This is a very easy instructable.
It shows how to build, install and configure your own and secret Server - System.
  • It is cheap
  • It is easy
  • It is secret
  • It is steampunk

The idea behind this server was to hide it in a bokk or something similar.
The basic system is a thin client wich can be obtained for less than 25.- EUR. These cleints have very low power consumtion and most of them will have a CF - Slot.
CF - Card became less expensive in the last month and you can buy one with a capacity up to 64 GByte for a moderate price.

UPDATE

After some days off using the server I measured more than 40 degrees C during heavy load.
So I decided to drill additional holes in the top and bottom. Now there is enough airflow to keep the server cool.

With kind regards,

Horatius
 
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Step 1: Materials

You need:

For the NAS - Server:

For the installation:
  • 1 USB CD or DVD drive for installation
  • 1 Keyboard
  • 1 TFT Monitor

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Phoenix17 says: May 3, 2013. 7:06 AM
Dumb Questions, I know, but I am totally new to html and web servers.

When you say "use an ftp client to upload some html sites."
What FTP client do you use, and how do you upload? And even what do you upload...? I could search for some sample html code to test it for now?
Horatius.Steam (author) says: May 5, 2013. 2:40 PM
Hi,

I am using SANDVOX for MAC. The FTP client is included.
You can use NVU and FILEZILLA for PC´s if you like.

Have a nice week,

Horatius
Phoenix17 says: May 1, 2013. 3:31 PM
Can I use HTTPS here instead of HTTP? (For the WebGUI and Webserver access? I have the certificate and key made already.) Or is there even a benefit? I'm just thinking security.

Answered one of those: WebGUI: yes, Just type in URL "https://(your.LAN.ip.here):(your port, ie 8080, I chose 4433).

Another question: FTP: How secure is that? It's all unencrypted, correct? What about FTP over SSH? I know the idea, execution, not so sure about.
Horatius.Steam (author) says: May 1, 2013. 4:53 PM
Hi, please find the features of nas4free here: http://www.nas4free.org/key_features.html

ZFS is able to encrypt the drive.
I am using a TrueCrypt containervon the drive for the secured data.

Regards,

Horatius
Phoenix17 says: May 1, 2013. 5:38 PM
I'm thinking more for the transmission of data than the data storage itself (which yes, I will want to encrypt like you do).

As far as I know from my recent research, FTP sends data through plain text- usernames, passwords, and the data itself can be sniffed or copied. FTP over SSH or SFTP sends encrypted data packets. I switched my login to https and it works just fine (abalonsoft I think makes the Self Cert freeware to make your own personal certificates and keys). Chrome told me the certificate says its encrypted 256-bit. I assume setting web server to https on a different port does the same thing (as opposed to http).

Sorry if that was too long winded... I always do that...

I do love your -ible though! I'm most of the way through it and REALLY hope I can get owncloud to work!!
netneo says: Feb 11, 2013. 3:32 AM
I love the idea of this. I will replicate this idea with a raspberry pi. FreeNas won't run on the Pi but I am sure the same idea could be done with Samba and a LAMP stack, and as the Pi is much smaller there is probably enough space for more "bits" like a small USB hub and some external laptop drives. Keep the excellent ideas coming.
annguyen says: Feb 11, 2013. 5:24 PM
This was a great ible, but TBH the first thing I thought about hiding a server in a book is heating and cooling problem. Hiding an external HDD in there will definitely present some of those. I'm gonna work on using Pi as a media server though.
Phoenix17 says: May 1, 2013. 12:58 PM
If you are still concerned about it maybe look into Peltier cooling? It's active but silent. With a recycled heatsink from an old PC on both sides of the chip it just might cool enough. Just thinking out loud :)
Horatius.Steam (author) says: Feb 12, 2013. 12:51 AM
I just measured the temperature over night in a normal heated room.
It is this morning 28 C. I think this is OK. The specs. for the board are
around 35 C max. So, with a thin client, no temp. problems.
A normal MBT could cause problems. I agree.
Horatius.Steam (author) says: Feb 11, 2013. 11:41 AM
This is a good idea.

Please look at this: http://elinux.org/R-Pi_NAS

Have a nice week,


H. Steam
netneo says: Feb 11, 2013. 2:19 PM
Yeah, I already have a Pi running Samba, but never thought about adding the LAMP stack for other things like the usual WEBDEV type of NAS. I use mine as a media server (and have another PI connected to my TV running XBMC as a player). Just love the idea of hiding the server bit in a book and popping it out the way on a shelf.
the doctor who says: Feb 18, 2013. 7:49 PM
cool asome good job
Horatius.Steam (author) says: Feb 16, 2013. 11:53 AM
UPDATE

After some days off using the server I measured more than 40 degrees C during heavy load.
So I decided to drill additional holes in the top and bottom. Now there is enough airflow to keep the server cool.
Horatius.Steam (author) says: Feb 13, 2013. 9:39 AM
For those, they like to use a PI and USB drives I found this tutorial:
http://simonthepiman.com/how_to_setup_windows_file_server.php
Makes things easier :-)
Tachyon says: Feb 13, 2013. 9:19 AM
This is a great project idea that can be modified in a hundred different ways to suit a users needs and materials on hand.
My first thought is to use another book or books to hide a large capacity external HDD and connect it via USB.
The RasPi obviously comes to mind too. Heck you could fit two RasPi's in a book.
Horatius.Steam (author) says: Feb 13, 2013. 9:37 AM
This is a really nice idea. If you put the storages into other books, then you can use a 128MByte SSD for NAS4free and put the main storage into the USB-drive.
Thank you for the inspiration.


Horatius Steam
james.m.k says: Feb 10, 2013. 2:32 PM
Very nice!

Too bad you must limit the storage to what can fit and be cooled in the book.

Though I suppose that you could go yardsaleing and buy a real HUGE book, glue the pages together, and hollow it out.
wizodd0 says: Feb 10, 2013. 6:03 PM
Not really, large capacity ssd drives are very small, so at least a terabyte or tow can easily fit into a 'standard' hardback. And you might look for used books of any size, the really fat ones are usually far less likely to be grabbed off the shelf...
dogsgomoo says: Feb 10, 2013. 7:27 PM
You could always stack a few books together like in that recent stacked book-safe ible. Go all out for a hidden multi-drive RAID NAS.The whole shelf of books is really a server. ;) Even stick a wifi access point in the whole thing and make some book marks into the antenna....
james.m.k says: Feb 12, 2013. 1:24 PM
lol!

That's true! I've got a 6TB raid device I'm going to turn into a NAS, and that would probably work. Vent the heat out the back of the bookcase.

But that would probably defeat the purpose of hiding the NAS in the first place, because the bigger it is, the more likely that someone may randomly try to pick up a book that's actually part of the NAS.

In that case, probably hiding it in the wall is probably the best bet, though you may end up with the same ventilation issues.

I'm remembering a TV show where someone was using an IR link to a NAS that was hidden in his wall. Pretty tricky. Not even any radio signals to give it away. Though it would probably be VERY SLOOOW. :) And if you could find an IR dongle for the USB port, it would be hard to track down.
Tachyon says: Feb 13, 2013. 9:15 AM
Choose books no one would possibly want to read.
I've seen Sarah Palin's book in the 99 cent bin at the bookstore. ;')
dogsgomoo says: Feb 13, 2013. 8:51 AM
Hrm... Good point! Maybe I could put the row of 'books' behind locked glass doors and tell everyone they are ultra rare limited editions printed on monk blessed paper recovered from the wreck of the Sultana, so no touchy. ;)

Doors would also muffle any sounds from a fan if I had to stick one in there. Then of course someone might try and steal the books and all they'd get is some torn up dime store hardcovers containing my lolcat image depository.

Yeah.. I'm way over thinking this.
darrennie says: Feb 12, 2013. 11:34 PM
Have been looking for something like this for some time, very nicely done.
Horatius.Steam (author) says: Feb 13, 2013. 12:18 AM
This is, what this pages are for. Sharing information, ideas an inspirations :-)

Thank you
agis68 says: Feb 11, 2013. 8:14 AM
cool!!! love it...i have a server in a aluminioum suitcase but this is really small and hidden too!
Horatius.Steam (author) says: Feb 11, 2013. 11:42 AM
A good idea as well may I allowed to "steal" it?

Have an nice day,

H. Steam
agis68 says: Feb 11, 2013. 2:55 PM
sure!:)
steve58 says: Feb 10, 2013. 10:54 AM
Fun idea! I've no complaints with your hardware choice, I just want to add some ideas for people. Look also at what is available on mini-itx and micro-itx form factors. I just set up a D525 based server, but it would admittedly require a larger volume...something along the lines of Tokien's Fantastiche Welt. :-)
Horatius.Steam (author) says: Feb 11, 2013. 11:48 AM
Yes, I thought about these boards. But there are very expensive....
steve58 says: Feb 11, 2013. 1:21 PM
You are absolutely correct in that.

Just for fun, though, some of those cpu/motherboards are rather capable and are still fanless. Some folks like to mount their home servers in a rack with the the high tech look, but it would be fun to mount one's complete home server setup on a book case inside a classic book! Wireless keyboard in another large book.

Like most folks have said, thanks a lot for posting it. Even when I don't actually build what i see on instructables, it's a hoot to see the creative ideas.

Steve
claudiopolis says: Feb 10, 2013. 11:18 AM
Nice build. But where's the storage? I doubt 32 Gb qualifies for a "storage" server. USB external drives will be heavily slowed down by the USB 2.0 speed. A wireless router with USB storage will do the same thing. Easier for the user, too...

Now I don't want to rain on your parade, that's a very nice thing you have. And if you don't mind the USB transfer speed then I would suggest you to buy an old WD Book drive as it already has the book shape. It would look nice next to the other books.
Horatius.Steam (author) says: Feb 10, 2013. 3:27 PM
Hi,

the storage is the 32GByte. Its a secret server to store less, very secret data :-).
And why this motherboard? It is extremely cheap. you can by it for less than 20.- EUR.
Including the 1Gbyte RAM!
claudiopolis says: Feb 10, 2013. 10:19 PM
Well in that case I stand corrected. Your 32 Gbytes of secret data is safe. Still, I would have used a hidden USB stick like stonehenge360 did here: http://www.instructables.com/id/Hidden-USB-Storage/
Cheaper than 20 Eur, I guess.

Horatius.Steam (author) says: Feb 11, 2013. 11:45 AM
WOW this is a nice idea.
Thank you for the hint.
Do you ever heard about "Dead Drops"?

http://deaddrops.com
claudiopolis says: Feb 11, 2013. 12:29 PM
Yes, I saw it, a while ago. I don't like the idea. Security risks are huge.
I'll keep that file sharing idea in my mind for the day "the earth stood still" and the Internet crashes. Chicks will stay in line at the walls for the latest album of some weird star. Movies will launch "on a stick near you" :-) Stuff like that.
Horatius.Steam (author) says: Feb 11, 2013. 1:13 PM
:-)
bfk says: Feb 10, 2013. 5:17 PM
Very nice... If your bookshelf is large enough, you could turn it into a secret super computer:)
Horatius.Steam (author) says: Feb 11, 2013. 11:46 AM
Good idea! :-)

The device is ssh enabled.....
espdp2 says: Feb 11, 2013. 5:25 AM
Very nice. This mystery object / hidden secret steampunk theme reminds me of the game Myst.
Horatius.Steam (author) says: Feb 11, 2013. 11:42 AM
Thank you
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