# server/networking question **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [September 22, 2006, 8:50am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/server-networking-question/17857 "2006-09-22T08:50:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dr.Stevil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Dr.Stevil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Dr.Stevil)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2006, 8:50am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/server-networking-question/17857/1 "2006-09-22T08:50:18Z")
So I’d like to take an older machine and use it for a music/photo server to free up room/resources on my main machine (and probably to store TV shows via media center)… nothing too hardcore lol now, I’ve never really done anything like this before… can anyone point me to a primer on setting up a basic server? I assume that “sharing” files between the two wont do exactly what I’m looking to do (someone here at work said that you have to actually copy the files from computer to computer to access them in that configuration). I’m not a total idiot and I’m pretty fluent with PC’s and windows, just never really messed with the whole networking end of it. I have a copy of NT server BTW… so I assume that would work ok. any help? I really don’t even know where to start… I have windows 2000 on that machine right now thanks ---
**Author:** ![Daddie](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/daddie/32/7621_2.png) [@Daddie](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Daddie)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2006, 8:54am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/server-networking-question/17857/2 "2006-09-22T08:54:48Z")
win2000 is fine ---
**Author:** ![ILCisDEAD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a87d85/32.png) [@ILCisDEAD](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ILCisDEAD)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2006, 8:59am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/server-networking-question/17857/3 "2006-09-22T08:59:31Z")
> [@Daddie](#): > > win2000 is fine :tup: or you could try messing with a linux distro 🙂 (k)ubuntu is really easy ---
**Author:** ![brent\_strong](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/brent_strong/32/7203_2.png) [@brent\_strong](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/brent_strong)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2006, 9:03am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/server-networking-question/17857/4 "2006-09-22T09:03:02Z")
What I did that works well for my music storage is this: Set up Windows box Copy my music onto Windows box Install iTunes on laptop Map a network drive on laptop to the Windows box (takes about 2 minutes of config to be able to share a drive from the Windows box) Add music from the network drive to iTunes on laptop This basically means that I’m streaming all of my music over the network when I listed to it, but at RIT, that isn’t a problem. Freed up 40gb of space on my laptop and works flawlessly. If you’re looking for a way to make this work at home, you’d need a home network that could stream the audio. I’d have to guess you have the machines (server and client) connected through a router or switch so that they can talk to each other, right? If so, that should be PLENTY of bandwidth to stream audio. As far as storing video and photos, I find it easier to keep them locally since the file sizes are large and they don’t take well to streaming (you can’t stream a photo, it’s either all there or is loading…and most video is too high res to stream well, but it is possible). You can always dump the videos/photos on the server and when you need them, pull them down to the local machine. ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2006, 9:04am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/server-networking-question/17857/5 "2006-09-22T09:04:05Z")
windows xp fundamentals for legacy pc’s is good too must download bit torrent and use an xp home or pro cd key ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2006, 9:05am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/server-networking-question/17857/6 "2006-09-22T09:05:57Z")
> [@brent\_strong](#): > > As far as storing video and photos, I find it easier to keep them locally since the file sizes are large and they don’t take well to streaming (you can’t stream a photo, it’s either all there or is loading…and most video is too high res to stream well, but it is possible). You can always dump the videos/photos on the server and when you need them, pull them down to the local machine. i stream vidoes over my network constantly works fine, i stream them through my xbox from my pc in my room ---
**Author:** ![brent\_strong](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/brent_strong/32/7203_2.png) [@brent\_strong](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/brent_strong)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2006, 9:12am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/server-networking-question/17857/7 "2006-09-22T09:12:29Z")
It is definitely possible, but with something like DVD quality and most people’s machines, it definitely lags. I try to get actual DVD rips and those definitely aren’t stream friendly. Could always go to gigabit and not worry about anything you push on the network. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2006, 9:19am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/server-networking-question/17857/8 "2006-09-22T09:19:03Z")
> [@brent\_strong](#): > > It is definitely possible, but with something like DVD quality and most people’s machines, it definitely lags. I try to get actual DVD rips and those definitely aren’t stream friendly. > > Could always go to gigabit and not worry about anything you push on the network. 😃 never had a problem with dvd rips your network sucks ---
**Author:** ![brent\_strong](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/brent_strong/32/7203_2.png) [@brent\_strong](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/brent_strong)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2006, 9:19am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/server-networking-question/17857/9 "2006-09-22T09:19:57Z")
Damn, I guess I’ll try it now. I just assumed it wouldn’t work. Awaiting results… ---
**Author:** ![brent\_strong](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/brent_strong/32/7203_2.png) [@brent\_strong](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/brent_strong)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2006, 9:26am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/server-networking-question/17857/10 "2006-09-22T09:26:55Z")
Yeah, you’re right. Definitely works fine. Niiiiice. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Stevil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Dr.Stevil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Dr.Stevil)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2006, 9:31am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/server-networking-question/17857/11 "2006-09-22T09:31:14Z")
ok, this is what I got from it so far Win 2000 will work fine for a server XP pro (media center) as client I’m using a linksys router (thanks skurrrrrge) which should be ok. I just use regular cat cables, right? I don’t need a crossover? now that I have all that in place, what do I need to do to set the 2K machine up to act as a server, and on that same token, what do I need to setup in XP for a client machine? thanks alot guys :tup: edit: I also have (k)ubuntu, but never really messed with linux, so not sure if I should go that route. I tried messing with an early version of redhat a while ago but couldnt figure it out ☹ ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2006, 10:28am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/server-networking-question/17857/12 "2006-09-22T10:28:26Z")
stick to windows, its easier ok, here is my suggestion ON SERVER + CLIENT: run through the network setup wizard, make sure that the workgroup is in all caps and that they are both the same note the computer names ON CLIENT: click start-\>Run type in //[computer name] (replacing where [computer name] is the name noted earlier for server and tped without brackets this will open a window with the shares for the server right click the folder u want to be able to access and click, map network drive then u will see a folder in my computer with that computer’s name on it double click and u should be able to access the files enjoy ---
**Author:** ![Daddie](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/daddie/32/7621_2.png) [@Daddie](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Daddie)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2006, 10:33am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/server-networking-question/17857/13 "2006-09-22T10:33:56Z")
> [@Dr.Stevil](#): > > ok, this is what I got from it so far > > Win 2000 will work fine for a server > XP pro (media center) as client > > I’m using a linksys router (thanks skurrrrrge) which should be ok. I just use regular cat cables, right? I don’t need a crossover? > > now that I have all that in place, what do I need to do to set the 2K machine up to act as a server, and on that same token, what do I need to setup in XP for a client machine? > > thanks alot guys :tup: > > edit: I also have (k)ubuntu, but never really messed with linux, so not sure if I should go that route. I tried messing with an early version of redhat a while ago but couldnt figure it out ☹ Autosensing switches = no use for crossover cables ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Stevil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Dr.Stevil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Dr.Stevil)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2006, 10:56am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/server-networking-question/17857/14 "2006-09-22T10:56:05Z")
thanks guys :tup: I’ll try that and let ya’s know how it turns out 🙂 🍺 ---
**Author:** ![JustinH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JustinH](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JustinH)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2006, 11:55am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/server-networking-question/17857/15 "2006-09-22T11:55:31Z")
deffinitely do it wired. Wireless won’t like streaming so much… Very simple, i’d do a linux box before i’d do win2k. All you need is a file server distro. ---
**Author:** ![brent\_strong](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/brent_strong/32/7203_2.png) [@brent\_strong](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/brent_strong)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2006, 11:59am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/server-networking-question/17857/16 "2006-09-22T11:59:04Z")
I would stick to windows unless you’re proficient in Linux or really want to learn it. Setting everything up isn’t a big deal, but it would take some work. ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2006, 12:13pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/server-networking-question/17857/17 "2006-09-22T12:13:30Z")
i agree with brent\_strong 100% it seems easy until you run into one small problem that takes days to figure out because u dont know anything about it ---
**Author:** ![Skurge](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/skurge/32/7285_2.png) [@Skurge](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Skurge)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2006, 2:33pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/server-networking-question/17857/18 "2006-09-22T14:33:49Z")
dammit steve 😛 i’ll just set it up for ya gimme a call tonight i’ll be home ---
**Author:** ![LZ1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@LZ1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LZ1)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2006, 8:11am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/server-networking-question/17857/19 "2006-09-24T08:11:06Z")
Use cat5e get a cheap linksys 10/100/1000 switch and two 10/100/1000 nic cards. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Stevil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Dr.Stevil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Dr.Stevil)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2006, 7:28am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/server-networking-question/17857/20 "2006-09-25T07:28:38Z")
got it running 😃 thanks for the help peeps 🙂 (now all I need is a nice 500gb hdd) [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/server-networking-question/17857.md?page=2)