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Advice deciding for home server

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debnew001
Posts: 2
Joined: 2015-07-02 04:39

Advice deciding for home server

#1 Post by debnew001 »

I am basically very new to linux. I have used windows all my life.
Now I want to make a ftp server at home, which I can access over internet when out of city. I am gonna get 2 hdd, 320gb, 2tb. Small one for installation and other for storing and sharing files. Once I set up the system, it'll probably won't have a display(because I wont be using it locally).
I have read few posts and articles, which says debian is the most stable linux distro. But they also say its not for beginners. Ubuntu is better suited for such.
I am gonna go and purchase a cheap intel processor and build a machine this weekend.
Please help me decide which distro will be easy to install and operate, my basic need being able to read and write on 2nd hhd over internet using ftp/sftp.
And also any link towards easy to understand guide for the process is welcome. There are simply too many guides and documentation and manuals, too confusing for a noob like me.

tezzeret
Posts: 12
Joined: 2015-06-24 08:19

Re: Advice deciding for home server

#2 Post by tezzeret »

The first time I used Linux was for a Minecraft server, I went with Debian and with some help from google I managed to set it up pretty quick. I would be surprised if going for another distro would have made the process easier or faster.

As for helpful sites give the debian wiki a try:
https://wiki.debian.org

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GarryRicketson
Posts: 5644
Joined: 2015-01-20 22:16
Location: Durango, Mexico

Re: Advice deciding for home server

#3 Post by GarryRicketson »

This is one I used, (out of many ) it is simple enough to understand,
https://www.howtoforge.com/perfect-serv ... spconfig-3
There are simply too many guides and documentation and manuals, too confusing for a noob like me.
Well, first you need to decide for sure, what OS you want to use, then narrow down your searches, to guides relating to that OS, the same goes for the "server" software.
I am basically very new to linux. I have used windows all my life.
Might be best if you just stick with that, you seem to be looking for the "easy" way to do everything.
But before you start trying do do something as advanced as setting up a server, "home" server, what ever, if you want to use linux, learn how to use and run the OS you choose first, then look into the server you want use.
Once you decide what OS you will use, and learn how to use it, start a "local host" server, with what ever server software you decide to try first, and read the manuals on that particular server software, if you are comfortable with it, then you can put your "home server" online for the real test.
"ajenti" http://ajenti.org/
Is very easy to install, works very well with Debian Wheezy, and Nginx, Ajenti is a "control" panel,
that I find use full, it also is well documented, the installation manual is easy enough to follow.
I have found nginx
easier to use then lamp or apache, but others, like "tezzeret", seems to like this "mine craft", which I never had heard of up til now, others are going to tell you apache or lampp.

If you are finding that the "documentation and manuals, too confusing for a noob like me. " are too confusing, then the same is going to occur with any explanations people try to give you here,
You are going to need to learn how to read and follow documentation and manuals, in order to install the OS, and the server, also if you decide to use it Mysql, and then you are going to need to read and follow the manuals on that,.. This all may be to much for you.
Besides, ubuntu, another very easy distro to install, http://www.mepiscommunity.org/mx
and mx-14 works just fine, with the above mentioned server software, nginx and ajenti ,control panel.
Debian Wheezy was not that hard to install, but you will need to learn how to install some non-free firmware, and edit the sources.list file, I have not yet tried setting up any kind of server using the newer Jessie release, but the same will apply, so that will probably be to hard for you, because you do need to read the manuals and documentation.
Edited: This also is a good tutorial:
http://www.rackspace.com/knowledge_cent ... rom-source

debnew001
Posts: 2
Joined: 2015-07-02 04:39

Re: Advice deciding for home server

#4 Post by debnew001 »

Thanks for taking time for my post.
I have used ubuntu previously. The laptop I am using had win7, I created another partition and installed ubuntu there. Had problems at first with booting, had to use boot repair disk to repair grub. Not total noob, but I had to check forums for pretty much all the steps.
Ubuntu was not difficult to install, so now I am thinking of debian. I will go through the links and let you guys know how things work out.

After I have installed the os, what would be my next step for setting up the ftp server. I have static ip, so I think one step can be skipped related to dynamic ip.

And I am not looking for easy way out, I will do whatever necessary to complete this.

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GarryRicketson
Posts: 5644
Joined: 2015-01-20 22:16
Location: Durango, Mexico

Re: Advice deciding for home server

#5 Post by GarryRicketson »

For what ever it is worth, perhaps not much, but my hosting , and they are "paid" hosting, for some reason, they are using "unbuntu" for the servers,

Code: Select all

$ lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID:	Ubuntu
Description:	Ubuntu 12.04.5 LTS
Release:	12.04
Codename:	precise
] 
This is a commercial, production server, not a "home server", however it could be worth
researching, what is the most used OS for servers, and why is that OS the popular choice.
http://www.serverwatch.com/columns/arti ... utions.htm

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GarryRicketson
Posts: 5644
Joined: 2015-01-20 22:16
Location: Durango, Mexico

Re: Advice deciding for home server

#6 Post by GarryRicketson »

After I have installed the os, what would be my next step for setting up the ftp server. I have
static ip, so I think one step can be skipped related to dynamic ip.
If all you want is a ftp server, these may be better.
http://www.noip.com/support/knowledgeba ... -computer/
This might be your best, simplest way:
https://www.debian-administration.org/a ... _on_Debian
and if you decide to use "ubuntu",
http://linuxconfig.org/how-to-setup-and ... untu-linux
Something very important, if you decide to use Debian, do not go and start mixing stuff from
ubuntu instructions and sources.
The "next" step to setting up a ftp server, will depend on which OS you decide to install. That question can not really be answered at this point.

jesus92gz
Posts: 121
Joined: 2015-02-06 18:07

Re: Advice deciding for home server

#7 Post by jesus92gz »

If you used Ubuntu in the past, then it should not be a big deal to install and configure a Debian system.
Since you will be installing a server, not much time will be needed to configure it.

Check this wiki https://wiki.debian.org/FTP#FTP_Servers

When it comes to storage, I would reduce the size the installation HDD size. But anyways, it will be possible to use this HDD in other kind of installatiom or system later.

seco
Posts: 5
Joined: 2017-02-02 17:08

Re: Advice deciding for home server

#8 Post by seco »

FTP still alive and no one can deny that.
However, if anyone decides to use it, you should use SFTP or FTPS.
You can check this article for more info about secure FTP configurations and setup https://likegeeks.com/ftp-server-linux/
Finally, don't forget to jail FTP users :)

Regards,

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debiman
Posts: 3063
Joined: 2013-03-12 07:18

Re: Advice deciding for home server

#9 Post by debiman »

i've been using debian stable since 2014.

if debian is too complicated for you then you're not ready to run a server. my opinion.

i run mine on a grossly outdated laptop, i might add (single core intel, 2GB RAM).
i think a newly purchased intel processor is total overkill. of course it depends a little on what you want to do with it.
for example, my media server cannot do transcoding-on-the-fly.

if it's headless, you probably don't need a gpu.

i started mine with a good tutorial (digitalocean iirc - search phrase "setting up a debian server" or some such).

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