can someone guide me to build low cost, low noise file server

[Xcom1Cheetah]

I have two computers at home and i have my brothers (two to be exact) in othe states... we share photos quite regularly and also other documents... So i am thinking of creating a small file serer which we all can share...

It doesn't need to be too fast cuz we won't be using it too frequently.. but only requirement is that it should be accessible from everywhere... and should not require any other system to be ON to be accessible. and also it should be very low noise and easily new HDD should be added to it.?

So my question is that
1. do i need windows.? can't i just have some simple program to configure it and it should be up and accessible.?

2. As i m not going to use for any ther computation so it should not have any extra stuff..

So any ideas.?

ps. sorry i do not have any clue and i have just written my requirements.

 

[jaqie]

linux would be a good OS for this, as it is free. Ubuntu (not their server version) is easy to use and with some homework not too hard to set up as a server... there are also some linux distros out there that are designed to be installed on systems that will function as a NAS (network attatched storage) and are very easy to set up.

As for the hardware, look for an old used PC (such as the $200 and lower P4 barebones at geeks.com) or if you must build new, you can go with a small atx desktop case and a via epia mini itx mobo (even a low end one will be enough for a couple sata drives shared on the lan).

 

[Xcom1Cheetah]

is there any guide/DIY available for building file server

 

[jaqie]

tons. just google for them.