Topic: A second SME Server into a LAN with another SME ?

[fredox27]

Hello,

I have installed in my network an SME 8.0 which works in gateway and server mode. but this computer doesn't have a lot of storage capacity.

I have another compter with more disk capacity, so my question is :

can I include a second SME Server in "server only" mode, but i need to include it in the 1st domain, to have just one list of user, etc.. This second server will just be used for file sharing, web server, and database server.

Is my question is clear ?

Thanks in advance for you answer

[janet]

fredox27

You can add a second sme server in server only mode, but you will have to manually add and maintain the users & passwords, to match those on the main sme server.
 
I strongly suggest just using one sme gateway server (in gateway & server mode), use the machine with more storage, and transfer all data & users & so on, from the current server to the new server.
You can do this by backup & restore, or by upgrade disk method (see http://wiki.contribs.org/UpgradeDisk) where you restore directly from the old smaller sized mounted disk, or use the Howto to move the disk to the other server and then grow the disk, refer http://wiki.contribs.org/Moving_HardDisk_to_New_Hardware and http://wiki.contribs.org/Raid#Upgrading_the_Hard_Drive_Size (for software RAID1 systems). Affa is another possibility.

Ongoing maintenance, upgrades, contrib installs and more, will be much simplified with only one server.

[fredox27]

Thanks for your answer, but i try this, but the problem is that une bigest PC make a lot of noise, and my little PC no.
So The little pc which is a gateway is behind my tv with the bbox and a switch, and the bigest PC is in the garage using CPL.

So SME can't be used with more than one PC.

I think I'll try a Debian, or FreeNas, or other to connect to SME LDAP in order to manage folder and sharing rights.

[janet]

fredox27

So SME can't be used with more than one PC.

You can use as many PC's as you want to connect to it, but I think you meant accessing a common set of users on one server, then no.
If you are in a home environment it would be pretty quick and easy to add a few users to the second sme server.
If configured correctly the 2 sme servers can be accessed by all PC's on your network.

Why don't you replace the fan or whatever is making the noise. That will be cheaper & easier, & use less of your valuable time.

Remember SME LDAP is still experimental.

[fredox27]

ok, i understand. If i create same user in each of the 2 SME, with same password, it will works.

I know LDAP is experimental, but it's for Home usage, and I have backups of all my datas, so i can format without any problems.

I think i will test openmediavault, a project based on debian. And if it's doesn't work, create a second SME.

But i prefer have a unique LDAP database (in order to, one day, put a address book inside)

[Boris]

Another option may be worth exploring is to create a NAS (Network Attached Storage) from the bigger machine and mount it as a folder to SME via let say NFS or iSCSI. Something like FreeNAS or OpenFiler may work well.

[fredox27]

Another option may be worth exploring is to create a NAS (Network Attached Storage) from the bigger machine and mount it as a folder to SME via let say NFS or iSCSI. Something like FreeNAS or OpenFiler may work well.

I seems to be a great idea...

.. but i've not any idea to how i can do that.. do you have an idea ?

thanks

[Boris]

I seems to be a great idea...

.. but i've not any idea to how i can do that.. do you have an idea ?

thanks

Yes, I do. I have done it before. Thank you for asking

[fredox27]

Yes, I do. I have done it before. Thank you for asking

Can you explain me the méthod ?

[Boris]

Can you explain me the méthod ?

Sure,
You have a main SME server, that serves your applications, authentication and networking needs, You need to utilize the second server with large disk capacity as an expansion for storage, while keeping your primary SME server as a main application server and a point of control for the network. As an option you can turn the other server into a LAN disk (NAS) by installing the specialized (free) software like FreeNAS or Openfiler. FreeNAS has great documentation on their site explaining every detail of installation and configuration. Once the NAS is configured, you can create a share on this new storage and export it. There are few options and protocols available. From SME server you mount that share to let say one of the ibays.
That's it in the nutshell. As a result you have one SME server with storage capacity of both boxes.
Another scenario where you just access the shared folder(s) on your new NAS directly from the workstation for storage only. Many different variants of using it.