Home server

[G1zmo]

So I have put together a home server from used parts on ebay and an looking for ideas with what to do with it. It has 4 quad core CPU's 16 GB of RAM (will probably upgrade to 32 GB) and 4 15K RPM 146 GB sas drives. I might add an SSD and larger drives if I find more uses.

At the moment I got it to learn more about Windows server 2012(it's the only legitimate server key I have). I plan on having my own email client, use it as a media/file server, hook up cameras for surveillance, and maybe a game server. Is there anything else that would be a must or just something to try out to learn? I won't do back ups with it since my desktop has so many drives in it already I will probably end up backing the server up into my desktop instead. I figure 16 cores should be a descent amount of power for home use and with the raid card having 512 MB of RAM the HDD's should be fast enough.

Also is there ways to put the server asleep if not in use and auto wake up. I don't want to have too big of an electricity bill.

[Deletive]

16 cores should be enough for what you're doing.

Like any CPU it should lower is voltages and clock speed when little to no in use.

[ohJey]

That will raise the electricity bill...  try building a more efficient server if you're worried about that

[G1zmo]

That will raise the electricity bill...  try building a more efficient server if you're worried about that

Luckily I found a program called lights out so it only turns on the server when it's in use and turns it off when its not.  I just now looking for more uses to play around with it more.

[ohJey]

Luckily I found a program called lights out so it only turns on the server when it's in use and turns it off when its not.  I just now looking for more uses to play around with it more.

Cameras would need to access the server 24/7 so I don't think that will help

 

I don't even think game servers will allow to computer to power down

[G1zmo]

Cameras would need to access the server 24/7 so I don't think that will help

 

I don't even think game servers will allow to computer to power down

Cameras would only be on if I was away from home, and I don't game 24/7.  I just mainly now am looking for interesting things to do with it. Thanks.

[ohJey]

Cameras would only be on if I was away from home, and I don't game 24/7.  I just mainly now am looking for interesting things to do with it. Thanks.

Oh ok cool cool

[G1zmo]

Thanks for the comments though I plan on hooking it up to my kill-a-watt to see how much power this thing actually pulls.  I was surprised by how little my gaming rig pulls.

[fyksen]

Awesome uses for home servers in my mind are:

• Plex media server
  • Streaming software. If you have local movies/tv shows, you can stream directly to your phone/tablet/computers. It also sorts it for you.
• Owncloud
  • Local dropbox alternative. It's kind of a local dropbox. Awesome, cheap, and really quick when your on local (or if you have good up speed on you internet).
  • Owncloud also have awesome calendar and document support. So you can kind of build your own awesome Google suite.
• Webserver/email/fileserver

[G1zmo]

 

Awesome uses for home servers in my mind are:

• Plex media server
  • Streaming software. If you have local movies/tv shows, you can stream directly to your phone/tablet/computers. It also sorts it for you.
• Owncloud
  • Local dropbox alternative. It's kind of a local dropbox. Awesome, cheap, and really quick when your on local (or if you have good up speed on you internet).
  • Owncloud also have awesome calendar and document support. So you can kind of build your own awesome Google suite.
• Webserver/email/fileserver

 

Thanks I'll check out owncloud.  That sounds interesting.

[MuffinTopMike]

I recently built a new home server and used Windows Home Server 2012 R2 for around 2 weeks before I gave it up. I didn't like how it was set out and found it overly complicated to use. I use Ubuntu Server now and I like it a lot better, even though I'm not really a Linux person it is just awesome, you should try it out. As for what to use the server for you could run a Plex server for media streaming, print server, torrent server or you could host game servers. 

[TheGuyNL]

I'd suggest taking a look into linux, in my opinion it's way more powerfull for server tasks as it's way less demanding than Windows Server. Try reading a bit about it, look up some stuff. Or just try it out! I'd suggest Debian or Ubuntu to be your way to go as then are the nicest to work with imo. Good luck with your server

[network_engineer]

Turn it into a hyper-v server, definitely feasible with your hardware.  Dedicate each VM for a different purpose (game server, FTP server, wordpress server, sandbox env, etc), then, if you find you don't like something, kill the VM and create a new one.

 

Grab free VM's from Microsoft here: https://modern.ie/en-us/virtualization-tools#downloads

 

Play with dynamic resources and find the right combination that works for you.

 

 

 

EDIT: Alternatively, you can use your own OS for the VM's - but, having the free VM's from Microsoft are great for testing things.  I believe they are good for 30 days before you need to 'reinstall' them.  Take a snapshot of them prior to first boot.

[Locke99GS]

What sorts of things interest you?

[kingdorian]

Linux Linux Linux!!! And be aware a 4cpu box costs more power than you think.