Gaming Trying to build a home server

[Pyrmon]

For the past two days I have been trying to build a file-sharing server for my home that can be accessed from any computer with an internet connection. I found an old Pentium 4 computer that used to have a virus-filed, broken WinXP. I installed Xubuntu 10.04 and I have been figuring out how to make it run headless and make my files on it available on my network. So far I haven't really been successful. I fiddled with SAMBA and SWAT but I'm completely lost due to me being kind of a newbie. I was wondering if anyone could help out by pointing to the right direction. Also, I don't mind installing another version of Linux or even Windows. Any help is appreciated.

 

[qwertymodo]

If your other computers are Windows, you're going to want to go back and try SAMBA again.

 

[Rydian]

Any computer with a web connection?

Why not use a web server?

 

[Pyrmon]

Any computer with a web connection?

Why not use a web server?

I don't really know how, but that seems to be what I'm looking for.

 

[Diablo1123]

Any computer with a web connection?

Why not use a web server?

I don't really know how, but that seems to be what I'm looking for.

FTP might be better as you can upload files more easily.
An apache installation is a web server, will let you connect to it.

 

[Pyrmon]

So, FTP or web?
And is this a good guide: http://net.tutsplus.com/tutorials/php/how-...erver-for-free/

 

[Diablo1123]

Yes, looks like a basic LAMP setup, has SFTP to upload files and all.

 

[Pyrmon]

I am currently following that guide. If all goes well, I should have my files online soon.

 

[Urza]

What problems are you having with Samba?

Should be as simple as editing a few settings in the example config, then setting the daemon to run at boot. There's not really any reason to run a full LAMP stack if all you want to do is share files.

 

[Pyrmon]

I'd also like to host a small website in the near future, so I think it's better that I go with the web server. And I have no idea how to make a daemon or how to edit those settings correctly.
But I'm having a problem. On this guide, on the "Install a Firewall" part, I am unable to copy the configuration files to the Shorewall directory.

 

[Urza]

That's one of the nice things about arch: adding a startup daemon involves simply adding the name of the daemon to /etc/rc.conf (although I'm sure a Google search would turn up methods for Ubuntu).

I really would recommend it. It's a lot fucking simpler to configure than Ubuntu, especially for a novice.

 

[Niles]

FreeNAS
Openfiler
unRAID

If its a pure file server without much more purpose, theres many packages that will make this extremely easy for you, look up some of the above distros.

 

[Pyrmon]

That's one of the nice things about arch: adding a startup daemon involves simply adding the name of the daemon to /etc/rc.conf (although I'm sure a Google search would turn up methods for Ubuntu).

I really would recommend it. It's a lot fucking simpler to configure than Ubuntu, especially for a novice.

I may try it eventually. But in the mean time, does anyone know what to do about the Firewall, or can I just skip that part altogether?

 

[Urza]

That's one of the nice things about arch: adding a startup daemon involves simply adding the name of the daemon to /etc/rc.conf (although I'm sure a Google search would turn up methods for Ubuntu).

I really would recommend it. It's a lot fucking simpler to configure than Ubuntu, especially for a novice.

I may try it eventually. But in the mean time, does anyone know what to do about the Firewall, or can I just skip that part altogether?

Well optimally you would have a hardware firewall (either dedicated PC or router).

It would probably be fine to skip it for now, but if you don't have the aforementioned box sitting between the pipe and the clients, you'll want to revisit it later.

 

[Pyrmon]

I have a router which has firewall IIRC.

 

[Rydian]

You need to forward the right ports then.

http://portforward.com/

 

[Urza]

You need to forward the right ports then.

http://portforward.com/

How is that relevant at all?

 

[Rydian]

He stated he has one, and by default they block all incoming connections, so the right ports will need to be forwarded for anybody outside his home network to access the server.

 

[Urza]

He stated he has one, and by default they block all incoming connections, so the right ports will need to be forwarded for anybody outside his home network to access the server.

Assuming you're referring to outside access for his website, port 80 is open by default on almost all consumer routers.

 

[Rydian]

He stated he has one, and by default they block all incoming connections, so the right ports will need to be forwarded for anybody outside his home network to access the server.

Assuming you're referring to outside access for his website, port 80 is open by default on almost all consumer routers.

I've had multiple routers (linksys WRT54G and some ISP-supplied ones) and I've always had to forward the port to the correct computer.

What routers have you used?