server setup

[wolfeking]

I am thinking of setting up a server for home. I have a few questions on it though.
1. Do I have to buy a server board, or could I use any motherbaord??
2. What kind of NIC do I need? is it one that has more than 1 port (1 for each computer networked?)
3. will ubuntu os's work, or do i need windows server 2008?

is there anything that you all can think of to help/bits of wisdom that yall have?

 

[ROFLcopter]

Depends what you are using it for.

1. Technically any computer can be a server regardless of hardware. I have an old P4 with basic specs and was able to run a trial version of Server 2008.

2.All you need is a 10/100 NIC for at home. 10/100/1000 if you have fiber or some form of gigabit internet.

3. You can turn Ubuntu into a server with the right packages. I haven't used Ubuntu in a while but you can download various server role packages like DNS,FTP, DHCP, etc.

 

[wolfeking]

ok. I will be using it to access and back up files from my computers. From what I've been told, if i set up a server, I could access files outside the home also. Is that true?