Home Network

[bowz]

Ok guys and gals that are tech savy.  I would like to set up a home network with a central server with lots of space to use as a DVR, keep music accessible by any PC and eventually on a speaker system in the game room, be able to access eventually with a Mac to cut video etc.  I would like wireless for ease of use but also would like to have some hardwired connects for the office and down to the game room to connect to the eventual receiver down there.  What are your suggestions, anyone done this, is it easy.  Whats the best thing for amassing a crap ton of space (over 4 TBs I think would work well for music, pics, DVR etc).  What do I need to start looking at?

What would you do or what have you done?  Thanks guys and gals,

Sincerely your tech-tard BHFer

[Bummerbry]

Well it definitely can be done. The server will need to be decent sized and you will need external HD's to either store and access all that data or to back it up to (depending on the server you get).

Network part would be easy wireless, when it comes to wired connections it all depends on the type of walls. Drop ceilings make running cables easy. If you have a fixed ceiling it could get quite difficult and you might not even be able to accomplish it (you could run the cables externally using channel on the wall to hide the cables). Securing the wireless would be the most important part of that setup. Wired computers will operate faster over the network and on the internet.

For the network, rename all the PC's on the home network to the same workgroup name. On the server you should have a C: partition and then another partition (whatever letter you want) and it should be named DATA and shared. From each of the home computers you would then Map the Data drive to those computers meaning they would be connected to the server and all the data on it.

I would start by checking out some servers to see how big you can get the hard drives in them. I am not a big Dell guy but that is probably where the best price will be obtained.

Cannot offer any advice when  it comes to Mac's.

[bowz]

Bummer, are you talking about buying a server from dell or IBM?  I wouldn't mind buying my own tower and doing my own setup (got friends that can help with that) and having a bunch of internal drives.  Just not sure what to do after putting it all together etc.  But I like the idea of the wiring chase, could even run it behind floor molding if you needed too.

[husker-stv]

You really should check into Apple TV.  Sounds to me like it's almost perfectly suited for what you're driving at. 

[Husker94]

Sincerely your tech-tard BHFer

LOL.