Quote:
Originally posted by shamrock_uk:
Interesting post Thoran. If you ever get a minute, would you mind giving a brief description of how your home network is set up and what you use your server for exactly?
I'm quite interested in getting something similar set up myself and is always good to hear what its used for by other people!
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No problem...
Hardware:
The network is a combination of Gigabit ethernet (Netgear GS508T Switch) and Wireless-G (Linksys WRT54G Broadband Router). Internet is Cable Modem through the Router firewall.
I have 3 systems on the wired lan:
Primary Domain Controller: Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition, P3-1ghz, 1 GB ram, 1TB RAID10 array, 36gb UW-SCSI for the OS. That system is also running SQL Server 2005 Beta 2 and Coldfusion MX 6.1 (for development).
Experimental Box: I have an old P2-450 that I used to use as a Proxy Server (using Microsoft ISA Server), but since I got the Router I just goof with it, play with Linux and such.
Desktop system : Athlon XP 2400 running Windows XP
Over wireless I have an additional two systems:
Desktop system : Athlon XP 1700 running Windows XP
Laptop : Compaq NW8000 Pentium M-1.6 running Windows XP
I set up a domain because it gives me ABSOLUTE POWER over all the systems on my network... MWAHAHAHAH! (evil laugh)
The kids don't install ANYTHING without getting permission, but they can login from any machine and get access to their share drive for homework or whatever.
I can control access to any box (including setting times when the kids aren't allowed on), and easily centralize resources... as I said, the large drive array has about 30 full quality DVD's on it, 12,000 MP3's, and 200 Gigabytes of family pictures going back to the 1940's (it's the main archive for my extended family). Also the Ink Jet and Laser printer are shared from the server, so that one machine is the only one that needs to stay on 24/7.
Finally, all my applications and utilities are stored on the server, when I bring home a new system (or reinstall windows on an old one), all I have to do is add the new box to the domain and I can connect to the archive with all the stuff I'll want to install... it seriously simplifies setting up new machines.
It also adds some security, even if a user got into the network (say through the wireless connection) they wouldn't be able to access any resources.
I also get a nice audit trail, anytime someone logs in, out, or attempts to login the server tracks it (along with about a bazillion other things).
Overall and most importantly... it's a cool geek toy. [img]smile.gif[/img]
You might ask why I'm using all Microsoft stuff... well mainly because I have an MSDN Universal subscription at work, and besides beeing a cool geek toy, doing this stuff at home has a learning aspect to it also. Even though I'm not a IT guy (nor will I ever be), I find as a Project Engineer I do a lot of PC Work, buying, configuring, applying, etc... so the more I know about the system the better a job I can do. [img]smile.gif[/img]
[ 03-07-2005, 05:37 PM: Message edited by: Thoran ]