NAS server and media center in one unit
It is uncommon to combine a NAS server and a HTPC in one unit, but the reason that I wanted this setup was to safe money on electricity – more units will consume more electricity – but also because I do not have a lot of room for multiple units.
To build the perfect system for me I created a list of services that I wanted NAS to handle. The media center in my NAS will be a configuration of XBMC.
Services:
- AFP
- Time machine with OS X Lion
- LAMP server
- SSH
This post will include my experiences with setting up and configuring a NAS server on Ubuntu Server and use it as a HTPC hardware as well as software. The problems I came across, and how I solved them. This tutorial will include the list of topics that I had to deal with when installing ubuntu server as the foundation system on my NAS server and HTPC.
To help you I have divided the this tutorial into three main topics, this post will only include the 1 part.:
- Hardware
- The system – Ubuntu Server – AFP, Time machine
- The services and specific configurations
Hardware
To build the perfect for my NAS and HTPC I used the following components:
- Case: Fractal Design Array R2 Mini-ITX NAS (review)
- Motherboard: ASUS E35M1-I DELUXE, AMD E-350 (review)
- RAM: Kingston 8GB DDR3 1600MHz (2×4) HyperX (review)
- HDD: Seagate Barracuda® Green 2TB, 3,5″ (x4) (review)
- SATA cable: Akasa SATA3 Cabel 50cm Blue UV (no special reason for this cable other than it was cheap)
The idea behind this setup was to build a silent unit. Putting all the components into the case was not too hard, and took me less than half an hour.
Next thing up is the installation of an operating system (Will be posted shortly)