Building a home server, need some help.

[Sionji]

Hello! I've taken apart my old Dell Dimension E510, cleaned it, and I plan on using the thing for a home server, and I have plans to upgrade the internal hardware later. What I need help doing is installing a linux distro and making the thing boot. I don't have any CDs or Flashdrives handy right now, so I can't use those. My primary system has a hot swap bay, so I'm wondering if I can stick the hard drive in there, and install the linux distro to the hard drive directly and make it boot. Also, any tips on home servers would be appreciated. Thanks for your help!

[kkpatel87]

-snip-

 

What are you planning on doing?

 

The current config is way too underpowered to do anything...maybe a router, if that.

[Sionji]

What are you planning on doing?

 

The current config is way too underpowered to do anything...maybe a router, if that.

For now, probably use it as a fileserver for backups. I've got an AMD A4-6300 that I'm gonna put into it with a fitting botherboard and some new RAM. 

[kkpatel87]

-snip-

 

How many clients machines would this serve? I imagine any more than 1 and you would be severely bandwidth limited especially if you dont have a gigabit NIC.

 

Doesnt that machine have a proprietary PSU and mobo layout? or is it standard ATX?

[Bgordy2013]

As to your original question. Yes you should be able to install it directly to hard drive. Burn the ISO to it, boot it in live mode. Choose install and select the HDD as your target. Then you should be able to pop it in the server and boot it.