On 2012-01-04 13:00, Dwayne Reid wrote:
>
> Assumption: ZFS doesn't run under Windows.  I saw FreeBSD mentioned
> and I'm guessing that it runs on several or all of the Linux variations.

It is natively integrated into the Solaris, OpenSolaris, and FreeBSD=20
kernels. There is a 3rd-party module you can build for linux, and a 3rd=20
party kernel extension for MacOS based on Apple's unreleased ZFS work.

I would consider Solaris and FreeBSD the most stable for ZFS.


> Question: as a complete, clueless Linux newbie (I've run Ubuntu
> several times and played with Puppy Linux a couple of times), what
> easy method would exist for me to build a system that runs the ZFS
> file system and gives me an approximate equivalent to Windows Home
> Server.  The ideal situation would be where it could run on the
> existing hardware that I have (Atom processor with 2GB RAM and 4 Sata dri=
ves).

Is the Atom a 64-bit cpu? 64-bit would be ideal. Max out your RAM to=20
 >4GB, and install FreeBSD. Install Samba and do minimal configuration.=20
Enjoy while you continue to learn admin practices.

Samba gives you normal Windows file sharing as in=20
"\\server\directory".   I don't know if there are any other features you=20
are expecting from Windows Server, but FreeBSD has software in its=20
package system to do all kinds of things from UPnP support, to sharing=20
of media to set-top devices, multicast routing, etc...  FreeBSD also has=20
a modular network IO layer (netgraph), and is definitely a preferred=20
platform for a home router or VPN endpoint, as well as a storage server.

On my system, I mirror the boot partition to every drive via FreeBSD=20
"gmirror" - currently a 4-way mirror.  Thus any drive can boot the=20
kernel and bring up the system if enough other devices remain.
There is a second partition on each disk that contains the actual ZFS=20
pool.  In an emergency I can leave with two disks and bring my server up=20
on any PC with 2 SATA ports, while leaving a running machine at home.

I snapshot every 5 minutes, and a script runs every hour to delete all=20
snapshots not conforming to a "each 5 minutes for a day, each hour for a=20
month, each day for a year, each week forever" schedule. I can easily=20
navigate to any of these snapshots, and I think newer versions of Samba=20
even integrate the functionality into the "right-click -> properties ->=20
versions" panel in Windows Explorer.


> The other 'sort-of' requirement is that I can run either LogMeIn on
> it or some other Windows-friendly remote access software.  I've heard
> of TeamViewer but know absolutely nothing about it.

VNC and RDP viewers and servers are available, as well as regular ol'=20
SSH.  I forward a TCP port in from my AT&T Uverse router and use my=20
FreeBSD home server as a VPN endpoint to access the Windows machines in=20
the house.



Joe




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