Create a File Server?

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ishawnishawn
Posted:
in Genius Bar edited January 2014
I'm looking into turning my old PC box into a file server. I understand that there is absolutely no way for Mac and PC to do this... because it's been a bitch trying to figure out. My question is this, is there a way to just use the box, and format the drives in OS X somehow so that I can connect to my computer(s) though a Gigabyte connection? Is this possible or should I save the 5 grand and get an XServe?

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  • Reply 1 of 19
    kickahakickaha Posts: 8,760member




    Load up PC with Linux. Run Samba. Done. The Mac will see it just fine. You'll have ._* files littering the drive, but if you're viewing it from just a Mac, you won't see them.
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  • Reply 2 of 19
    ishawnishawn Posts: 364member
    Where can I get Linux? If I'm not mistaken it's free correct?
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  • Reply 3 of 19
    kickahakickaha Posts: 8,760member
    Yes, although if you already have it running Windows, you can always just turn on the Windows File Sharing, and the Mac will see that too. (Windows File Sharing == SMB == Samba)
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  • Reply 4 of 19
    ishawnishawn Posts: 364member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Kickaha

    Yes, although if you already have it running Windows, you can always just turn on the Windows File Sharing, and the Mac will see that too. (Windows File Sharing == SMB == Samba)



    Okay... can I install multiple drives in that and it will see those just fine without having to install windows on there too? God I hate Windows... and where do I go to turn on Windows File Sharing is that on the Mac or the Windows (And if on the Windows, what is the process of getting to that window?)
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  • Reply 5 of 19
    dmzdmz Posts: 5,775member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by iShawn

    Where can I get Linux? If I'm not mistaken it's free correct?



    http://fedora.redhat.com/download/



    (just be sure you know how to handle ISO images)



    Kickaha is right on Windows file sharing, though, that might be the most straightforward.



    Also, if you need AppleTalk, you can get Netatalk from sourceforge.net.
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  • Reply 6 of 19
    kickahakickaha Posts: 8,760member
    1) That PC box has to have an OS on it of some sort to serve files. If you already have Windows on it, just use that. If you don't, or want to move to Linux, then there are SCADS of sites to get you through that, but I'll warn you, it's not for the non-techie. (Yes, yes, before anyone screams at me, it's gotten much better, but considering that he's not even sure what Linux *is*...) redhat.org, debian.org are two big ones.



    2) Once you have *an* OS on it, multiple drives *should* be immediately supported, but that's between you, your OS of choice, and those drives. On the Mac, it just works painlessly. Windows, pretty darned good unless it flakes out, and I honestly don't know what the state of the art is on Linux at the moment. Might have to muck with /dev, might not. I'm hoping not, but that'd depend on what GUI shell and tools you choose to install.



    3) I don't know where you'd find the file sharing under your current system, particularly since I don't know what system it is.





    Me, I'd put a basic Linux or Darwin installation on it, and call it good, but I'm more familiar with the guts of those systems than you may be.
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  • Reply 7 of 19
    ishawnishawn Posts: 364member
    Well I have Windows XP Home on the old box which was my parents (And still pretty quick since I did a reinstall on it and nothings on there but space). I know that if I can, I want to have Windows on the box since it's already there, but I wasn't sure of the wording for the directions to turn on file sharing for which box its supposed to be. So, assuming I'll use Windows, how do I turn on file sharing?



    I already have the mac set up for windows and printer sharing so Mom and Dad can use my printer with their laptop upstairs. So, I assume I have to do something in XP to be able to recognize it in my "Network" folder in Finder (Which is also where I assume the computer/drives will be availible)



    So. Sorry about the confusing, I am not very good with words. But if anyone has directions for turning on windows file sharing for the Windows itself, please let me know. System Preferences in Panther is already set to view network computers. This I know because I can access files in the windows laptop upstairs.
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  • Reply 8 of 19
    kickahakickaha Posts: 8,760member
    Wild guess (since I really *don't* know offhand): Look in the System Preferences on the Windows box, and look for Network. Poke around in there, particularly looking for 'File sharing', 'SMB', or some such.



    Or heck, you could always brave the Windows Help...
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  • Reply 9 of 19
    ishawnishawn Posts: 364member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Kickaha

    Or heck, you could always brave the Windows Help... [/B]



    Ha... I was so excited that Mac's help was actually helpful!
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  • Reply 10 of 19
    kickahakickaha Posts: 8,760member
    Heh.



    Well, I booted up VirtualPC *just for you*, you lucky dog.



    Start -> Control Panels -> Network and Internet Connections -> Network Connections -> Set up a home or small business network



    At least I *assume* so, since mine comes up bitching that it can't launch the wizard because I have to go set up the hardware first...
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  • Reply 11 of 19
    ishawnishawn Posts: 364member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Kickaha

    Heh.



    Well, I booted up VirtualPC *just for you*, you lucky dog.



    Start -> Control Panels -> Network and Internet Connections -> Network Connections -> Set up a home or small business network



    At least I *assume* so, since mine comes up bitching that it can't launch the wizard because I have to go set up the hardware first...



    Geee, thanks.



    If that doesn't work... I can try out http://nic.phys.ethz.ch/readme/110
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  • Reply 12 of 19
    ishawnishawn Posts: 364member
    XP says that I have to put the Installer CD on all the computers that I want to connect to but when I put it in the mac of course nothing will run. What am I supposed to do?
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  • Reply 13 of 19
    kickahakickaha Posts: 8,760member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by iShawn

    Geee, thanks.



    If that doesn't work... I can try out http://nic.phys.ethz.ch/readme/110



    Well, those notes are for *accessing* a file server, not for *setting one up*.



    Really, just go to where I pointed you, and do whatever the wizard wants. Then, on the Mac, follow the Mac directions on that page.



    As for your other question... you are seeing Thelonious-Power in the Network/Servers folder on your Mac, which is named Thelonius-Power? That's normal. Your machine always sees itself as a reachable server. It has nothing to do with your Windows machine.



    Ack! Change the post on me after I answer it...



    I have no idea why Windows is saying you need run an installer on all the other machines on the network, but you're absolutely right, sticking a Windows Installer CD in a Mac isn't going to do anything.



    Hint: Ignore Windows. Go to the place I told you. When it says you need to install on the other machines, ignore it, keep going to the next step.
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  • Reply 14 of 19
    ishawnishawn Posts: 364member
    The wizard is finished after that. Sorry about changing the post. I was sounding redundant. Now I get folders on my network like STUDIO (Which is what I named the "network") MSHOME, WORKGROUP, and Local, which is now where my computer is at.



    According to the windows, it already has a shared folder on it, but going into STUDIO I see nothing nor a shared folder.
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  • Reply 15 of 19
    ishawnishawn Posts: 364member
    I was able to do it! I did a Command-K and typed "smb://ipaddressofcomputer" and it worked! Horray.



    I have a screenshot of the XBench disk results. The ethernet is currently a 10/100 ethernet. If I upgraded it to 10/100/1000 what sort of specs would you suggest? I want to know if this would be a good way to put some of my music loops and possibly to record to if it will do just as well or better than the disk on the mac.



    Any input is welcomed. The score for some of the stuff is much better... check it out at http://www.shawnstrickland.net/image...screenshot.pdf

    The higher score (64 or something) is the powerbook drive and the other is the windows box. The specs of that hard drive is 20GB, 4200rpm with like a 2MB buffer - it's old to say none the least



    The disk (Which I called Boot on the Windows) is recognized as a server connection on the desktop like the network icon.
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  • Reply 16 of 19
    ishawnishawn Posts: 364member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by iShawn

    The disk (Which I called Boot on the Windows) is recognized as a server connection on the desktop like the network icon.



    Is there an easier way to set this up so that it doesn't recognize it as a server, or some way that I can double click an icon and it will connect automatically for me? I want to use this as a backup of disk images, can this be done?
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  • Reply 17 of 19
    ishawnishawn Posts: 364member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Kickaha





    Load up PC with Linux. Run Samba. Done. The Mac will see it just fine. You'll have ._* files littering the drive, but if you're viewing it from just a Mac, you won't see them.



    I got bored and decided that I needed to get my feet wet in Linux (Since I figured out how to connect to use it for Windows format). I downloaded the install CD of Red Hat Fedora Core and am setting it up now. I went ahead and did a Server setup, since that was what I was going for, but it gave me lots of options, so I chose what I thought would be right, including a couple desktop things, SMB, etc. We'll see how it goes, I hope it won't litter my network folder with many folders, but I might have set this up wrong. Any suggestions? I don't have anything on it yet, so wiping it dry and starting over wouldn't be a big deal...
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  • Reply 18 of 19
    ishawnishawn Posts: 364member
    Is there a way to install OS X on a hard drive and put it into the windows box and have it discovered through the ethernet? (Since Mac is supposedly - haven't tried it - so compatible with itself)
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  • Reply 19 of 19
    sunilramansunilraman Posts: 8,133member
    have you considered transferring the files over airport extreme/ 802.11g between your mac and windows2000/xp pc?
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