ExtremeTech: Build It: Home Linux Server

“It’s been some time coming. Your home network, a hodge-podge of
peer-to-peer machines is finally crying out for a nerve center
where files live, and services are at the ready–a machine that
will dutifully keep it all going 24/7 with minimal fuss, and grow
with you as your needs get more sophisticated. Linux continues to
gain ground in the enterprise server space, with champions in IBM,
Sun and HP. It has proven its mettle driving big iron, but is
equally well-suited and versatile enough to power your home
server.

“For less than $1,200, you can build a very capable server with
gobs of storage and enough processing horsepower to pull multiple
duties serving up a printer queue, web pages, FTP, DHCP, and SAMBA,
and more. And, if you’ve got some old parts to scavenge, and are
working within a tight budget, you can still put together a solid
server for under $600. So here’s how to build out the heart and
soul of your home network, the home server. Or, if you’ve got an
old box you’re looking to put out to pasture, it can be turned into
a serviceable home server with a few spot upgrades.

“While any one of these paths will get you a working server,
let’s start out by analyzing the server we built from parts, and
then compare it to other alternatives, so you can decide which path
is right for you…”

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