Turn an Old Mac Into a Home File Server!

If you're a devoted Mac user like me, chances are, you'll have an old Mac sitting around somewhere, collecting dust. Don't give it away or send it off to be killed, repurpose it for use as a home file server! With simple configuration, you will be able to access its files wirelessly, from anywhere within your wireless network. Stream music, movies, and videos! Save files without wasting valuable hard drive space on your primary computer! The possibilities are (almost) endless! All you need is a Mac running OS X with an internet connection, so let's start!

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Step 1: The Computer

To get your file server up and running, you only need two things: a Mac running OS X and an Ethernet Jack or AirPort card. Because the original AirPort card was releases in 1999, computers produced before then (like the Power Macintosh G3 I am using) will not support wireless internet connection. To remedy this, you will need an Ethernet jack somewhere in your house, and a cable to connect it to your spare computer.
Update 3-29: The "Ye olde I-don't-know-what" port is actually an ADB port.

dylanm312 says: Jan 23, 2012. 11:33 PM

Is there a way to host the ftp server on a Mac BUT access it from BOTH a Windows computer and a Mac computer?

uberdum05 says: Sep 25, 2011. 10:30 AM

Do any of you know how the old G3 connects to a monitor as when I had a look at one at a car boot sale, it had no apparent VGA / DVI connector?

Zephyr Wind says: Dec 6, 2010. 4:31 PM

The 3g was the coolest thing back then... Good times

kuhnkat says: Oct 3, 2010. 10:15 AM

Use 1394 to daisy chain modern SATA drives to your G3!! I have an old dual 450mhz G4 and the FarWar works great!! I use the internal 128GB IDE's for the OS's. Trey booted to 10.4.11, 10.5.6, and 10.4 Server for fun!! Getting 10.5 on it required a ROM hack I found on the web to fool the install into thinking it was OK. The duals make it OK for most things and great as a file server!!

I also got an old external TV box for it that works well. No HD though. I use it to record from Cable/Satellite/Digital Box/DVD/LD. There are a number of PCI WiFi adapters that work with Mac and PC also and it makes it quite convenient to place the box out of the way. With the Mac remote access software you don't even need local monitor, keyboard, or mouse unless you are having problems or installing the OS. Then there are the Unix/Linux remote management/access tools...

sidthecat says: Jun 5, 2010. 10:43 AM

I forgot to add that I'm also connected up to a Belkin Router so I can run it with or without wires. Long story - I'm thinking that I can just connect the G4 to the router, but that seems somehow too easy. Does the Collective Mind have any advice?

sidthecat says: Jun 5, 2010. 10:38 AM

I have a G4 and I want to repurpose it as an FTP server. The rest of my system runs on Win 7 and I have a copy of Ubuntu server. Am I overthinking this, or is there a simpler way to get them to play nicely together?

urbanracer34 says: Mar 29, 2009. 3:04 PM

The "ye-old i don't know what" is a ADB port
more info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Desktop_Bus

Radioactive_Legos (author) says: Mar 29, 2009. 3:40 PM

Thanks! I'll change that soon...

mr_novack says: Oct 20, 2009. 5:27 PM

You say it was top of the line ins 1998, but the G3 B&W didnt came out till 1999. WTF TIME PARADOX

Radioactive_Legos (author) says: Oct 20, 2009. 5:33 PM

Ooh spooky! Ah, well I got the info off the back of the computer so it's possible (actually, probable) that they made it in '98, but released it in '99. Case closed :P

Fieldownage says: Mar 30, 2010. 12:49 AM

You nailed it! Besides why would Apple employees wait a year to use the "new" Mac? ;)

lunchboxslayer27 says: Nov 10, 2009. 8:04 PM

Icedvovo says: Mar 11, 2010. 1:58 PM

A standard off-the-shelf Wireless Access Point or an Airport Base Station will allow just about any Mac with an Ethernet port to connect wirelessly to an existing network.

In most cases this is a lot easier, cheaper and more compatible than an opting for an internal Airport card. This solution will work with some REALLY ancient Macs.

danton721 says: Mar 11, 2010. 9:41 AM

copy the mac OS X CDs for me???
I had downloaded,but,it impossible to burn they!

broken_to_fix says: Mar 7, 2010. 6:10 PM

nice dude!

tompaige says: Nov 23, 2009. 7:16 PM

the adb portis an Ethernet port ok

Radioactive_Legos (author) says: Nov 23, 2009. 8:56 PM

?
The ADB port is used to connect things such as Apple keyboards and mice, and the Ethernet is used to connect to the internet, LAN, etc.

MACKattacksnipe says: Sep 25, 2009. 6:45 PM

i got 5 free 1TB hdd im going to custom build this but with windows ill make an instructable for the windows version

indromac says: Sep 17, 2009. 7:16 AM

I have a g4 800mhz as the oldmummy, I there any way to connect and watch tv form this machine (without a tv card, of course), Is there a way to connect the some device that I can build? thanks

Server_Rack_Guy says: Apr 21, 2009. 10:21 AM

So I have an Apple II and I want to make a server out of it because it is so powerful, what do I do? LOL The Blue and Whites were great in their day weren't they? The Apple computers keep running because they used premium parts in those days; my 8600 is still cranking...SCSI hard drives were the way to go if you could afford them.

Radioactive_Legos (author) says: Apr 21, 2009. 5:20 PM

haha. Yeah. I was recently watching the keynote when Jobs introduced the PowerMac G3s. Back in '98, they were amazing. A whole 16MB of VRAM! Up to 100GB storage!