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Buying a Server (Machine)

PostPosted:Fri Oct 05, 2007 2:40 pm
by Akimoto
I was thinking of buying a server i could run from my own home.

There are serveral, well; there is alot i don't know about running one such as how i it works(?).

Was thinking of buying this, (Norwegean!) but can i just plug my own screen / keyboard & mouse and start up JKA dedicated to make it work? How does it work? Anyone know about better (not to expensive!) server-machines that i should/could buy?


If anyone know anything about servers, and how it works; if they could post something about it i would be grateful.

PostPosted:Fri Oct 05, 2007 2:55 pm
by Chantelle
depends what its running

If your serious about hosting a server online you might want to consider changing your internet to Symmetric DSL as Asymmetric wont have a good upload speed and a hand full of users would lag to hell.

I assume you are on Asymmetric?

PostPosted:Fri Oct 05, 2007 3:00 pm
by Akimoto
Chantelle wrote:depends what its running

If your serious about hosting a server online you might want to consider changing your internet to Symmetric DSL as Asymmetric wont have a good upload speed and a hand full of users would lag to hell.

I assume you are on Asymmetric?
I don't know. How can i find out?

Also, is it possible to get seperate ''internetz'' for my server and for .. mine?

PostPosted:Fri Oct 05, 2007 3:29 pm
by Phoenix
Akimoto wrote:
Chantelle wrote:depends what its running

If your serious about hosting a server online you might want to consider changing your internet to Symmetric DSL as Asymmetric wont have a good upload speed and a hand full of users would lag to hell.

I assume you are on Asymmetric?
I don't know. How can i find out?

Also, is it possible to get seperate ''internetz'' for my server and for .. mine?
Firstly, setting up your own server requires alot of patience and its not something you can turn on and expect it to work just as you want it too.
Personally I wouldn't recommend buying one until you are sure you know exactly what you are doing.

My advice is to find an old computer that you don't use anymore, format it and get it up and running on a Linux distribution. I would recommend using CentOS because i've found its the most effectient at using system resources wisely. Although if you have never encountered linux before then this is not a good choice- this is because the majority of online tutorials and information about Linux are on the more popular distributions such as Fedora and RedHat so these will probably be a better choice for a newcomer.

Also if you do get to this stage, I would first make sure that you have a decent knowledge of how servers function, this is because making a server accessible outside of your home network and accessible via the web is a big step up. It brings you into the world of having to worry about server hardening and secruity, because you could put your home network at risk- should your server be compromised.

--

Moving on to what Chan is talking about to make it slightly clearer because you clearly don't know what shes refering too.

The majority of internet service providers do not allow you to run home-servers from your broadband internet connection because it often impacts on other customers performance (normally in your local area). Should you look into your ISP's terms of use which I recommend you do before you consider putting a server online, because i'm sure this will be covered.

Moving on to asymmetric connections. Asymmetric basically means out of balance. In the context Chan is refering too is your internet upload and download speeds. With the majority of ISP's your download speed is normally 2x the amount of your upload speed. So on a say 2MB connection you should expect 2MB download and around 1MB upload.
Upload speed with web-servers is vital, because download speed isn't used at all. For this reason people don't often run home-servers from their home connections.

If you do want equal upload and equal download speeds (making the connection symmetric) then the majority of the time you have to apply for a business line to be put in your house- business lines are fully capable of running home servers although they are often VERY expensive.

I think thats about it, if you have any questions then drop them here. If you do decide that you are going to go through with this, then let me know and i'll hook you up with some useful websites.

Pho~

PostPosted:Fri Oct 05, 2007 3:43 pm
by Chantelle
Sorry I wasn't very informative my fault

Asymertic DSL is ADSL

Symetric DSL is SDSL


adsl might be for example

10MB download 1MB upload

I wouldnt go as far as saying 1.5 ratio

sdsl is

10MB Download 10MB upload

1MB wont cut the mustard on many users , especially if there is alot going on


The reason is that the server is receiving and sending as much at the same time.

The other thing is also you might want to consider a business line as that would have a better ratio (since you share your internet connection generally) and this way would maintain that your whole connection is yours..

Basically expect to spend alot..

Server specification and builds should be created based upon server roles.. is it just going to be JA??

Linux is a good option for hosting with its security.. But you will need to start doing configuring your routers and such to ensure your safe and that the server is picked up and is visible via that inside your network

Also you may want to consider static IP address..


I dunno I have to be honest with you if you know what your doing yeah its easy.. but its too hard to explain all this stuff over the net when sometimes you have to get down and gritty, plus there is alot of money involved in this for what could be a game which isnt going to go on for a great deal longer.

PostPosted:Fri Oct 05, 2007 4:41 pm
by Akimoto
I am so glad i asked about it here.
I will not buy a server before i actually know how to do all these things.

I can get my hands on a computer tomorrow (hopefully)!


I don't know much about Linux at all; is Linux an Operating System?
Also, how can i install it on the computer; where can i get it?
Anywhere i can learn more about it? :)



EDIT:

I will have to note, i will not BUY anything before i know how to do all this! also, i beleve i got ADSL atm.. when i move out i might get SDSL if i will run a server. (Learning about computer stuff is my hobby, i will gladly take in all knowledge i can get^^)

PostPosted:Fri Oct 05, 2007 5:00 pm
by Phoenix
Akimoto wrote:I am so glad i asked about it here.
I will not buy a server before i actually know how to do all these things.

I can get my hands on a computer tomorrow (hopefully)!


I don't know much about Linux at all; is Linux an Operating System?
Also, how can i install it on the computer; where can i get it?
Anywhere i can learn more about it? :)



EDIT:

I will have to note, i will not BUY anything before i know how to do all this! also, i beleve i got ADSL atm.. when i move out i might get SDSL if i will run a server. (Learning about computer stuff is my hobby, i will gladly take in all knowledge i can get^^)
Yes, linux is an operating system. Yes you can install it on your computer. The majority of Linux distributions are free. I would recommend Fedora for beginners. This guide takes you from installing it through to getting a webserver set up on it. You may want to make sure you install it first before getting carried away.

http://www.howtoforge.com/perfect_server_fedora7

Pho~

PostPosted:Fri Oct 05, 2007 5:13 pm
by Akimoto
Phoenix wrote:
Akimoto wrote:I am so glad i asked about it here.
I will not buy a server before i actually know how to do all these things.

I can get my hands on a computer tomorrow (hopefully)!


I don't know much about Linux at all; is Linux an Operating System?
Also, how can i install it on the computer; where can i get it?
Anywhere i can learn more about it? :)



EDIT:

I will have to note, i will not BUY anything before i know how to do all this! also, i beleve i got ADSL atm.. when i move out i might get SDSL if i will run a server. (Learning about computer stuff is my hobby, i will gladly take in all knowledge i can get^^)
Yes, linux is an operating system. Yes you can install it on your computer. The majority of Linux distributions are free. I would recommend Fedora for beginners. This guide takes you from installing it through to getting a webserver set up on it. You may want to make sure you install it first before getting carried away.

http://www.howtoforge.com/perfect_server_fedora7

Pho~

Thanks alot! I will play around with that! ^^

PostPosted:Fri Oct 05, 2007 6:59 pm
by Melissa
I been tinkering around with linux for the last year and a half



still have my copy now


although to be honest.. Linux has its crowd ,, but its just a pain tbh... It feeels like a choare.. I know its a everyone hates MS thingy but ultimateleey it delievers what I want and it works

If you want to use Linux be patient with it

PostPosted:Fri Oct 05, 2007 7:44 pm
by Akimoto
Melissa wrote:I been tinkering around with linux for the last year and a half



still have my copy now


although to be honest.. Linux has its crowd ,, but its just a pain tbh... It feeels like a choare.. I know its a everyone hates MS thingy but ultimateleey it delievers what I want and it works

If you want to use Linux be patient with it
Hmm.. what exactly are you doing with it that makes it like a chore?
Do i have to update it often or something? :?:

PostPosted:Fri Oct 05, 2007 7:45 pm
by Chantelle
i think she means its a drag to use.. doing something which would be simple for her to do in windows she found it a drag and was a complex method to learn

PostPosted:Sun Oct 14, 2007 11:25 am
by ivy
if your thinking bout setting
real workin server be ready
to meet with non-graphic OS
like linux (my company works
on debian) or unix (solaris, freebsd,
etc.) also be sure ur packed
with good hardware and gl
^_______-