D
Dale Walker
A company I work for requires an offsite backup service. I've
provisionally agreed for them to upload their server backups to my
home (less than a Gig a day). I've got a 512/256 ADSL connection and a
4 port DSL Router thingumy.
I have a knackered old PIII 500MHz PC that could be used as the backup
server but there's a few problems....
a). It's too big.
b). It's too noisy.
c). It uses too much power.
d). I'd have to buy a bigger hard disk.
So, they've agreed to buy a low power, low noise, low cost system.
All it needs to do is suck up ADSL speed data for a few hours every
night and store several iterations of the backup but I want it as
inconspicuous as possible (in footprint, noise and in the dent to my
electricity bill). I can use XP Remote Desktop or Netmeeting to
administer the box so I wouldn't need a screen or a keyboard.
The idea is I stick it behind my desk at forget about it.
There is the possibility I might want to purloin some disk space and
use it as a storage device for all the video I transferred from VHS
after my video player died (got a DVD now so didn't bother replacing
the VHS recorder) so it'd have to be fast enough to deliver video data
across 100B-T ethernet.
I did consider an old laptop but I'm not happy with the size and life
expectancy of 2.5" drives. Would need at least 80GB and would prefer
double that. I'm also unaware of exactly how much power laptops
consume so...
Would I be better off buying a crusty old 2ndHand laptop and stick a
big drive in it (what exactly are laptops like for being on 24/7?), or
is it possible to construct a snazzy new low power/low noise computer
for less than £250 (UKpounds)?
Basically, I'd be after a tiny, low power m'board with onboard e-card,
tiny case, enough memory for a terminally boring task and a f**k off
hard disk. Stuff like CD drive, monitor, etc, I can borrow off my old
PIII before I pass it on to my granny or something.
Any comments hints, tips, or general rubbishing of my idea greatly
appreciated.
provisionally agreed for them to upload their server backups to my
home (less than a Gig a day). I've got a 512/256 ADSL connection and a
4 port DSL Router thingumy.
I have a knackered old PIII 500MHz PC that could be used as the backup
server but there's a few problems....
a). It's too big.
b). It's too noisy.
c). It uses too much power.
d). I'd have to buy a bigger hard disk.
So, they've agreed to buy a low power, low noise, low cost system.
All it needs to do is suck up ADSL speed data for a few hours every
night and store several iterations of the backup but I want it as
inconspicuous as possible (in footprint, noise and in the dent to my
electricity bill). I can use XP Remote Desktop or Netmeeting to
administer the box so I wouldn't need a screen or a keyboard.
The idea is I stick it behind my desk at forget about it.
There is the possibility I might want to purloin some disk space and
use it as a storage device for all the video I transferred from VHS
after my video player died (got a DVD now so didn't bother replacing
the VHS recorder) so it'd have to be fast enough to deliver video data
across 100B-T ethernet.
I did consider an old laptop but I'm not happy with the size and life
expectancy of 2.5" drives. Would need at least 80GB and would prefer
double that. I'm also unaware of exactly how much power laptops
consume so...
Would I be better off buying a crusty old 2ndHand laptop and stick a
big drive in it (what exactly are laptops like for being on 24/7?), or
is it possible to construct a snazzy new low power/low noise computer
for less than £250 (UKpounds)?
Basically, I'd be after a tiny, low power m'board with onboard e-card,
tiny case, enough memory for a terminally boring task and a f**k off
hard disk. Stuff like CD drive, monitor, etc, I can borrow off my old
PIII before I pass it on to my granny or something.
Any comments hints, tips, or general rubbishing of my idea greatly
appreciated.
