Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
