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<div style="RIGHT: auto"><SPAN style="RIGHT: auto"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black">We don't have a clear need for a server, it is just an option; if the expense were minimal and it presented an opportunity to learn new skills then that has a definite value.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
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<div style="RIGHT: auto"><SPAN style="RIGHT: auto"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black">Although there may be some particular hardware items that need to be addressed for either of these items, building a box shouldn't be an issue.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
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<div style="RIGHT: auto"><SPAN style="RIGHT: auto"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black">I would need to better understand both file servers, firewalls, and also how VPNs work, would you have any suggestions for reading material?</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
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<div style="RIGHT: auto"><SPAN style="RIGHT: auto"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black">Thanks again ! ! ! </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
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<div style="RIGHT: auto"><SPAN style="RIGHT: auto"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black">Rodney</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
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<DIV style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ccc 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 0; MARGIN: 5px 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; HEIGHT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 0px; BORDER-TOP: #ccc 1px solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #ccc 1px solid; PADDING-TOP: 0px" class=hr contentEditable=false readonly="true"></DIV><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> David L. Anselmi <anselmi@anselmi.us><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> Rodney Cross <mr_rodney_cross@yahoo.com>; CLUE's mailing list <clue@cluedenver.org> <BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Saturday, March 31, 2012 10:00 PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Re: [clue] Linux / Windows Server or NAS and Smoothwall firewall Input needed...<BR></FONT></DIV><BR>Rodney Cross wrote:<BR>> <BR>> I would am thinking about using / building a Linux or Windows Server (2000 or 2003) or NAS,<BR>> (both RAID
1+)<BR><BR>Russ Coker has some interesting thoughts (and related links):<BR><BR><A style="RIGHT: auto" href="http://etbe.coker.com.au/2012/03/23/cheap-nas-devices-suck/" target=_blank>http://etbe.coker.com.au/2012/03/23/cheap-nas-devices-suck/</A><BR><BR>> and a Linux / Smoothwall firewall for our home network; would anyone have any input for<BR>> me re: these two items?<BR><BR>I've never imagined a need for a Windows server at home (you might have all sorts of wacky reasons but I don't). For any server, you'd want to be clear about what you need done rather than just "I need a server now".<BR><BR>Building a file server is easy (Linux or Win). You'll want to understand how file serving works and that is easier on Linux in my experience. If you understand how a firewall works you shouldn't have any trouble following the directions available for a file server.<BR><BR>Smoothwall is also easy but if you don't understand what it can
do and what you need done just running it is of marginal value.<BR><BR>> Is this something that someone might be able to help me with during an Install Fest? BTW, these<BR>> two items will be my first outside of building / using Windows PCs, (DOS thru XP).<BR><BR>If you are clear about what you want a box to do it can certainly be done at installfest. If you want to know how the box does that I'd suggest building it yourself and asking for help here.<BR><BR>Is your goal to understand or to have?<BR><BR>Dave<BR><BR><BR></DIV></DIV></div></body></html>