Networks Spare server - suggestions?

Evening Guys,

Currently acquired a mini-itx rig, nothing special (2.10Ghz Dual Core, 2gb ram, 250 hdd) for which i have no use for.

First I thought of using it as a HTPC, but it lacks hdmi :/

I am currently using it as a sandbox/download box that I can connect to from work...


Any idea what else i could use it for?... i want to keep it as some kind of server though due to its low power usage etc.


/Discuss

 

If you are still interested in the possibility of a htpc then if it happens to have a graphics slot (atleast some itx do) you could use something cheap with hdmi like this.

Another option could be a NAS box if you have lots of data to keep safe or multiple pc's in the house after the same data. You should still be able to access it remotely as well I believe.

 

Windows home server? I don't know anyone running this, but it sounded pretty decent.

 

Use it as a NAS box. Also what case is it in?

 

I run WHS it's great (once you work out how it works)

I'd say either use it as a nas or firewall

 

Was gonna say, does the board have a PCI-E slot?

Sounds a bit overkill for a NAS, but so long as it's got a Gigabit LAN port you should be able to get a decent bit of performance from it. Just be sure you need it before wasting the power. It's often better to split the bits, sell 'em in the market place and put the money towards upgrading something you will use.

Look at something like FreeNAS or Openfiler for 'out of the box' NAS-centric operating systems.

 

Ive aquired something similar and decided to use mine as a NASbox with freeNAS installed, runs like a dream and i have my laptop, sisters laptop, dads PC and mums laptop automatically backing up most nights

 

+1 on a NAS. You can never have enough NAStorage

 

Firewall with traffic shaping
Caching nameserver
Proxy server

You could turbocharge your internet connection.

 

Folding, no point in letting it go to waste