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We have several old computers at home, and many IDE HDD drives. I would like to make a "storage server" from one. SO I want to use its storage as a shared folder. The other computers are Windows 7 / XP. Reqirements:

  • Best config: Pentium II, 256 / 384 MB RAM, 200GB+120GB+120GB, with LAN
  • no raid is needed
  • I would like to format the non-linux partitions as NTFS (so if linux dies, I put the hdd in win computer it can handle)
  • Read/write is needed
  • I would like to share the partitions root on SMB (so accessible by windows)
  • No gui for the "server" - only ssh is needed.

What do you propose for me, with distro / version is good? I am familiar with debian, ubuntu and centos.

Thank you in advance.

lajos.cseppento
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3 Answers3

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Lubuntu can be installed on a pentium II with 384 MB RAM. Ubuntu Server has a recommended minimum of a 300 Mhz processor and 128 MB RAM.

If I needed to build a fileSERVER I would go with the obvious and install the headless Ubuntu Server. And would keep it clean, without a Graphic User Interface. Both systems build from the same source.. The Server edition has no GUI so I believe it will always be lighter in use and can put more resources into the job at hand..

I think Lubuntu is not going to be all that smooth (Got it running on a HP9010 laptop, 1.2 P4 512MB RAM, works reasonably smooth, but it's a good practice in patience)..

Bart.a
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Your best bet with be to use Lubuntu. Lubuntu uses the Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment, as its default GUI. It has very lax system requirements. You can go here to get more information about Lubuntu, and to download it.

Mitch
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If you don't need a gui, just download the server iso, install it and apt-get the packages you need. Once you setup ssh you don't even need a monitor. You might want to look into setting up JBOD to join all the HD's into one logical volume. How to set up multiple hard drives as one volume?

Of course there is always FreeNAS, which is also really easy. Just be sure to install freeNAS to a bootable USB drive because whatever the boot drive size, FreeNAS claims it and you cannot use it for storage.

Community
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Scott Goodgame
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