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Date:      Mon, 29 Aug 2005 20:26:00 1000
From:      "Dean Hamstead" <dean@bong.com.au>
To:        "ANdrei" <arusan@gmx.net>, <freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org>
Subject:   re: building an older server
Message-ID:  <20050829102600.EDC1612DD3D@mail.netspace.net.au>

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Use the current stable (5.4). You will want to rebuild your kernel for SMP which is well documented and rather simple. If you must use wireless then you may find attaching an access point to the server then bridging to be another suitable solution. I beleieve realtek wireless cards have drivers, i recall openbsd praising them for open specs... Good move from the biggest nic card manufacturer. Your onboard raid maybe be supported but i cant say to what degree. Ide raid tends to be software raid with a clever boot rom to get around. Read up on it before you shell out cash.

Dean

"ANdrei" <arusan@gmx.net> wrote:
__________
>hi.
>
>I need some basic advice from people using a bit older hardware, as I want 
>to build a fairly simple server with FreeBSD.
>sorry if these prove to be stupid or trivial questions, but as it's old 
>hardware I thought people might be using this (or used it) and can give some 
>useful advice about how real-life is nowadays. Most online resources are 
>with older software....
>
>
>Main purpose will be hosting some websites, mailserver, fileserver, mysql 
>with not too heavy load, on a 1MBps connection. Now it is physically 
>impossible to get a network cable there, so I need 802.11g, which leads me 
>to using only FreeBSD 5.x or 6.x. I got my card working under 5.x using 
>ndisulator, with WEP 64bit (128bit doesn't seem to work, or I don't get the 
>idea how). I have to choose between TrendNet and D-Link cards using TI 
>chipsets (probably the same, afaik), and I tested the TrendNet successfully 
>as mentioned.
>
>Who has experience with 6.x, can PSK be used, as WEP is not the best 
>alternative for a server, is it? And if yes, should I expect other issues 
>with the 6.x, as it's still beta... I would also need a basic management 
>tool for my wifi, is there anything out there? And if I should go for 6.x, 
>what branch should I go for (sorry, I'm totally new to 6.x, maybe this 
>question is stupid :)   It's not a production server, but I don't want it to 
>fail too often, either...
>The router supports PSK, and the server will be probably in the DMZ or set 
>up as a "Virtual PC" (seems to be a fancy name for a NAT :) and with port 
>forwarding, as I only need some ports (I have to decide if I will go for the 
>router hardware security or for ipfw)
>
>second: I will be using an older motherboard, ABIT BP6 with two celerons 
>400MHz (suits my needs), who can point me on how to use the full 
>functionality of the onboard IDE RAID. It's a HighPoint HPT366, do I have 
>any tools for it, driver is ok and supported? Any issues? I could go for a 
>SIL3112 SATA, but this is just a waste of hardware considering the overall 
>performance of the end-system, so I'd rather use the onboard if there are no 
>big issues. Do I even have to recompile for support for this controller, or 
>can I install directly to it?
>
>Oh, and I guess the dual processor config on this mobo is fully supported, 
>right? Anybody knowing a good tutorial on how to get the most out of this 
>old hardware? I'll probably go with the max of RAM, so I'd like to compile a 
>fast kernel also (I know how to do that, only asking if there are some 
>special options for these old procs, I never actually worked with dual proc 
>that old :)
>
>last, do you think using a normal older SCSI controller (lets say Adaptec 
>AHA-2940 S76 Ultra-SCSI, or smtg else, I have a few lying around) with some 
>2GB Quantums can be a faster solution? can I do software RAID or smtg with 
>them, as I have a few of these disks, but the controllers are none RAID 
>controllers.
>I'm only concerned for speed and security on one slice/partition, and 2-4GB 
>would be enough for it, so RAID 10 with 4 disks would work...
>
>
>tks,
>ANdrei
>---
>The problem with our world is stupidity.  I'm not saying there should
>be a capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the
>safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself? 
>
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