[Sheepdisease]

Please, what are your suggestions? I've got 6 x 1TB HDDs and want to create a Linux file server as the central file storage hub.

[JohnWill]

Reopened as requested.

[Sheepdisease]

Thank you.

First off, I would just like to say that I haven't had much luck with getting this system integrated.

My first problem:

I'm looking for a way to temporarily get wireless internet access on the system, using a Netgear WN111v2 USB device. Unfortunately, the driver disk contains only an executable for Windows. My current question is therefore, how do I get this device working with Debian?

My second problem:

I would like to know how to work with LVM, especially so that I can mirror the files on the file server straight onto the external backup (which contains identical drives of the same size). I don't think I will need to worry about RAID, so long as I can find a way to work with the space from the seperate drives as one whole larger space.

The current structure of the system:

1. primary 100mb B ext3 (Boot/Installation)
2. logical 15gb ext3 ('/')
3. logical 4gb ext3 ('/var')
4. logical 10gb ext3 ('/tmp')
5. logical 306.2gb ext3 ('/opt'? - for image files of the OSs of computers connecting to the file server and the OS of the file server itself)
6. logical 2gb F swap

7. space from 3x1TB HDDs as '/home'.

[ckeilah]

Unless NetGear has utterly destroyed the ReadyNAS team's brilliant work, this is the machine you want:

http://www.netgear.com/Products/Stor...NASNVPlus.aspx

[Sheepdisease]

Hello ckeilah, thank you very much for your response.

Please let me reiterate, I already have the machine mentioned above and have the OS installed.

I'm not going to spend any further money on something else, which would render the machine I have just built as obsolete.

Please suggest a recommended means of resolving the wireless problem first of all and then the subsequent questions.

Thank you so much.

[Sheepdisease]

Alright, I gave up and connected the machine to the router using an extremely long piece of cat5e cable.

Now are you guys willing to listen and help? I don't want any more suggestions about buying a NAS or using this wire or that...

[avisitor]

You haven't told us much at all about the system.

Can you go over the configuration in detail: mobo, OS & Version, disk configuration, etc.

[Sheepdisease]

AMD AM2 DCORE 5050E Energy Eff
CAIR 400W CMPSU-400CXUK
Edge DAS401 x2 SATA2 NAS RAID
Asus M3A78-CM
Corsair TwinX 2GB DDR2 6400 C4

07-Oct-2009, 02:25 PM #18 for disk configuration

Using Debian Lenny with all latest patches and updates

[RobLinux]

First as you're in UK, I should look for a local LUG, Debian is very popular and there should be someone experienced who can help you through things, for a few beers.

Problem 1

http://www.myopenrouter.com/article/...-Quick-Review/ has a link through to a Linux driver.

Whilst i have installed and used Lenny, it'd be hard for me to work through the driver installation; probably the best place is Debian forums, if you can't find a local expert through a LUG.

This process may involve building some kernel driver source, against your kernel header source files, in which case you'll find working through the excellent Debian Documentation on tools required to build a custom kernel helpful.


Problem 2

RAID 1 (mirroring) and LVM are designed for data integrity and easier management of systems with multiple disks. LVM for example allows resizing of partitions.

They are NOT backup solutions. For your need I should mount the external "Backup" space in their own filesystems, and then use the tool rsync(1) to create a shadow copy. "rsync -cSax" creates a checksummed archive copy (time stamps, ownership retained) of a whole directory tree, to another location. On updates only changes are recopied, making this efficient enough to use over a network using an encrypted data stream via "rsync -essh -cSax".

Finally, I think you'll find your "/tmp" is way over sized, unless you have some plan to use it to store large number temporary files like DVD/CD ISO images before burning.

[Sheepdisease]

Originally Posted by RobLinux

First as you're in UK, I should look for a local LUG, Debian is very popular and there should be someone experienced who can help you through things, for a few beers.

Problem 1

http://www.myopenrouter.com/article/...-Quick-Review/ has a link through to a Linux driver.

Whilst i have installed and used Lenny, it'd be hard for me to work through the driver installation; probably the best place is Debian forums, if you can't find a local expert through a LUG.

This process may involve building some kernel driver source, against your kernel header source files, in which case you'll find working through the excellent Debian Documentation on tools required to build a custom kernel helpful.


Problem 2

RAID 1 (mirroring) and LVM are designed for data integrity and easier management of systems with multiple disks. LVM for example allows resizing of partitions.

They are NOT backup solutions. For your need I should mount the external "Backup" space in their own filesystems, and then use the tool rsync(1) to create a shadow copy. "rsync -cSax" creates a checksummed archive copy (time stamps, ownership retained) of a whole directory tree, to another location. On updates only changes are recopied, making this efficient enough to use over a network using an encrypted data stream via "rsync -essh -cSax".

Finally, I think you'll find your "/tmp" is way over sized, unless you have some plan to use it to store large number temporary files like DVD/CD ISO images before burning.

Hello, I haven't read your post properly but thank you for your response.

I didn't get past reading your first sentence, as I noticed you are recommending Debian, which I have already mentioned I have installed.

[Sheepdisease]

Pardon me, what I said was a bit rude, when I get time I will re-read your response so that I can understand it.

Many thanks!

[RobLinux]

No problem. I didn't recommend Debian, though it is a solid Linux distro that I have installed and liked. I was more trying to take in the info you presented, and recommend you tried a LUG in your area.

But if someone does help you, then a few beers is a definite recommendation!

[Sheepdisease]

Hello Rob, I've no idea what a LUG is, let alone how to find one.

No recommendations about how I can do this in my spare time?

[RobLinux]

Google "Linux LUG" in UK

[Sheepdisease]

Right, so the LUG suggestion didn't work out.

Anyone else got any advice?