This is a very easy instructable.
It shows how to build, install and configure your own and secret Server - System.
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
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
Step 1: Materials
You need:
For the NAS - Server:
For the installation:
For the NAS - Server:
- 1 book safe or similar housing
- 1 thin client e.g. FUTRO A250 (20.- EUR) with power supply
- 1 CF 32GByte KomputerBay (32.- EUR)
- 1 CD with NAS4FREE
For the installation:
- 1 USB CD or DVD drive for installation
- 1 Keyboard
- 1 TFT Monitor
Step 2: Hardware installation
Disassemble the thin client and fit it into the book safe as shown on the pictures.
Slide the CF into the CF slot.
Attach CD - drive, the TFT and the keyboard.
Attach Power and Network.
Step 3: Installation of software
Download the ISO file and burn it to a CD.
Boot from CD and after a while you will see the main menu.
Choose install >> 9
Choose embedded installation with data partition. This will gives you space on the CF to use for the WWW server and for storing data.
If you have 512MByte and / or more RAM you can skip the swap partition. This gives you more space for data.
After the installation is completed, reboot the server.
Boot from CD and after a while you will see the main menu.
Choose install >> 9
Choose embedded installation with data partition. This will gives you space on the CF to use for the WWW server and for storing data.
If you have 512MByte and / or more RAM you can skip the swap partition. This gives you more space for data.
After the installation is completed, reboot the server.
Step 4: Configuring the network
The NAS4free system will choose the first network interface automatically.
For the first configuration steps, it is a good idea to use DHCP for the installation process.
Skip IPv6 if you don´t need it.
After the configuration has finished it will display the IP address obtained from the DHCP - Server.
For the first configuration steps, it is a good idea to use DHCP for the installation process.
Skip IPv6 if you don´t need it.
After the configuration has finished it will display the IP address obtained from the DHCP - Server.
Step 5: Configure the NAS - System
Type the give IP address into the browsers address field.
Login with:
User: admin
PWD: nas4free
The server will show the main page.
Now we have to add and mount the CF.
From the Disk menu choose management and add the CF as a disk.
Make sure, you choose UFS as the pre formatted file system.
Now we have to configure the mount point.
Choose mount from the disk menu and define a mount point. Here I have chosen "data" as the mount point.
Make sure that you use the right parameter like partition number, file system and partition type.
Creating directories
From the advanced menu choose file manager
Navigate to the mount point you created and create two directories:
wwwroot
share
So the pr configuration is done. Let´s configure the WEB Service, FTP and the access for WINDOWS user.
Login with:
User: admin
PWD: nas4free
The server will show the main page.
Now we have to add and mount the CF.
From the Disk menu choose management and add the CF as a disk.
Make sure, you choose UFS as the pre formatted file system.
Now we have to configure the mount point.
Choose mount from the disk menu and define a mount point. Here I have chosen "data" as the mount point.
Make sure that you use the right parameter like partition number, file system and partition type.
Creating directories
From the advanced menu choose file manager
Navigate to the mount point you created and create two directories:
wwwroot
share
So the pr configuration is done. Let´s configure the WEB Service, FTP and the access for WINDOWS user.
Step 6: Configuring the services webserver and ftp
To enable the WWW service to be active on port 80 we have to reconfigure the access pot for the admin GUI.
Let´s set it to 8080.
Reboot the server and now it must be accessed via the port 8080.
Example:
192.168.178.24:8080
Login again.
Now activate and configure the webserver like the picture below.
Activate FTP server.
Create an user upload and assign a password. Point the home directory to wwwroot.
Assign groups admin, ftp, www
Let´s set it to 8080.
Reboot the server and now it must be accessed via the port 8080.
Example:
192.168.178.24:8080
Login again.
Now activate and configure the webserver like the picture below.
Activate FTP server.
Create an user upload and assign a password. Point the home directory to wwwroot.
Assign groups admin, ftp, www
Step 7: Configure service samba (WINDOWS share)
Activate SMB services and configure as shown in the pictures below.
Add a share as shown in the picture below.
Add a user to access the share.
I used a user without password.
you can provide a password if you like.
Add a share as shown in the picture below.
Add a user to access the share.
I used a user without password.
you can provide a password if you like.
Step 8: Upload an access the first HTML page.
Use a ftp client to upload some HTML sites.
Type the IP address of your new server into the address field.
The page must be displayed.
Now try to access the SMB (WINDOWS) share.
OK? Yes? Congratulations you now have a secret server.......
If there are any questions, please ask.
Horatius Steam
Type the IP address of your new server into the address field.
The page must be displayed.
Now try to access the SMB (WINDOWS) share.
OK? Yes? Congratulations you now have a secret server.......
If there are any questions, please ask.
Horatius Steam
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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?
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
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.
ZFS is able to encrypt the drive.
I am using a TrueCrypt containervon the drive for the secured data.
Regards,
Horatius
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!!
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.
Please look at this: http://elinux.org/R-Pi_NAS
Have a nice week,
H. Steam
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.
http://simonthepiman.com/how_to_setup_windows_file_server.php
Makes things easier :-)
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.
Thank you for the inspiration.
Horatius Steam
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.
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.
I've seen Sarah Palin's book in the 99 cent bin at the bookstore. ;')
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.
Thank you
Have an nice day,
H. Steam
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
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.
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!
Cheaper than 20 Eur, I guess.
Thank you for the hint.
Do you ever heard about "Dead Drops"?
http://deaddrops.com
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.
The device is ssh enabled.....