Stupid Malware...

Serendipity

Sami wrote: »

If you're running your SATA in AHCI mode you can do hotplugging, which brings in the other point, hassle free. Use as many HD's with either one (eSATA dock or mobile rack), whereas with external USB you're either stuck with one drive or have to take the case apart to change the drive.

What if I used a NAS drive on the network? I'd like to be able to back up multiple computers to a central location, especially at home. If they are a good option, can you recommend one for me?

The network at home has switches on each floor, in the office, and wireless AP's in the living room. I'd like to be able to tie in a hard drive to be accessed anywhere, just like I can print to my LaserJet 2430n anywhere via the printer's JetDirect card.

Sami

There are many ways to skin a cat. I like the docking station and mobile rack approach myself because HDD's are cheap and I can use multiple drives. I am pretty paranoid when it comes to saving my stuff. I have a server with RAID as my storage for important stuff, then I have it duplicated on my main machine. Whenever I make changes to either location the changes are synced between them.

Then I have couple of 1TB drives where I create snapshots of my files. This way I can go back in time to find a file that I deleted earlier. I keep these drives in their original boxes and only take them out when I create a snapshot.

NAS drives are a good option, I just don't have use for them myself, I rather have a server box running on the network with multiple drives and RAID. If you go with a NAS option, I would suggest something similar to this that gives you RAID option:

http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-Network-Storage-System-NAS200/dp/B000QGTNWY/ref=dp_return_2?ie=UTF8&n=172282&s=electronics

Add in couple of HDD's (this will also give you a dock station as a gift, USB only, no eSATA):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.272964

Serendipity

Sami wrote: »

NAS drives are a good option, I just don't have use for them myself, I rather have a server box running on the network with multiple drives and RAID. If you go with a NAS option, I would suggest something similar to this that gives you RAID option:

If that's the case, I might consider a Dell PowerEdge for the home network with multiple drives. That way me, my Mom, and Dad can all back up all our files in one central location with swappable drives:

http://www.dell.com/content/products/category.aspx/tower?c=us&l=en&s=bsd

Which is a good solution for a basic networked home with 7 PC's? I already have all the switches in place, both HTPC's connect to the network, each printer has a JetDirect card, etc.

Sami

I would advise on building it yourself, or use the karma I posted.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88781

You'll save money over a Dell server. For OS, I would recommend Linux. rsync running on it, with a Windows clients on each machine, you'll have everything synced up automatically.

Serendipity

Sami wrote: »

You'll save money over a Dell server. For OS, I would recommend Linux. rsync running on it, with a Windows clients on each machine, you'll have everything synced up automatically.

Do all of the systems in the household have to be Windows XP Professional edition for this to work?

The HTPC's run Windows Media Center 2005 and the desktops are Windows XP Pro. IIRC, only the machines with XP Pro can use Remote Desktop - I haven't been able to get it to work in XP Home or MCE.

Is this the same for file sharing?

Sami

Unless you want to set a home domain, it shouldn't matter. I don't use remote desktop unless I have to as it's a poor way to get remote access. They would all need to be set for SSH access if you wish to do remote sync. For regular network file server, nothing but the regular file sharing service is needed on the clients.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenSSH
http://sshwindows.sourceforge.net/

Windows is a single user OS so it's rather limited in regards to remote access. Shame but its what it is.

Serendipity

1. Pardon my ignorance, but (after reading the links) I still don't really understand what SSH is.

2. Regarding a domain, I'd like to have it setup so that each computer requires a Ctrl+Alt+Delete keystroke to log on and you get to pick from a drop down list whether to log on locally or to a domain. Right now I'm just using XP's fast user switching and logging on to the machines locally.

But from what I understand, I need XP Professional on all of the machines to do that. My laptop runs XP Home :eek:

Correct me if I am wrong...

BaggedLancer

Setting up a domain at home is way out of your league and way out of what's needed for your house.

How did this thread go from malware to setting up a home domain?

On another note, 80% of my job is virus/malware remediation at work. While some of the solutions have a remote possibility of working, your best bet is to download something like this:

http://www.ubcd4win.com/downloads.htm

on a clean computer, burn it to CD, then boot to it. It's going to give you a funky looking windows XP shell, and in it you will find some antivirus software. While they don't have the latest DAT files, it will run an offline scan of your harddrive. Essentially your scanning for viruses/malware remotely without ever booting into your host operating system.

Please try that and let me know if anything is detected. DO NOT PLAY WITH THE OTHER UTILITIES ON THAT BOOT DISC. ESPECIALLY THE REGISTRY FIXERS. I promise if you do, you'll be reinstalling windows before you know it.

On another note, I switched to Linux last year, I have no intention of going back to windows. Ubuntu does everything I need and more, and no silly viruses to worry about.

Sami

Yes, you need Pro versions of Windows for domains, none of the home editions support that. XP has some hacks available but I haven't tried those myself.

Your simplest solution for home domain would be to configure SAMBA to be a domain controller as well. Should be more than enough for your needs.

Serendipity

BaggedLancer wrote: »

Setting up a domain at home is way out of your league and way out of what's needed for your house.

Sure, in a typical household. But I actually get quite a bit of work done here and could use a server-based network. I print a lot of documents using the networked HP LaserJets and need reliable storage. Also presentations with the projector. I mean, we're not talking a 3 PC network here.

Basically, I'm interested in something like the PowerEdge servers Dell offers, just not sure how to do it if I were to do it myself.

Sami

appadv wrote: »

Basically, I'm interested in something like the PowerEdge servers Dell offers, just not sure how to do it if I were to do it myself.

It's just a server PC that comes with no OS as default. You would still have to configure everything yourself. Just buy the parts, put in a Linux distro of your choice (Ubuntu server maybe), configure SAMBA and software RAID and you're good to go. It's not that difficult as most of the work is done by the Linux distro, you just need to tweak it a little.

For about $1000 in parts and you'd get a nice server with 6TB of RAID space. That would also double as a nice HTPC to store and playback BD movies to your projector.

BaggedLancer

an ubuntu server with samba as Sami said would work perfect. On the other hand, go ahead and configure yourself some active directory.

Also, don't forget you could always use every IT guys worst nightmare..... NOVELL.

Serendipity

Lasareath wrote: »

I had the same thing on a client's PC, could not find it with anything, I stopped all the services and it ran great but nothing worked. I had to re-format it.

Yes, that's similar to what I am experiencing. If I Ctrl+Alt+Delete and end explorer.exe and svchost.exe, the machine runs fine. But then you can't do anything.

Serendipity

BaggedLancer wrote: »

an ubuntu server with samba as Sami said would work perfect. On the other hand, go ahead and configure yourself some active directory.

Also, don't forget you could always use every IT guys worst nightmare..... NOVELL.

Looks like I'll build my own machine. Looking to be on a budget (less than $800-950 or so), doesn't have to be super fast but I need reliable storage.

Sami

appadv wrote: »

Looks like I'll build my own machine. Looking to be on a budget (less than $800-950 or so), doesn't have to be super fast but I need reliable storage.

Shopping list with some suggestions to give you an idea of what you need. This is powerful enough combination to play High Def movies if you so wish. About $1000 but you can find cheaper alternatives, especially for the processor/motherboard/memory area.

Case, minimum 6 external 5.25 slots, something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163001

Reliable power supply:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153023

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341018


Storage space, 2-4 of these in RAID5:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148412

Match the number of HDD's with hot-swap docks:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817998041


Motherboard with integrated video, maybe HDMI like this. Make sure you have enough SATA connections to match your HDD count. If you want to optimize storage slots, get an IDE HDD for Operating System.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.265473

Memory:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227365

Sami

BaggedLancer wrote: »

an ubuntu server with samba as Sami said would work perfect. On the other hand, go ahead and configure yourself some active directory.

While SAMBA is very easy to configure, something like OpenLDAP is a little more advanced subject. If that's what he would need, I suggest testing it with virtual machine network first before trying to employ at the actual network.

http://www.virtualbox.org/

Serendipity

Sami wrote: »

Shopping list with some suggestions to give you an idea of what you need. This is powerful enough combination to play High Def movies if you so wish. About $1000 but you can find cheaper alternatives, especially for the processor/motherboard/memory area.

My current HTPC (HP Digital Entertainment Center z560) outputs the audio through HDMI and optical out. Will this motherboard be able to do this too? Or do I need a graphics card that supports audio over HDMI?

Serendipity

Sami wrote: »

While SAMBA is very easy to configure, something like OpenLDAP is a little more advanced subject. If that's what he would need, I suggest testing it with virtual machine network first before trying to employ at the actual network.

http://www.virtualbox.org/

I'd like to run Windows 2003 server to practice on first and then move to Linux. Just want to get the hang of things before jumping into the deep end...

Sami

appadv wrote: »

My current HTPC (HP Digital Entertainment Center z560) outputs the audio through HDMI and optical out. Will this motherboard be able to do this too? Or do I need a graphics card that supports audio over HDMI?

It should. I have a 785 model on one of these machines, I'll test the audio over HDMI when I get a chance.

I would honestly skip the Windows Server. Download either desktop or server version of Ubuntu, install it and edit a few lines on the Samba config file and you're good to go. Installation is extremely easy, you'd be running it in less than an hour. If you want LDAP then that's a longer procedure.

Download that VirtualBox and practice on virtual machines...

Serendipity

Sami wrote: »

It should. I have a 785 model on one of these machines, I'll test the audio over HDMI when I get a chance.

You mean 565, right? There's the Digital Entertainment Center 560 and 565, but HP never made a 785 model.

Audio over HDMI works flawlessly for me with the built-in nVidia graphics card.

Sami

appadv wrote: »

You mean 565, right? There's the Digital Entertainment Center 560 and 565, but HP never made a 785 model.

Audio over HDMI works flawlessly for me with the built-in nVidia graphics card.

I was talking about the Gigabyte motherboard with built-in HDMI audio/video. I have a little different model, should be the same NVidia 3300 chipset.

Serendipity

Sami wrote: »

I was talking about the Gigabyte motherboard with built-in HDMI audio/video. I have a little different model, should be the same NVidia 3300 chipset.

Sure, thanks. If the HDMI works with audio, then I can use it upstairs as a Media Center too!

Will get started on the Virtualbox sometime soon, it's midterm week

wutadumsn23

BaggedLancer wrote: »

On another note, I switched to Linux last year, I have no intention of going back to windows. Ubuntu does everything I need and more, and no silly viruses to worry about.

+1,000,000 Man am I ever glad I ditched Windows for Ubuntu for my primary OS. I still have a Windows partition that I have to have only for my Zune software since it is a dedicated Windows program, with no Ubuntu equivilant. If it weren't for my Zune, I would not have Windows on my computer at all.

-Jeff

Serendipity

wutadumsn23 wrote: »

+1,000,000 Man am I ever glad I ditched Windows for Ubuntu for my primary OS. I still have a Windows partition that I have to have only for my Zune software since it is a dedicated Windows program, with no Ubuntu equivilant. If it weren't for my Zune, I would not have Windows on my computer at all.

-Jeff

Well, I use Windows for a few CAD programs that are only available on Windows, but aside from that I don't really need Windows as my primary OS.

I should dual boot with Linux (currently learning Knoppix) and use Windows less...

Serendipity

Sami -

I'm also looking at replacing the 3 desktops with the following:

http://www.dell.com/us/en/business/desktops/desktop-optiplex-360/pd.aspx?refid=desktop-optiplex-360&s=bsd&cs=04

Would I be able to build a cheaper system myself or should I just go with the Dell? We have the same machines at work and at my school (although some of the CAD labs use optiplex 760's)

Sami

appadv wrote: »

Would I be able to build a cheaper system myself or should I just go with the Dell? We have the same machines at work and at my school (although some of the CAD labs use optiplex 760's)

I would recommend custom build. Better hardware for the same price. These many options to choose from and it depends on what you want. Sleek small case or full tower, performance. PM me your e-mail and I will send you couple of shopping cart options from Newegg so you can compare specs and prices.

Sami

What are planning to use the old desktops for? Those could be ideal "slave" machines to do background work.

Serendipity

Sami wrote: »

I would recommend custom build. Better hardware for the same price. These many options to choose from and it depends on what you want. Sleek small case or full tower, performance. PM me your e-mail and I will send you couple of shopping cart options from Newegg so you can compare specs and prices.

PM sent, thanks! I'm looking for sleek and slim desktop machines but also powerful enough to take care of most computing tasks.

Serendipity

Sami wrote: »

What are planning to use the old desktops for? Those could be ideal "slave" machines to do background work.

1. Print Server, maybe. All of my LaserJet printers have JetDirect cards built in but the color printers don't.
2. Music playback - I think that should be fine on a Pentium 4...

Serendipity

Sami -

Thanks for the advice! I'll let you know when I start my build.