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
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Signing UpStep 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
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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.....
NAS = Network Attached Storage
What you built is more or less a web server (so far), and as such is nicely done. But a NAS it isn't (yet). NAS servers are generally used for client back-ups, raw storage space, and serving media for streaming to clients. A NAS should have redundancy built into it... RAID 1, 5, or 0+1, and contain multiple disks. 2 are required for RAID 1, and at least 3 for RAID 5. Most of all, to be considered a true NAS, it has to have lots of storage space.
I just purchased a Seagate Black Armor 440 NAS. It has 4 terrabytes of storage, 2.68Tb usable in a RAID 5 array. It's about 2.5x the amount of space I currently need. We use it as a central location for all of our media (about 750 ripped CD's & over 160 ripped movies from our media collection, and about 75 DVD's to go - including the whole collection of Monty Python's Flying Circus!!!). We also back-up our personal files, and my wifes e-book library, store copies of installed software/service packs/drivers.
So why did I buy instead of building? A custom NAS box with the amount of storage I needed would have cost me around $850, even using free software like FreeNAS or NAS4Free (both Linux based). The BA 440 was under $500 from Newegg (with a discount and promo code = $160 off + free shipping), and came with 4 1Tb hard drives pre-configured in RAID 5 for 2.68Tb of actual storage.
Now, if you can add some mass storage to this you will have a true NAS (+ web server). Maybe get one of those old 5" thick dictionaries for all the drives.
Keep up the good work!
I cant remember, that I have had written about a NAS project.
I just wrote about a "secret server" that sit´s in a bookshelf and stores informations and some HTML pages for an exhibition in a museum and has a stiye that fits to that steampunk exhibition.
I am using NAS4free as a basic system because I know it quite well and it is easy to install and to use.
I build a NAS server for a friend of mine that holds the intranet and a lot of data for his company using NAS4free or freenas.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Building-a-Steampunk-NAS-System/
This system is still up and running. With UPS, rsync for backup and ftp access for some special purposes.
THIS (The secret server) is for the first Steampunk exhibition in Germany to hold some web pages AND some minor informations for a riddle, the visitors can solve by using there smartphones pointing on 2D barcodes.
It is NOT for storing data in a secure way like RAID5 or RAID10.
It was build for FUN.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fun
And to show people that technology can be fun and can be used to have fun.
For using it for RPG´s, exhibitions, for use at a special spot for geo cahching etc. etc. So turn your fantasy on ........
With kind regards, Horatius Steam
There are full computers such as Rassberry available very cheaply which combined with a blutooth dongle and an ssd drive could fit in many small places...
your NAS?
I am making Steampunk stuff and if you think about mad scientists, secrets and riddles a hidden server is perfect for this scenarios :-)
Beside this it was fun to create such a device.
I am organizing RPG´s as well and we like to use real devices for the players to riddle a bit around, finding the server in a book shelf, switch it on and then use one of the steampunk devices around to access it.
Its for jun......
See also step no. 5 for some details.
i personally would take the time to build the system from a freebsd base system but that's just me since i prefer to do everything over ssh and not over a webpage
but this would work for most people so i can understand haha ^^ also love the books next to the server
Thank you for the hint.
I do not have a UPS because I don´t need it for that server.
With kind regards,
Jochen
1. Why a thin client and why a CF card?
The idea was a secret storage thats is hidden and has no moving parts. The thin client has less power consumption and a CF slot. I do not need as much space for the data because the concept is designed for a museum to hold some web pages. The web pages can be accessed by a 2D barcode and the landing pages of the 2D barcodes will explain the objects of the exhibition.
(First German Steampunk exhibition)
It is possible to add a SSD via USB if you like. The CF card will not extend the space of the thin client. so it will be compact.
2. Ventilation
You are right. The board needs some ventilation. If you look at picture No. 3 & 4 in Step2 you will see two slots in the back of the device. Due to the low power consumption, these slots are enough for the ventilation. Due to the cables there will be some space behind the wall and the "book". Never less, I decided to place some ventilation holes on the top of the book to make improve the cooling.
With kind regards,
Horatius Steam
Great instructable, even if I don't use it, it gave me some good ideas for my own projects!
With kind regards,
Horatius Steam
Regarding the thin client. You can use any type of client that is based on x86 architecture.
I modified the server this day with two holes on the top and bottom. The small slots in the back where not enough for cooling.
I will update the pictures after the weekend.
Regards,
Horatius
Thank you!
A great project and a perfect tutorial about the setup of small server. I learned a lot!
Thank you very much for the inspiration.
Sincerely yours
The Chocolatist
you could have a better server I found. Have a look to Superb Mini Server :
http://sms.it-ccs.com/features.html
Have a nice day,
Miguipda ;-)
So thank you all again!
Horatius Steam
Nas4Free is very easy, but as far as I remember it has its own private file format, so you are bound to keep using it, unless you would transfer all your files :-)
nevertheless, well done
1. What exactly are you serving from a 32GB CF drive? I understand the point of a thin client, I just wonder what you are using it for with this setup since thin clients are not typically used as "NAS" and NAS systems usually contain multiple terabytes of data storage.
2. Considering this thing is housed in thick cardboard (book binding), surrounded by other books, and up against a wall with no noticeable openings for ventilation, how hot is that circuit board getting?
I don't mean to sound like a jerk or anything, just trying to understand some of your reasoning!
I have a power outlet and a network outlet just behind the bookcase.
This is really a challenge to hide the cables. The power (230V to 12V) supply is very tiny and can be placed in the bottom of the bookcase.
With kind regards,
Horatius