Are These Specs OK for A Server?

[nujinini]

Hello,

I am thinking of using a PC at home as a server. May I ask for your thoughts regarding it's specs please?

I may use it for Data Storage, and maybe printer and other simple tasks that I can learn along the way.

Thank you.

id:	
family-desktop
description: 	Desktop Computer
product: 	Unknow
vendor: 	Unknow
version: 	Unknow
serial: 	Unknow
width: 	32 bits
capabilities: 	smbios-2.5 dmi-2.5 smp-1.4 smp
configuration:	
boot	=	normal
chassis	=	desktop
cpus	=	2
id:	
core
description: 	Motherboard
product: 	NF-MCP61
physical id: 	
0
version: 	Unknow
id:	
firmware
description: 	BIOS
vendor: 	Phoenix Technologies, LTD
physical id: 	
0
version: 	6.00 PG (09/11/2007)
size: 	128KiB
capacity: 	448KiB
capabilities: 	isa pci pnp apm upgrade shadowing cdboot bootselect socketedrom edd int13floppy360 int13floppy1200 int13floppy720 int13floppy2880 int5printscreen int9keyboard int14serial int17printer int10video acpi usb ls120boot zipboot biosbootspecification
id:	
cpu:0
description: 	CPU
product: 	AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4000+
vendor: 	Advanced Micro Devices [AMD]
physical id: 	
3
bus info: 	
cpu@0
version: 	15.11.1
slot: 	Socket AM2
size: 	2108MHz
capacity: 	3GHz
width: 	64 bits
clock: 	200MHz
capabilities: 	boot fpu fpu_exception wp vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush mmx fxsr sse sse2 ht syscall nx mmxext fxsr_opt rdtscp x86-64 3dnowext 3dnow extd_apicid pni cx16 lahf_lm cmp_legacy svm extapic cr8_legacy 3dnowprefetch
id:	
cache:0
description: 	L1 cache
physical id: 	
a
slot: 	Internal Cache
size: 	128KiB
capacity: 	128KiB
capabilities: 	synchronous internal write-back
id:	
cache:1
description: 	L2 cache
physical id: 	
b
slot: 	External Cache
size: 	512KiB
capacity: 	512KiB
capabilities: 	synchronous internal write-back
id:	
memory:0
description: 	System Memory
physical id: 	
1d
slot: 	System board or motherboard
size: 	1GiB
id:	
bank:0
description: 	DIMM
physical id: 	
0
slot: 	A0
size: 	1GiB
width: 	64 bits
id:	
bank:1
description: 	DIMM [empty]
physical id: 	
1
slot: 	A1
width: 	64 bits
id:	
bank:2
description: 	DIMM [empty]
physical id: 	
2
slot: 	A2
width: 	64 bits
id:	
bank:3
description: 	DIMM [empty]
physical id: 	
3
slot: 	A3
width: 	64 bits
id:	
cpu:1
physical id: 	
4
bus info: 	
cpu@1
version: 	15.11.1
size: 	2100MHz
id:	
cache:0
description: 	L1 cache
physical id: 	
0
size: 	128KiB
id:	
cache:1
description: 	L2 cache
physical id: 	
1
size: 	512KiB
id:	
memory:1
description: 	RAM memory
product: 	MCP61 Memory Controller
vendor: 	nVidia Corporation
physical id: 	
5
bus info: 	
pci@0000:00:00.0
version: 	a1
width: 	32 bits
clock: 	66MHz (15.2ns)
capabilities: 	ht bus_master cap_list
configuration:	
latency	=	0
id:	
isa
description: 	ISA bridge
product: 	MCP61 LPC Bridge
vendor: 	nVidia Corporation
physical id: 	
1
bus info: 	
pci@0000:00:01.0
version: 	a2
width: 	32 bits
clock: 	66MHz
capabilities: 	isa bus_master
configuration:	
latency	=	0
id:	
serial
description: 	SMBus
product: 	MCP61 SMBus
vendor: 	nVidia Corporation
physical id: 	
1.1
bus info: 	
pci@0000:00:01.1
version: 	a2
width: 	32 bits
clock: 	66MHz
capabilities: 	pm cap_list
configuration:	
driver	=	nForce2_smbus
latency	=	0
resources:	
irq	:	11
ioport	:	fc00(size=64)
ioport	:	1c00(size=64)
ioport	:	1c40(size=64)
id:	
memory:2
description: 	RAM memory
product: 	MCP61 Memory Controller
vendor: 	nVidia Corporation
physical id: 	
1.2
bus info: 	
pci@0000:00:01.2
version: 	a2
width: 	32 bits
clock: 	66MHz (15.2ns)
configuration:	
latency	=	0
id:	
usb:0
description: 	USB Controller
product: 	MCP61 USB Controller
vendor: 	nVidia Corporation
physical id: 	
2
bus info: 	
pci@0000:00:02.0
version: 	a3
width: 	32 bits
clock: 	66MHz
capabilities: 	pm bus_master cap_list
configuration:	
driver	=	ohci_hcd
latency	=	0
maxlatency	=	1
mingnt	=	3
resources:	
irq	:	21
memory	:	fe02f000-fe02ffff
id:	
usb:1
description: 	USB Controller
product: 	MCP61 USB Controller
vendor: 	nVidia Corporation
physical id: 	
2.1
bus info: 	
pci@0000:00:02.1
version: 	a3
width: 	32 bits
clock: 	66MHz
capabilities: 	debug pm bus_master cap_list
configuration:	
driver	=	ehci_hcd
latency	=	0
maxlatency	=	1
mingnt	=	3
resources:	
irq	:	22
memory	:	fe02e000-fe02e0ff
id:	
pci:0
description: 	PCI bridge
product: 	MCP61 PCI bridge
vendor: 	nVidia Corporation
physical id: 	
100
bus info: 	
pci@0000:00:04.0
version: 	a1
width: 	32 bits
clock: 	66MHz
capabilities: 	pci ht bus_master cap_list
resources:	
ioport	:	c000(size=4096)
memory	:	fd700000-fd7fffff
memory	:	fde00000-fdefffff(prefetchable)
id:	
ide:0
description: 	IDE interface
product: 	MCP61 IDE
vendor: 	nVidia Corporation
physical id: 	
6
bus info: 	
pci@0000:00:06.0
logical name: 	
scsi2
version: 	a2
width: 	32 bits
clock: 	66MHz
capabilities: 	ide pm bus_master cap_list emulated
configuration:	
driver	=	pata_amd
latency	=	0
maxlatency	=	1
mingnt	=	3
resources:	
irq	:	0
ioport	:	1f0(size=8)
ioport	:	3f6
ioport	:	170(size=8)
ioport	:	376
ioport	:	f000(size=16)
id:	
cdrom
description: 	DVD-RAM writer
product: 	CDDVDW SH-S202N
vendor: 	TSSTcorp
physical id: 	
0.0.0
bus info: 	
scsi@2:0.0.0
logical name: 	
/dev/cdrom
logical name: 	
/dev/cdrw
logical name: 	
/dev/dvd
logical name: 	
/dev/dvdrw
logical name: 	
/dev/scd0
logical name: 	
/dev/sr0
version: 	SB01
capabilities: 	removable audio cd-r cd-rw dvd dvd-r dvd-ram
configuration:	
ansiversion	=	5
status	=	nodisc
id:	
bridge
description: 	Ethernet interface
product: 	MCP61 Ethernet
vendor: 	nVidia Corporation
physical id: 	
7
bus info: 	
pci@0000:00:07.0
logical name: 	
eth0
version: 	a2
serial: 	00:30:18:ad:6b:d6
size: 	100000000
capacity: 	100000000
width: 	32 bits
clock: 	66MHz
capabilities: 	bridge pm msi ht bus_master cap_list ethernet physical mii 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd autonegotiation
configuration:	
autonegotiation	=	on
broadcast	=	yes
driver	=	forcedeth
driverversion	=	0.64
duplex	=	full
ip	=	192.168.1.6
latency	=	0
link	=	yes
maxlatency	=	20
mingnt	=	1
multicast	=	yes
port	=	MII
speed	=	100MB/s
resources:	
irq	:	27
memory	:	fe02d000-fe02dfff
ioport	:	ec00(size=8)
id:	
ide:1
description: 	IDE interface
product: 	MCP61 SATA Controller
vendor: 	nVidia Corporation
physical id: 	
8
bus info: 	
pci@0000:00:08.0
logical name: 	
scsi0
version: 	a2
width: 	32 bits
clock: 	66MHz
capabilities: 	ide pm msi ht bus_master cap_list emulated
configuration:	
driver	=	sata_nv
latency	=	0
maxlatency	=	1
mingnt	=	3
resources:	
irq	:	23
ioport	:	9f0(size=8)
ioport	:	bf0(size=4)
ioport	:	970(size=8)
ioport	:	b70(size=4)
ioport	:	d800(size=16)
memory	:	fe02c000-fe02cfff
id:	
disk
description: 	ATA Disk
product: 	WDC WD800BD-22MR
vendor: 	Western Digital
physical id: 	
0.0.0
bus info: 	
scsi@0:0.0.0
logical name: 	
/dev/sda
version: 	10.0
serial: 	WD-WMAM9WV66164
size: 	74GiB (80GB)
capabilities: 	partitioned partitioned:dos
configuration:	
ansiversion	=	5
signature	=	da57da57
id:	
volume:0
description: 	Windows NTFS volume
physical id: 	
1
bus info: 	
scsi@0:0.0.0,1
logical name: 	
/dev/sda1
version: 	3.1
serial: 	16790828-c702-5d41-a658-e47d17bafe50
size: 	14GiB
capacity: 	14GiB
capabilities: 	primary ntfs initialized
configuration:	
clustersize	=	4096
created	=	2010-02-21 00:50:31
filesystem	=	ntfs
label	=	XP Windows :(
modified_by_chkdsk	=	true
mounted_on_nt4	=	true
resize_log_file	=	true
state	=	dirty
upgrade_on_mount	=	true
id:	
volume:1
description: 	Extended partition
physical id: 	
2
bus info: 	
scsi@0:0.0.0,2
logical name: 	
/dev/sda2
size: 	59GiB
capacity: 	59GiB
capabilities: 	primary extended partitioned partitioned:extended
id:	
logicalvolume:0
description: 	HPFS/NTFS partition
physical id: 	
5
logical name: 	
/dev/sda5
capacity: 	28GiB
id:	
logicalvolume:1
description: 	Linux filesystem partition
physical id: 	
6
logical name: 	
/dev/sda6
capacity: 	25GiB
id:	
logicalvolume:2
description: 	Linux swap / Solaris partition
physical id: 	
7
logical name: 	
/dev/sda7
capacity: 	1004MiB
capabilities: 	nofs
id:	
logicalvolume:3
description: 	Linux filesystem partition
physical id: 	
8
logical name: 	
/dev/sda8
logical name: 	
/
capacity: 	5420MiB
configuration:	
mount.fstype	=	ext4
mount.options	=	rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro,barrier=1,data=ordered
state	=	mounted
id:	
pci:1
description: 	PCI bridge
product: 	MCP61 PCI Express bridge
vendor: 	nVidia Corporation
physical id: 	
9
bus info: 	
pci@0000:00:09.0
version: 	a2
width: 	32 bits
clock: 	33MHz
capabilities: 	pci pm msi ht pciexpress bus_master cap_list
configuration:	
driver	=	pcieport-driver
resources:	
irq	:	24
ioport	:	b000(size=4096)
memory	:	fdd00000-fddfffff
ioport	:	fdc00000(size=1048576)
id:	
pci:2
description: 	PCI bridge
product: 	MCP61 PCI Express bridge
vendor: 	nVidia Corporation
physical id: 	
b
bus info: 	
pci@0000:00:0b.0
version: 	a2
width: 	32 bits
clock: 	33MHz
capabilities: 	pci pm msi ht pciexpress bus_master cap_list
configuration:	
driver	=	pcieport-driver
resources:	
irq	:	25
ioport	:	a000(size=4096)
memory	:	fdb00000-fdbfffff
ioport	:	fda00000(size=1048576)
id:	
pci:3
description: 	PCI bridge
product: 	MCP61 PCI Express bridge
vendor: 	nVidia Corporation
physical id: 	
c
bus info: 	
pci@0000:00:0c.0
version: 	a2
width: 	32 bits
clock: 	33MHz
capabilities: 	pci pm msi ht pciexpress bus_master cap_list
configuration:	
driver	=	pcieport-driver
resources:	
irq	:	26
ioport	:	9000(size=4096)
memory	:	fd900000-fd9fffff
ioport	:	fd800000(size=1048576)
id:	
display
description: 	VGA compatible controller
product: 	C61 [GeForce 6100 nForce 405]
vendor: 	nVidia Corporation
physical id: 	
d
bus info: 	
pci@0000:00:0d.0
version: 	a2
width: 	64 bits
clock: 	66MHz
capabilities: 	pm msi bus_master cap_list
configuration:	
latency	=	0
resources:	
memory	:	fb000000-fbffffff
memory	:	e0000000-efffffff(prefetchable)
memory	:	fc000000-fcffffff
memory	:	40000000-4001ffff(prefetchable)
id:	
pci:4
description: 	Host bridge
product: 	K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] HyperTransport Technology Configuration
vendor: 	Advanced Micro Devices [AMD]
physical id: 	
101
bus info: 	
pci@0000:00:18.0
version: 	00
width: 	32 bits
clock: 	33MHz
id:	
pci:5
description: 	Host bridge
product: 	K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Address Map
vendor: 	Advanced Micro Devices [AMD]
physical id: 	
102
bus info: 	
pci@0000:00:18.1
version: 	00
width: 	32 bits
clock: 	33MHz
id:	
pci:6
description: 	Host bridge
product: 	K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] DRAM Controller
vendor: 	Advanced Micro Devices [AMD]
physical id: 	
103
bus info: 	
pci@0000:00:18.2
version: 	00
width: 	32 bits
clock: 	33MHz
id:	
pci:7
description: 	Host bridge
product: 	K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Miscellaneous Control
vendor: 	Advanced Micro Devices [AMD]
physical id: 	
104
bus info: 	
pci@0000:00:18.3
version: 	00
width: 	32 bits
clock: 	33MHz
configuration:	
driver	=	k8temp
resources:	
irq	:	0

[Roxoff]

This machine is perfectly fine for use as a file server, web server, email server, logon server and pretty much anything that works at LAN-speed.

If you want to do some serious number crunching, then you may want to beef things up a bit, but it should all be fine for normal server tasks. Until recently my server ran CentOS 5 on a dual PIII with 128MB ram, serving files from a 2.5TB LVM with no problems, so your dual-core 64 bit Athlon is more than capable.

If you're using this for file storage, you may want to review the amount of hard disk space on the machine to be certain that it's big enough for your needs (but big hard disks are really cheap these days).

[nujinini]

This machine is perfectly fine for use as a file server, web server, email server, logon server and pretty much anything that works at LAN-speed.

If you want to do some serious number crunching, then you may want to beef things up a bit, but it should all be fine for normal server tasks. Until recently my server ran CentOS 5 on a dual PIII with 128MB ram, serving files from a 2.5TB LVM with no problems, so your dual-core 64 bit Athlon is more than capable.

If you're using this for file storage, you may want to review the amount of hard disk space on the machine to be certain that it's big enough for your needs (but big hard disks are really cheap these days).

Thank you very much Roxoff!

For file server. I am plan to buy a 2TB external HD to have sufficient space. Part of the HD is going to be used as a Back-up Storage for all my "important" data. (Movies actually ) Darn! Takes so much space those DVDs

It would be really great if I can eventually learn how to administer a web server, email server, and a logon server.

Another concern is... would I be able to use the same PC for ordinary jobs like any other home PCs? Just in case the wife and kids might want to browse on the net, can they use it? Or should I put it off and just make a separate partition for regular PC use such as browsing/FB and other things they might want to do?

Thanks again!

[Rubberman]

A couple of things to consider doing:

1. Add some RAM. It will help performance by enabling the system to cache more data.
2. Get an esata board and esata external drive for your extern disc(s). The performance over USB is going to be 4-10x better, especially for writes. You can get a 4-port esata raid controller for $50-80 USD that runs well on Linux.
3. Get a separate external drive and enclosure. IE, get a bare drive, and a good enclosure like some of the ones from StarTech.com that provide a fan as well as USB and eSata connections. I get the quick-insert enclosures (about $50USD), which eliminate the need for any screwdrivers to install or replace your disc.

One of the reasons for #3 for servers is that external drive packages typically have a 1 year warranty and use commodity drives that may or may not last. A factory-fresh bare drive will come with a 3-5 year warranty, and some manufacturers like Seagate will overnite you a replacement w/ paid return shipping label for a few $$ - less than you would pay for shipping alone.

[nujinini]

Thanks Rubberman for all the info. I will be definitely getting those things as the money comes.

But if I may ask, assuming I start with what I have now? What would be my first steps please?

- I have available 3 Laptops & 1 PC at home
- PC was used to configure the router and is now connected by cable to it.
- 3 Laptops are on wireless.
- Do I have to make a separate partition in my PC/server? Fyi, it already has two existing linux partitions. Fedora 10 and Ubuntu 9.10. I would prefer to use Fedora 10 for this PC though since I have encountered some driver issues with Ubuntu

Thank you!

[Rubberman]

I've had better luck so far with Ubuntu 9.04 vs. 9.10 which has had some reported issues. I don't run Fedora so I can't say whether this is better or not. For my workstation/server, I run CentOS, currently 5.4. This is the community version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. I run Ubuntu 9.04 on all of my laptops (2 laptops and 1 netbook), and have had exactly zero problems with any of them.

Myself, I prefer to single-boot my systems. If I need to run another OS, I use VirtualBox and run them in a virtual machine. That way I have many fewer issues with regard to software updates, drivers, etc.

So, my position is for a wired workstation/server, run an enterprise server distribution such as CentOS. For mobile systems (laptops, netbooks, etc) run a more up-to-date distribution such as Ubuntu or Fedora which will deal with wireless devices and web cameras more effectively.

[nujinini]

For my workstation/server, I run CentOS, currently 5.4. This is the community version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

CentOS it is then!

Myself, I prefer to single-boot my systems. If I need to run another OS, I use VirtualBox and run them in a virtual machine. That way I have many fewer issues with regard to software updates, drivers, etc.

Single boot it is! Run everything else in VirtualBox.

So, my position is for a wired workstation/server, run an enterprise server distribution such as CentOS. For mobile systems (laptops, netbooks, etc) run a more up-to-date distribution such as Ubuntu or Fedora which will deal with wireless devices and web cameras more effectively.

Yes! Yes! Yes! Gosh is exciting!

[Rubberman]

Nujinini, what HAVE you been drinking? Anyway, I'm glad you seem to get my point. Servers - server OS. Laptops - up-to-date OS. Personally, I like both, but for very different reasons. I love CentOS on my workstation. It handles all my server hardware, as well as handles all my video processing, software development and design, and database needs perfectly, though it doesn't deal with a lot of wireless stuff very well. I also love Ubuntu on my laptops - mostly because ALL of my wireless and webcam hardware works without any driver installation or configuration at all, including my Sprint broadband wireless modem, bluetooth USB device, and brand-x webcam.

So, since my workstation server is hard-wired to my router, wireless is pretty much unnecessary. Since I don't run an enterprise class database (Oracle) on my laptops, that isn't an issue. I guess what I am getting at is that one should use the proper tool for the job at hand.

[nujinini]

Actually your point was crystal clear Rubberman and I cannot agree with you more.

Since I'm still trying to learn and understand servers, it would be more to my advantage if my server can be dedicated only for that purpose. And besides, I was not successful in making the wireless of CentOS work a few months back. I guess to keep it on cable as a server would be it's best use.

Hehehe, I'm not drinking anything. Just excited. But now that you mentioned it? Have a Coke Zero, on me

I would be reformatting the PC anytime. Would you recommend I do a full install and upgrade of CentOS? If I'm not mistaken, a server should only have the minimum softwares installed to keep it fast & lite? Or something like that.

Thanks!

[Roxoff]

I would be reformatting the PC anytime. Would you recommend I do a full install and upgrade of CentOS? If I'm not mistaken, a server should only have the minimum softwares installed to keep it fast & lite? Or something like that.

Actually, I'd use the network install CD for CentOS - it's a much smaller download, and it installs packages straight from the repositories, so they're already the latest version - there's no big update cycle afterwards. The only drawback is that it asks for the path to a mirror for the CentOS files. If you go down this route, make a note of a mirror local to you and where it keeps its CentOS files before you begin the install.

You're right about keeping it light too - install only the barest minimum of packages that you can get away with, you may want to start with absolutely nothing plus a simple Gnome desktop (this will allow you to use a graphical desktop while you set the thing up) and then add the packages you need with yum afterwards.