Setting up a home server/network?

I finally managed to get my desktop and laptop share folders. Now I'm wondering if I can set up a home server/network. I have an old desktop sitting in my closet somewhere. It would be nice to store some things on there so I can access them from the other computers in the house. I dont really know where to start. On a scale of 1-10 1 being easiest and 10 being hardest, how hard is this project? I appreciate your help!

Thanks

 

you said you managed to share folders. what more is there to do?

 

Very easy:

http://www.techmanifesto.com/archives/2005/08/10/turn-your-old-pc-into-a-file-server/

I'd also use it as a print/fax server as it's likely to be on all the time. You could also use it as an FTP server to share files, or streaming server to host your vids and music while you're away.

 

[/QUOTE] I'd also use it as a print/fax server as it's likely to be on all the time. You could also use it as an FTP server to share files, or streaming server to host your vids and music while you're away.[/QUOTE]

How would I go about doing this? Is it just like the same way in that tutorial? I have a windows 98 computer sitting around which is going to be the server. I plan on doing this hopefully as soon as possible, but Im quite busy right now. This is a good chance for me to get the information I need before doing this.

Any other help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks

BTW when it says
1) Put all your files on the computer in a folder called FILES on the Desktop (or you could name it DATA or anything else…just make it memorable and one word. In the example below I’ll continue to use the name FILES.)

How do I go about doing that? Which computer do I do this to?

 

It would be nice to save files and things onto some place instead of one computer and be able to pull it off the network. It would be even better if I can get it to print from different computers too.

 

When you set up your server connect it directly to your printer and instal the drivers. When you're setting up the network it will ask you if you want to share the printer; choose yes.

You can share any folder. Right click on the folder and choose "sharing and security"->then choose "share this folder on the network". You can rename it or use the default name. You can do this on any computer you wish to create special share folders for.

 

Thank you, sounds easy enough to do.

 

the kind of networks that you would like to implement will determine how hard it is going to be. for home/small office i would suggest you to use workgroup type. so that the windows 98 that (you called it a server) would act like any other computer in the network. no centralised administration will take place. if this windows 98 will access other resources from other computers as well as provide resources, this type is the most suitable.

you can also set the windows 98 as traditional server where all other computers will access resources from the server back to each individual computer. this is best if you want to provide some sort of centralised administration from the server.

best if you can use windows 2000 server or windows server 2003. it has alot of builtin administrative functionalities not available in windows 98 or even windows xp.

later,
sky

 

just following that how-to thingy, on the server computer you'll need to enable other users to modify files if you want to save TO the host computer.

it would also be a good idea to manually set the IP address of the server computer so that it doesn't change via DHCP after a reboot and bork your setup.