Topic: Just NAS, no gateway or mail server (Home use only)

[dcnarad]

Hello All

I'm a total newbie for the networking and server world, but fairly OK with configuring and using linux from a ubuntu standpoint.

Goal: to setup a NAS to which both my wife (mac) and myself (ubuntu) can save data and both can retrieve from the same pool

Current config: I have installed SME latest version (I think 7.4) on a P4 (internal hd, 40Gb is used for this), connected it to our home router. I setup SME as Server only and no DNS or gateway server. Fixed IP 192.168.0.8 and our router knows this as sees it too.

Here are my problems
a) My ubuntu laptop (192.168.0.2) or the mac (192.168.0.3) does not connect to the m/c (cannot go to https://servername/server-mager)
b) I entered the server manager on m/c itself (text browser) and enabled the FTP service, still cannot connect to the ftp either

I want to add my existing 2 external HDDs that are ext3 on to the server (as internal drive on the secondary ribbon), without having to delete any data or reformat it, what permissions (chown) should I set so the server will be able to read and write into it and also grant both me and my wife access to it without having to set quotas etc..

Sorry for the lengthy mail. Thanks a bunch in advance

Shiv

[Jeppe Fugl]

can you ping the server?

https://192.168.0.8/server-mager 


If you only need NAS, why not use distro like freenas.org

[cactus]

If you only need NAS, why not use distro like freenas.org

If all you want is NAS you are better of either buying a commercial available one or running one yourself based on FreeNAS. SME Server offers much to much functionality for your case and it would be hard to disable all functionality that you do not need.

[dcnarad]

Yes I did try FreeNAS, the problem is that I dont know much about BSD to know how to make it recognize my GPT-Ext3 hard drives that I cant erase to start afresh. I tried Openfiler as well the installation and the GUI based configuration all worked, but it kept asking for quota allocation and new user with the "Add user button disabled". I tried to see the configuration manual, that that has to be bought for 40 euros, which is as expensive as my entire setup. Hence SME distro. I'am aware that it has way too many services enabled from the get go, but as long as the NAS part works fine I'm OK with it.

Thanks

Shiv

[philbrearley]

Shiv,

The SME server is an excellent place to start. I would not consider using a NAS unless you don't intend to ever progress further.  Your knowledge will improve over time. You can start out by just using the file sharing capabilities and then as your knowledge increases you can add further functionality.

Now.. To your configuration problem.
You have not fully documented your network configuration. Please ensure you reconfigure your server using similar settings as your Router/Gateway.
Server IP address:   192.168.0.8
Subnet Mask:  the same as your Router, could be 255.255.255.0
Gateway:   This is your Router's address, could be192.168.0.1
DHCP:   If your Router provides DHCP then disable it on the SME server.

If you have configured your server correctly you should be able to
ping 192.168.0.8 from your other PCs
Logon to the server manager using https://192.168.0.8/server-manager

It cannot be stated too often for new users,
Read the manual, then reread the manual, I little perseverance brings great rewards.
You can make a start here http://wiki.contribs.org/SME_Server:Community

Remember: None of us start out running, we all walk first, most of us had to crawl.

Have fun,

Phil Brearley



 

[janet]

dcnarad

I assume your router is acting as Login client (for your Internet connection), Firewall, gateway, DNS, WINS & DHCP server, and there are no other sme or Windows servers on your LAN (except the one sme you want to act like a NAS). My answer is based on those assumptions.

Unless you specify that servername hostname in your router then that URL will not resolve (neither will FTP by hostname).
You could use http://192.168.0.8/server-manager
Alternatively you could specify your workstations (browsers) to use the sme server as the DNS & WINS server, and then add your router IP as the gateway for the sme server (to achieve name resolution for your network).

Please see the Howtos section (link at top of these forums) for a method of adding second (additional) hard drives.
http://wiki.contribs.org/AddExtraHardDisk
and
http://wiki.contribs.org/AddExtraHardDisk_-_SCSI
and
although not specific to your request the following may be of general interest re adding NAS to an sme
http://wiki.contribs.org/Mount_Network_Shares

Once you have added the drive(s) to sme server, you will still need to add yourself and your wife as users and make them a member of the group that owns the ibay(s) that the drives are mounted/linked to. That will automatically setup all required permissions etc.
See http://wiki.contribs.org/Main_Page
and refer to the manuals here
http://wiki.contribs.org/SME_Server:Documentation:Administration_Manual
and here
http://wiki.contribs.org/SME_Server:Documentation:User_Manual

You will still need to configure your workstations appropriately to allow them to access the sme server, as you would normally do on any network. Refer to the manual re the mac, see here
http://wiki.contribs.org/SME_Server:Documentation:User_Manual:Chapter3
and perhaps you need to see the Howto re joining Ubuntu workstations to a sme server, see here
http://wiki.contribs.org/Client_Authentication:Ubuntu

You can safely leave all default services enabled on the sme (in server only mode), as an enabled service uses very little resource when sitting there doing nothing.