Do most of you have a dedicated server for your home network or just a simple workgroup

[Dogma420]

nweaver---are you the workgroup guy or what?

At this point, I think we are just talking about setups, nothing about what 2k3 costs...I think that is inferred.

Terminal Services is really handy as well from remotely (try doing that from a workgroup)....although they can change it, comcast hasn't changed my IP since I got their service about a year ago...

I do agree a DC at a lan party isn't necessary. It isn't necessary at home either...it isn't necessary anywhere for that matter....

For security and convenience, at some growth point though, in the workplace you don't have a choice, you have to have a domain. Home is a cool place to practice and get to a point where you can say 'geeze, this isn't too hard at all'....doing the home network with a DC really changed my perspective a few years back.

 

[intelligentfool]

yea, basically i'm using my "trial" version of 2k3 just to learn. i absorb alot more if i can play with the OS for a bit, then start reading some books on what i was just doing.

 

[jamesbond007]

Use to have a dedicated file server, IRC server, FTP, etc on a simple 800MHz Duron box for a few years. It had 2TB of storage, but then I woke up one day realizing that I was being dumb with my space (yes, I had 1.3TB used up) and I got rid of the server and just went to my one and only desktop. Plus, it helped buy some college books!

I got a freebie 600MHz Celeron rig complete, so I might throw *nix on there to learn those kinds of OSes this summer, but I might install a virtual OS of *nix instead, since I'd like to be a network administrator someday.

 

[Nothinman]

I've got a Sun Ultra2 doing DHCP, dyn-DNS, syslog, SMTP, IMAP, server-side mail filtering, HTTP, ssh and probably things I'm forgetting.

 

[nweaver]

I am the "KISS" guy, esp. for home. If this is for learning, that is different. I use domains all the time in my test lab. For home use, I see no reason to run windows DC, when you think of cost, hassle, etc. it's just not worth it. The learning experience throws a different twist on it, as it is a good place to learn. When I have 50-100 PC's at my house, it's time for me to walk outside and find the real world again...

Not to say you don't need a server for some stuff, just not DC. I have web/sftp/ssh/firewall server at my house.

 

[Dogma420]

what does 'KISS' guy mean?

 

[nweaver]

Keep It Simple Stupid

 

[jamesbond007]

Originally posted by: nweaver
Keep It Simple Stupid

I think I converted to this when I got a girlfriend, started going to college, moved out now, and my priorities changed. All of a sudden, everything seem so clear now!

 

[jdock85]

Are there any sites where I could learn how to do all this on linux? I want to set up a network server that allows roaming profiles, dhcp, mail server, web server, etc.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: PhaZe
Do most of you have a dedicated server for your home network? Like your own domain, the backbone of the network, with storage so you and other users can pull and save data from it

Or do you guys just have all the machines on the same workgroup?

I'm considering buying a dell PC from the outrageous dell deals going on. (complete machine with lcd for ~500)

I would most likely put server 03 evaluation to get familiar with it.

thanks

You can do the "Half & Half" topology. Win2003 mange local LAN, which is a good way to learn and experience a real server.

However the Internet connection is more like a "peer to peer" arrangement. I.e not steraming it through Win2003 but rather using a regular Cable/DSL Router with forwarding Win2003 DNS to the Router's DNS.

:sun:

 

[jdock85]

Is their a site that teaches a lot of this stuff?

 

[brockj]

I run a DC. I am lucky enough to work for a company that donates old equipment to employees. So I am running my DC on a Proliant ML350. I do not use roaming profiles, however shared drives is great. I just have most of my stuff map when I log in.

 

[mobilecommand]

I run a network at home but mostly for learning..
I run a custom server with dual 2.8 xeon's with HT, 6 gig of memory and a bunch of u360 drives, etc.. I run vmware on it and host about 8 servers on it.. The servers range from mutiple dc's, clustered exchange/sql servers, citrix servers, and the list goes on. I also run my laptop and a dedicated gaming pc. I also have a bunch of cisco gear as well so pretty much at any given time i can run any app and simulate any enviroment..
If you are a hands on guy just getting started and you need gear spend the money on some cheap server or custom built pc or if you can do some side pc work most of the time you can get older hardware as payment for installing or setting up new gear..


mobilecommand

 

[jdock85]

cool, yeah I got some old pc's that i am goign to set up linux on. I have linux set up on this one so that wont be a problem, but I dont know how to set up servers. I was wondering if any of you could point me to some sites that I can use to learn how to set up different types of servers. THanks

 

[dnoyeb]

I have a RH9 Linux box running Samba as my Domain Controller. Only issue is that you cant mix 2K and XP well on the same domain. It makes file backups real easy as all files are kept on the Samba server. Plus my wife gets her favorites on whatever computer she is using. Only gets email on a single computer though.

The box is an AMD 1100MHz nforce board. Uptime is eternal. Personally I have my email from a account on the linux server and I ssh/VNC to get my email so I can get it from any computer even while at work. If you want a server get Linux because you can just keep adding new things to serve with ease.

 

[Jon855]

I got one file server, not a whole lot, but it's a nice thing to have, I can host some decent games on it as well. Yahoo!