did that years ago ..with a NSLU2 :)
http://www.cyrius.com/debian/nslu2/gallery.html
How to Build a Raspberry Pi File Server
11–20 of 55 posts
Re: How to Build a Raspberry Pi File Server
#12This just basically tells you how to mount a disk and install samba. You could equally well apply these instructions to any debian-based system.
Here we go with that argument again. The point of all these people doing "Raspberry Pi" articles with basic Linux stuff is to teach people who just bought a Pi and don't know how to use it. The overall point of this device is education.
You are correct it is a great introduction to how to use linux to serve files and a key use case for the Pi. But why is it on hacker news?
Re: How to Build a Raspberry Pi File Server
#13I’d say: don’t. The performance you will be getting is horrible. Ethernet is connected via USB on the Raspberry Pi, so while via Ethernet, you can achieve about 90 Mbit/s, that speed drops to ≈ 40 Mbit/s once you access a USB hard disk drive. This is without any kind of encryption.
I'd say: DO! If you are trying to learn how to do these sorts of things but as with everything Pi, don't get your hopes up about speed. Once you are comfortable you can move on to a better dedicated setup.
I say, come on, be realistic. This is not a practical thing you're building, it's a fun project that happens to work too.
It's like building a model airplane. You don't do it because you need to fly across the country tomorrow in under 6 hours with drink service and a nap, you do it because you can and it's fun.
Re: How to Build a Raspberry Pi File Server
#14This just basically tells you how to mount a disk and install samba. You could equally well apply these instructions to any debian-based system.
Here we go with that argument again. The point of all these people doing "Raspberry Pi" articles with basic Linux stuff is to teach people who just bought a Pi and don't know how to use it. The overall point of this device is education.
Sure, thought the parent comment is correct. I think the comment is fine, I couldn't read any tone coming from it. It's adding information - that these instructions works with other hardware.
Re: How to Build a Raspberry Pi File Server
#15I’d say: don’t. The performance you will be getting is horrible. Ethernet is connected via USB on the Raspberry Pi, so while via Ethernet, you can achieve about 90 Mbit/s, that speed drops to ≈ 40 Mbit/s once you access a USB hard disk drive. This is without any kind of encryption.
Might be fun to do and the performance is not THAT bad. Yeah, if you want to watch 100GB Bluray from it will suck arse, but it may be adequate for document storage for example. Attach a printer to it and you also have a print server. This little setup could serve well an office or a household.
Actually its fine for streaming HD movies too. I have my home server set up from a Pi exactly like this and it is fine. I have mine streaming video via mediatomb and I have never had a hiccup once, even with 1080p video.
Sure maybe transferring files to/from it is not the fastest but I find it perfectly acceptable (say a minute or so to transfer a 300MB file) and as the OP says I don't feel bad about leaving it running 24/7.
Printer serving is one thing I have not been able to transfer from my old server, seems like the Pi is not that well supported for printer drivers, but I do expect that will be resolved soon by people smarter than me.
Re: How to Build a Raspberry Pi File Server
#16I've done something similar with netatalk and avahi. Since I can use the drive with Time Machine on OSX. Like a cheap Time Capsule.
Re: How to Build a Raspberry Pi File Server
#17Earlier quoted context omitted.
Here we go with that argument again. The point of all these people doing "Raspberry Pi" articles with basic Linux stuff is to teach people who just bought a Pi and don't know how to use it. The overall point of this device is education.
You are correct it is a great introduction to how to use linux to serve files and a key use case for the Pi. But why is it on hacker news?
The is also a user on Reddit who posts lots of articles from this source to /r/raspberry_pi.
/r/raspberry_pi is basically overwhelmed with these type of articles. It also features a huge number of posts related to raspberry pi cases. Overall it is fairly disappointing.
These articles are much less informative than explaining how to google for this information.
Re: How to Build a Raspberry Pi File Server
#18The Pi is great and all, but after running setups like these for many years (ARM server + USB enclosure), I came to the conclusion you're better off with some other solution if you're transferring even a few GB around the place. Of course most of those solutions would be a lot more expensive. The HP Microserver is my current solution, with zfs. And even that could be a lot better as there's no hardware crypto support…
Yes, but not that small. I used an old laptop previously and it was much larger, louder and used more electricity.
Re: How to Build a Raspberry Pi File Server
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
Here we go with that argument again. The point of all these people doing "Raspberry Pi" articles with basic Linux stuff is to teach people who just bought a Pi and don't know how to use it. The overall point of this device is education.
You are correct it is a great introduction to how to use linux to serve files and a key use case for the Pi. But why is it on hacker news?
Possibly because we have beginner hackers amongst us :)
I think HN is a good place for hackers of all shapes, sizes and experiences.
Re: How to Build a Raspberry Pi File Server
#20The Pi is great and all, but after running setups like these for many years (ARM server + USB enclosure), I came to the conclusion you're better off with some other solution if you're transferring even a few GB around the place. Of course most of those solutions would be a lot more expensive. The HP Microserver is my current solution, with zfs. And even that could be a lot better as there's no hardware crypto support…
"As a general point of cynicism (and that seems to be my mood today) - did nobody ever have a small, general purpose computer before the Raspberry Pi came along?"
Of course, but the Pi has dropped the price point considerably. The Beagle Board targets a similar market but is several times as expensive: http://beagleboard.org/