How to Configure an $80 File Server in 45 Minutes

I use a modded Xbox and Xbox Media Center for playing media files across the network on my television and sound system.  I also download large files, such as Linux ISOs, via BitTorrent.  However, leaving my primary computer on all the time seemed like a waste of energy.  I wanted a cheap, small headless machine that I could use as a Samba server and BitTorrent client so I could leave my workstation off when I wasn't using it.

I was in luck; HCDI Trading had a great "Fall Extravaganza" deal - a Dell OptiPlex GX150 Desktop for $47.91 (around $30 s/h).  The specs:

• Desktop Form Factor (it fits on a shelf in a media center)
• Intel Celeron 700 MHz
• 128MB RAM
• 10GB HD
• CD-Rom

Not cutting edge, but perfect for what I needed and priced very reasonably.  Instead of using X11 and remote clients, I felt that web interfaces would be optimal out of simplicity.  If I configured the server as a LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP), then I could use web GUIs for configuration, administration, and file transfers.

Out of the popular Linux distributions, I'm most familiar with Gentoo and Ubuntu.  Gentoo didn't seem appropriate; it would take hours and hours to get everything set up, configured and updated (even from a Stage 3 install), and any performance gain from the optimization would be negligible.  Ubuntu has a history of reliability and ease of set up, so I used the Edgy Eft release as the basis my server.

The Applications

• Remote Console - OpenSSH
• The free version of the SSH connectivity tools.  Use it for secure access to the console.
• Web Server - Apache
• It's free, fast, well supported and documented
• Network Fileshare - Samba
• Creates file shares that can be easily accessed from Windows.  Notoriously obnoxious to configure by hand, the Samba Web Administration Tool (SWAT) simplifies the process immensely.
• Database - MySQL
• The popular free database server.  While I can use a command line to administrate MySQL, I prefer using phpMyAdmin.
• P2P Client - BitTorrent
• TorrentFlux is a decent web interface for BitTornado.  Useful for downloading Linux ISOs or media from places like LegalTorrents.com.

Directions

1. Download and burn the Ubuntu Server 6.10 i386 install CD.
   
2. Install Ubuntu Server
1. When asked about Software Installation, choose LAMP.
2. When the installation is finished, take out the CD (I flip it over and leave it in the drive for the next time I need it) and reboot.
3. Logon as the regular user that you created during setup.
4. Give root a password.
   

   sudo passwd root

5. We're going to modify the file sources list to allow us access to all the required files.  Uncomment the edgy universe, edgy-security main restricted, edgy-security universe, edgy multiverse, edgy-backports main restricted universe multiverse, and edgy-commercial main.  In addition, Ubuntu leaves the install CD as one of the file sources after installation, so you'll need to remove the CD from the source list.  Comment out the CD from the list and save.

   sudo nano -w /etc/apt/sources.list
   

6. Update apt-get to use the new sources.
   

   sudo apt-get update

7. Install OpenSSH server
   

   sudo apt-get install openssh-server

8. Turn off the computer.
   

   sudo shutdown -h now

9. Disconnect the monitor, keyboard, and set the computer wherever it's going to lurk for the next couple years.
10. Turn on the computer and wait about a minute for it to boot.
11. Using your preferred SSH client, connect to the machine.  I prefer PuTTY for Windows.
12. Install Samba and SWAT.
    

    sudo apt-get install samba smbfs swat xinetd

13. Create a Samba user.
    

    sudo smbpasswd -a username

14. Add SWAT to the xinet configuration and save.

    sudo nano -w /etc/xinetd.d/swat

    # description: SAMBA SWAT
    service swat
    {
     disable = no
     socket_type = stream
     protocol = tcp
     #should use a more limited user here
     user = root
     wait = no
     server = /usr/sbin/swat
    }

15. Reload Xinetd with the new configuration.
    

    sudo dpkg-reconfigure xinetd

16. Verify that SWAT is up and running.  If you don't get any response, start Googling.
    

    sudo netstat -tap | grep swat

17. Make the shared directory for TorrentFlux.
    

    sudo mkdir /share
    sudo mkdir /share/incoming
    sudo chmod 777 /share/incoming/

18. Create the Samba share.  Using a web browser, go to http://hostname:901/shares
1. path /share/incoming
2. valid users - username
3. read only - no
4. Commit Changes
19. Install phpMyAdmin
    

    sudo apt-get install phpmyadmin

20. Connect to phpMyadmin using a web browser - http://hostname/phpmyadmin
1. Secure MySQL / phpMyAdmin
1. login: root (no pass)
2. Privileges
1. Add a password to both root accounts
1. Create a database for TorrentFlux
1. Databases - Create New - torrentflux
21. Install TorrentFlux
    

    sudo apt-get install torrentflux

1. Ignore the libphp-adodb message.
2. Configure database for torrentflux with dbconfig-common? - yes
3. Password - blank (generates random)
4. Restart Apache? - Yes
22. Configure TorrentFlux using a web browser - http://hostname/torrentflux/
1. Username / Password - root / root
2. Configuration
1. Path - /share/incoming/
2. Save
3. Click My Profile
1. Update your password
4. Create a user account
1. Admin - New User
23. Remove the Apache default documents from web root.
    

    sudo rm -Rf /var/www/apache2-default/

24. Create a basic web launchpad for easy access your services.

sudo nano -w /var/www/index.php

<?php $hostname = $_SERVER['HTTP_HOST']; ?>
<ul>
 <li><a href="http://<?php echo $hostname; ?>/torrentflux">Torrent Flux</a></li>
 <li><a href="http://<?php echo $hostname; ?>/phpmyadmin">phpMyAdmin</a></li>
 <li><a href="http://<?php echo $hostname; ?>:901/">SWAT</a></li>
</ul>

Post Mortem

Overall, the installation and configuration took me about 45 minutes to go from zero to a fully functional system.  The Xbox can see the share, and I've got a new playground for web development.  I would suggest cleaning up and securing that home page a bit; research .htaccess files to lock it down.

I put my file server in my media center underneath my router, and it takes up about the same space as a VCR.  For $80, I feel that I've made an excellent investment.

Update - 11.19.2006 - I've been Dugg! Thank you all for your comments, compliments, corrections, criticisms, and suggestions!