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jonwoad
03-10-08, 17:30
Hi

Got an idea in my head... got a mobo with processor (celery 3.0 478) and a load of spare hard drives.

I want to build a cheap testing server to test webpages and databasey things.

Whats the best OS to use?

I've got XP, vista, 2000 server, and 2003 SBS.

Any ideas?

wonderlust
03-10-08, 17:32
Linux with apache?

jonwoad
03-10-08, 17:34
suppose I could do... could dual boot it :)

wonderlust
03-10-08, 17:43
IIRC 2000 server's IIS isn't paticularly secure...

jonwoad
03-10-08, 17:45
wont be going online though

wonderlust
03-10-08, 17:46
ah ok, no problems there then.

jonwoad
03-10-08, 17:47
its just to make sure things are working fine before I publish the files :)

wonderlust
03-10-08, 17:48
files into aria's website ot intranet you mean? if so then surely you need to replicate Aria's systems

jonwoad
03-10-08, 17:49
nope it's for my personal use at home :)

wonderlust
03-10-08, 17:51
ah ok... any will do then :D

jonwoad
03-10-08, 17:52
just thinking what would run better on a celery

wonderlust
03-10-08, 17:55
on a 3Ghz? all of them will run fairly well

jonwoad
03-10-08, 17:57
thats what I thought, it's only gonna have the OS and whatever software I need to use to test websites so nothing big and heavy...

Off to my mum and dads to do some salvaging tonight :)

wonderlust
03-10-08, 18:00
lol, and source updates?

jonwoad
03-10-08, 18:01
lol, not this weekend lol, wont have time to install it before I go

wonderlust
03-10-08, 18:03
http://www.deafonline2.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/mf_laughbounce3.gif (javascript:add_smilie(":biglaugh:","smid_28"))http://www.deafonline2.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/boxing.gif (javascript:add_smilie(":boxing:","smid_161"))

Jiggles
03-10-08, 21:53
XP and WAMP? If its for websites. Dunno if its good enough. I use it and seems fine.

Sean
04-10-08, 14:16
I use WAMP for some in-house programs like the counter feedback form, it's lightweight and really easy to use.

In terms of managability, you can't beat Windows!

jonwoad
14-10-08, 12:19
I've decided I'm going to use Win 2K3 SBS as I have it lying around, just need to get it set up somewhere

M4T VW
14-10-08, 21:26
Im using that on my work server. Damn it was a learning curve to get it going. All just to use sage on 2 computers:|

jonwoad
15-10-08, 09:49
Lol, thats what I like :)

I got it installed last night after faffing around trying to get the machine booting, killing a hard drive in the process :(

The machine is a noisy bugger though :(

Monkey
06-12-08, 22:30
Hello people, was thinking about making an old pc into a server to stream videos and music to 3 different places in the house

Basicly i have a pc upstairs for my work and my old one which im wanting to make into a server, and i will have a htpc downstairs in the living room (video, films) and another in the kitchen (music, ****s n giggles)

Just wondering what would be the best way to do this and what software i would need, any ideas?

Aaron
07-12-08, 01:53
So you want to basically make it into a fileserver, which the HTPC and kitchen box will grab files from?

Monkey
07-12-08, 20:58
Yeah thats pretty much what i mean. Any hints or advice?

Aaron
07-12-08, 22:37
I'd just get a massive, fast hard drive(s), put everything on there organised into relevant folders (ie, Music/Movies/TV etc etc) and set the whole thing as shared if you have a secure network - make sure its on a wired connection of at least 100mb - but I'd go for a 1Gb connection if you have the facility, especially if its serving more than one computer. Maybe even buy a bunch of hard drives for each type of media. So one for video, one for music etc... Then just tell the software on the individual computers where to look. As far as software goes, you could do alot worse than the media centre that comes with Vista, especially when its set up well, and used with a remote :)

k.jacko
08-12-08, 12:47
I agree with Aaron about Vista's media centre. I have our dvd library and music on a nas box in the loft. Each of the 5 vista based pc's can use media centre to browse the assigned dvd library on the nas and play any of the ripped dvd's.......same goes for music too.
I also use the media centre remote HERE (http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Peripherals/Mice/Arianet+Media+Centre+Remote+?productId=29984) and its spot on! :P

Ok, thats enough of Monkey's hijack :mrgreen:
Jon.... why not the os that the end user is most likely to use?

Monkey
08-12-08, 13:08
Ok, that all sounds well and good, .... but... what if im using xp on one machine, what software would you recommend?

Aaron
08-12-08, 13:49
Vista.. :lol:

There are a few HTPC frontends out there.. Have a quick search and see what you come up with :)

I used to use one called Meedio with my touchscreen which was pretty good, but I'm not sure it exists any more.. I think they got bought out by Yahoo, who then stuffed the whole thing up..

Monkey
08-12-08, 13:59
A quick search and it seems that it is still running

http://www.meedios.com/features.php

Seems its a little like "K-Lite K++" back in the day

k.jacko
08-12-08, 14:14
personally for my htpc i use MediaPortal.
Now, a lot of folk have issues with setting it up, but once setup its great tbh. And the same aria remote control i mentioned earlier works a treat with it too. It recognises the same dvd librayr and music folders that vmce does. Its also very cusomisable with loads of plugins and nice skins. Its opensource so is always being developed......for free of course.

Monkey
08-12-08, 14:22
All sounds good to me, thanks for the few pointers people

Appreciated

Aaron
08-12-08, 19:07
A quick search and it seems that it is still running

http://www.meedios.com/features.php

Seems its a little like "K-Lite K++" back in the day
Interesting.. Its a little different to the old one, and they were definitely bought out by yahoo.. But it seems its been revived, which is good! Nice find :D


personally for my htpc i use MediaPortal.
Now, a lot of folk have issues with setting it up, but once setup its great tbh. And the same aria remote control i mentioned earlier works a treat with it too. It recognises the same dvd librayr and music folders that vmce does. Its also very cusomisable with loads of plugins and nice skins. Its opensource so is always being developed......for free of course.

Thats why I went for meedio when i did it.. Many many free plugins, without the hassle of setting up mediaportal.. It was just WAY too time consuming!!

I had meedio controlling my lights and everything.. So when a DVD played, the computer switched everything to the settings that it needed to be on, and dimmed the lights.. and then faded the lights up again when it was finished.. Was quite a cool setup really :)

jonwoad
09-12-08, 10:13
I'm going to give meedio a go tonight on my media centre... looks good :)

Monkey
09-12-08, 12:55
I agree, it does look pretty s****y,

i was wondering, does anyone have a server setup at the minute that they could try winamp on, so using winamp to access files on another pc

jonwoad
09-12-08, 12:56
Havent got it set up at the mo but have done before and it works just as though the files are on your hard drive.

Just set up a music folder and share it, then add it to your winamp library.

Monkey
09-12-08, 13:22
Coolio G

gunny2k8
18-01-10, 11:03
I ve just setup with a legit copy of 2008 R2 a small personal server for home as a nas and learning system IIS 7.5, FTP, PHP 5.2, MySQL 5.1, Perl, Imagemagick, MRTG 2.16.2 all database drivers ;) etc etc with things like TVersity ,teamspeak 3 as well on Pentium E2140, 4gb ram and 60gb sata1 laptop disk and alls well so ye it its personal testing and learning you dont need anything fantastic as this is serving me well see my sig for full specs.

startup is a bit slow but once its up and running and IIS has had its first request its lighting as i ve put other things on like Zend Optimizer and MS's very own php extension called Wincache on, i even found a module called Helicon Ape (emulates some apache modules on IIS) very usefull to use .htaccess files on IIS.

for a first timer its not that easy as nothing has just easy install and go most things require manual setup.

TeamMCS
02-02-10, 21:10
Hmm, if you've got plenty of ram you could always Virtualize Linux if you're not comfortable using natively.

It all depends on what you're doing really. Windows 2000 wont have .Net which means no ASP.net. For those playing with Windows .net is pretty amazing and the "Microsoft package" is a good way to learn. SQL Express is free and that's identical to the Enterprise version (Bar a few things you wont use), Visual Studio etc.

If you want to use Apache, there's plenty of "WAMP" installers which will configure everything. Some people really like PHP and that would be a good mix.

It all depends on your comfort zone really. I love linux because everything is logically placed. Very nice for servers. Windows, however, has .Net (mono is useless) and everything is point and shoot.

If it's a learning exercise, play with both. I'd recommend finding a simple project and try and get to your end goal :)

Gazanimal
03-02-10, 01:58
Personally I use Xampp for Windows to test my website/forums (MYSQL databases and phpBB).

Works a treat & means having the chance to test locally rather than online to see if something works or not.

Wouldn't be without it now.

scottmac
03-02-10, 16:05
Personally I use Xampp for Windows to test my website/forums (MYSQL databases and phpBB).

Works a treat & means having the chance to test locally rather than online to see if something works or not.

Wouldn't be without it now.

Xampp is a great product, much easier than setting up Apache/PHP/MYSql individually. Just as easy to use with Linux too. Link to Xampp in case anyone wants it http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html