Atom Webserver / Home Server

[ICT_GUY]

I am thinking of building a home server / web server around an atom mobo combo and a linux distro.
Total hardware cost is likely to be sub £100. The web server part is to use to test websites that I am building and allow customers to see the progress with out it taking up a slot on my main host. Also for the fun of it.

Intel 945GC MITX/MATX Atom330 DDR2 (BOXD945GCLF2D) - dabs.com £66

I was thinking of using a USB stick instead of a HD for the OS, is this practical or will performance / reliability be a major issue. With 16GB flash drives available now it could be a very energy efficient proposition. I do have a load of 2.5 inch disks kicking around though.

Anyone else done this or had experience of the various pitfalls involved?

[ICT_GUY]

Anyone know if mini ITX fits any sort of standard case. Mini ITX cases cost a bomb.

[Ric_]

Check out LinITX.com for some cracking SFF gear.

[SYNACK]

Anyone know if mini ITX fits any sort of standard case. Mini ITX cases cost a bomb.

They should do, they should use the innermost four backplane mounts of the Micro ATX form factor and mount up fine. It will also give the board lots of breathing room which is important if you want to make it as passively cooled as possible.

mini-itx.com - faq
Mini-ITX vs. Micro-ATX question? - MP3Car.com

[Dos_Box]

We looked at the possability of using an Atom\ION chipset for the server-room-in-a-box, but there is a RAM limitation on most boards which made it undesirable.

[Ric_]

We looked at the possability of using an Atom\ION chipset for the server-room-in-a-box, but there is a RAM limitation on most boards which made it undesirable.

That shouldn't effect the OP though... we wanted 4GB+ but a gig is probably more than enough for running Linux to test web pages and act as a fileserver for a couple of clients.

[powdarrmonkey]

I have done exactly this (though it's also a PPP router and mailserver) on an Intel D945GCLF and a gig of memory. It's Debian Lenny on a 4Gb flash disk (a fast one) - make sure you switch off access time recording on your filesystem to reduce the hammering it gets, and take a backup regularly in case of random failure.

I can't comment on whether it will fit other cases, I have a Noah ITX case.

[SYNACK]

I use the older version of this in my Media Center/NAS [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Zotac-Atom-Intel-Motherboard-IONITX-F-E/dp/B002TKVK1M/ref=pd_cp_e_2]Amazon.com: Zotac Atom N330 Dual Core WiFi ITX Intel Motherboard IONITX-F-E: Electronics[/ame]

Takes up to 4GB of RAM, supports SATA RAID and has a dual core Atom 330 along with a decent GPU. Burns about double the power of the single core intel boards but has more than twice the kick. Comes with 802.11n wireless and a PCI-E slot too depending on the model. Would probably fit the bill for a server in a box if you can cope with only 4GB of RAM and would make a nice fast personal server.

[plexer]

Want to put one in my car.

[EduTech]

Want to put one in my car.

i'll show you mine when i have it done.. i am just seeing if i can power it all using an inverter hehe!

[FN-GM]

i'll show you mine when i have it done.. i am just seeing if i can power it all using an inverter hehe!

oh dear....

[EduTech]

oh dear....

Be interesting although i am thinking of just getting one of these and using my atom powered netbook (Samsung NC10) UNIVERSAL 7-13 INCH NETBOOK CAR MOUNT KIT HOLDER LAPTOP on eBay (end time 09-Apr-10 11:06:04 BST)

James.

[ICT_GUY]

I have a dell laptop with 512mb of ram and a very slow celeron. Running Ubuntu and xmapp.

I can use VNC and ftp to access it. It seems to have more than enough grunt, the only issue I have so far is that FTP seems to take an age to authenticate.

I am thinking a cheap netbook would also work, though I doubt that the maplins £100 job would last the week when plugged in 24/7.

[Martin]

I was going to suggest an Acer Aspire Revo R3600 which was only £130 from eBuyer yesterday, but ouch they are now £150.

Just bought an R3610 and they are very well made! Will be having a play with it at the weekend

mb

[plexer]

Acer machine plus one of these [ame=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001TH8ODS/ref=asc_df_B001TH8ODS592513?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&ta g=googlecouk06-21&linkCode=asn&creative=7974&creativeASIN=B001TH8 ODS]MIMO UM-740 Touch Screen & USB Powered 7" TFT Swivel: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo[/ame] for a car pc?

Ben