Setting Up A Storage Server

[tmhanser]

This is a pretty basic server question, so I apologize!


I’m going to relegate one of my Dell machines to operate as a storage server, so I can access files from other machines on my home network. I still have an installer disk for Windows XP and I think I’ll use it for this server.


I don’t plan on connecting a keyboard, mouse or monitor. The box will just serve files, and I may turn it off at times.


But as I understand it, in order to enable sharing for each of the storage drives on this box an admin account with PW will have to be created.



That means when you boot this machine, you’ll have to log in every time.


But with no keyboard, mouse or monitor, that could be challenging.
How do I get around this?


Are all servers connected via KVM switch, allowing you to login?


Thank you.

 

[Venom20]

if it just meant as a file server, you might want to think about installing freenas on a thumb drive instead of XP. Then you shouldn't need peripherals when you restart, if you need to.

 

[JackMDS]

This free TweakUI software can configure XP to boot with auto insertion of user and password.

 

[imagoon]

You don't need to log in to access shared files remotely. Also use proper shares, not the admin shares. Those are for admins....

 

[tmhanser]

You don't need to log in to access shared files remotely. Also use proper shares, not the admin shares. Those are for admins....

I stand corrected. I assumed that admin privileges WERE required to set up sharing.

Moving forward!

Thanks, everyone.

 

[imagoon]

I stand corrected. I assumed that admin privileges WERE required to set up sharing.

Moving forward!

Thanks, everyone.

It is required to set it up, but once there you can connect to it using the permissions you assign without having anyone logged in to the box.

 

[tmhanser]

It is required to set it up, but once there you can connect to it using the permissions you assign without having anyone logged in to the box.

Imagoon:

I want to nail this down before I nuke the drive and start the Windows XP installation. No sense in messing around.

I'll install the OS with NO administrator PW needed (it's a checkbox or option when installing, if I'm not mistaken.)

And I should still be able to set a drive or folder's sharing privileges with NO admin permissions?

Thanks!

 

[imagoon]

This is how it works: Accounts with no password cannot connect remotely. So Administrator with no password can log on to the console of the box, create users, create a directory and share it to those users but it will fail to connect since a blank password is not accepted. Once you create a share you can give any user you want "admin rights" to the files in the share.

 

[Subyman]

I'd just install freenas and set the box up to guest share through CIFS. You can install, setup, and run freenas in less than 30 mins.

 

[tmhanser]

Thanks, Imagoon. I've got it now!

Freenas can run from a thumbdrive or a startup drive? Hmmm...I'm looking at the site and FAQs right now.

Running it off of a thumbdrive would free up disk space, allowing for one more storage drive (no OS installed on the C: drive.)

Running off of a thumbdrive might be slow when booting up the machine, yes? But that's not much of a concern, especially considering it's open source! I can deal with that.

I assume Freenas will work with my existing NTFS formatted drives?

Thanks, everyone.

 

[Zxian]

Running off of a thumbdrive might be slow when booting up the machine, yes? But that's not much of a concern, especially considering it's open source! I can deal with that.

The slow booting isn't a concern since you'll likely be leaving this running for most of the day. How often are you going to be shutting down the system?

I assume Freenas will work with my existing NTFS formatted drives?

Don't count on it. NTFS support in OSX and Linux is read only (writing can be done, but I wouldn't trust it for any of my data).

Back up the data to an external location (other computer, USB drive, etc), and then format the drives in the file server as whatever the default under FreeNAS is. My guess is that they use ext3 or ext4. Don't worry - you won't notice any difference when browsing the shares. Network shares are independent of local file systems.

 

[soholingo]

I think you are overthinking this, keep it simple.

1. Create your windows XP and have an administrator WITH a password.
2. Pick a folder and share it out.
3. Allow EVERYONE to read it (or write to it) if its only going to be used in the home.
4. I would configure remote desktop so that you can log in remotely without a keyboard/mouse/monitor. (make sure your workstation can boot without a keybord/mouse/monitor).

This stuff is REALLY easy you just need to know what you want to do. If you have questions ask. But if you are doing simple file sharing within your home, no need for a lot security. If you want to secure it you can, but that will add lots of frustration, unless someone tells you explicitly how to do it.

Keep us posted and ask questions.

Jay

 

[JackMDS]

Everyone are all people who have account.

For Everyone without an account switch On and configure the Guest account.

 

[Jeff7181]

Another vote for FreeNAS given that you're not running AD or some other directory service.

 

[soholingo]

Jack,

Thanks for posting. I have always used the everyone group and have never done anything with the guest account. Simply enabling sharing and adding everyone has always seemed to work so I did some digging.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/300489

Seems that it depends on what version of windows you are using as to whether guests needs to be turned on or enabled. I generally use windows XP professional and I don't join them to a domain and in that case the guest account is used to make connections automatically (something I didn't know).

As a side note, I always set my shares to everyone full control and control access to the files at the NTFS level.

Thanks for pointing that out, I just got smarter!

Jay