How to build a linux web server

It's been some time coming. Your home network, a hodge-podge of peer-to-peer machines is finally crying out for a nerve center where files live, and services are at the ready -- a machine that will dutifully keep it all going 24/7 with minimal fuss, and grow with you as your needs get more sophisticated. Linux continues to gain ground in the enterprise server space, with champions in IBM, Sun and HP. It has proven its mettle driving big iron, but is equally well-suited and versatile enough to power your home server.

For less than $1,200, you can build a very capable server with gobs of storage and enough processing horsepower to pull multiple duties serving up a printer queue, web pages, FTP, DHCP, and SAMBA, and more. And, if you've got some old parts to scavenge, and are working within a tight budget, you can still put together a solid server for under $600. So here's how to build out the heart and soul of your home network, the home server. Or, if you've got an old box you're looking to put out to pasture, it can be turned into a serviceable home server with a few spot upgrades.

While any one of these paths will get you a working server, let's start out by analyzing the server we built from parts, and then compare it to other alternatives, so you can decide which path is right for you.

The first part of this article details what parts, including the Linux distro, we selected to go into our homebrew Linux Server, you can find all the details starting with our Bill Of Materials section. Next we benchmarked our server against an older Dell desktop we had sitting around – to see whether it makes more sense to recycle an older desktop, or build your own server. Those results start in the Benchmarks section. Finally we wrap up with our conclusions and recommendations – whether to Build, Buy or Recycle.

So let's get started, and see how to build a kick-butt Linux server.

We decided to build our home server using an Intel Pentium 4/Intel 845 platform owing to a combination of performance and stability that this platform has been able to deliver. We present to component load-outs, one that assumes you need everything and are planning on having this server act as a home router, and a second build-out where you're able to scavenge some spare parts from older machines that are gathering dust.

Component Maker/Model The Skinny Price Check Prices Case Antec SX1040 easy access, no busted knuckles $109.00 check prices Power Supply Antec PP412X included with case $0.00 check prices CPU Pentium 4 2.4GHz 533MHz FSB $200.00 check prices Motherboard Abit IT7 onboard LAN $135.00 check prices System Memory Kingston 512MB PC2700 DDR $130.00 check prices Graphics Card MSI GeForce4 MX 420 $70.00 check prices Network Card 3Com 3C905-TX only if you need a router $25.00 check prices CD Burner Toshiba SD-R1002 DVD, CD-R/W, CD-R $55.00 check prices Hard Drive Western Digital WD1200JB 120GB drive for data volume w/8MB onboard cache $160.00 check prices Display ViewSonic Q41 Optiquest 14" monitor $140.00 check prices Keyboard Logitech Access $15.00 check prices Mouse Logitech First Wheel Mouse $15.00 check prices Distro SUSE 8.0 Pro Easy installation with YaST 2 $85.00 check prices TOTAL $1,139.00

If you're able to purloin a display, keyboard, and mouse, and are having to work within a tighter budget, then this build-out will still give you a solid baseline server for your home network (note we did not test this configuration for compatibility or support):

Component Maker/Model The Skinny Price Check Prices Case Antec KS288 $90.00 check prices Power Supply Antec PP352X 300-watt p/s included with case $0.00 check prices CPU Pentium 4 1.4GHz 533MHz FSB $120.00   Motherboard Abit IT7 onboard LAN $135.00 check prices System Memory Kingston 256MB PC2700 DDR $65.00 check prices Graphics Card Or use the cheapest card you can find with Linux drivers $0.00 CD Burner Toshiba SD-R1002 DVD, CD-R/W, CD-R $55.00 check prices Hard Drive Western Digital WD1000JB 100GB drive for data volume w/8MB onboard cache $130.00 check prices Display none scavenged $0.00 Keyboard none scavenged $0.00 Mouse none scavenged $0.00 Distro Red Hat 8.0 Free download, works well $0.00 TOTAL $595.00

So why did we pick these parts? Read on, and we'll explain our rationale, starting with the most controversial, the distro.

Now we come to the part of the program that could start a fistfight in some Bay Area brewpubs: which Linux distro is the best for your home server? The answer, for as mealy-mouthed as it may seem is, it depends. If you've logged many moons with one specific distro and know its high points as well as its warts, then you'll probably want to put that knowledge to good use. If you're a grizzled Linux/Unix vet, you may just want to run a command-line version of FreeBSD and not even bother running X-windows to conserve those CPU cycles for server-related tasks. Or, if you're a Linux newbie, you'd do well to consider one of the more commercialized packages like SuSE, Red Hat, Mandrake or Lycoris. Given the degree of polish I've seen in these last four packages, I believe that they obviate the need to consider Lindows, because they deliver much of the same ease-of-use as Lindows, but without the $99/year price-tag.

It's kind of an exciting time in Linux-land right now, with new versions of several distro's either new to market or about to arrive. SuSE 8.0 was one of the first distro's to show up with the KDE 3.0 GUI environment, and Mandrake 9.0 has recently become available for download, which also now includes this latest build of KDE. Red Hat 8.0 is yet another recent arrival, as is Lycoris Desktop/LX, the second iteration of the Lycoris (formerly known as Redmond Linux) distro. Having spent some time with each of these four distro's, I decided to go with SuSE 8.0 Pro, not because any of the other three were in some way flawed, just that SuSE's YaST 2 configurator is one of the best implementations I've seen of distro-specific configuration tools. KDE's Control Center certainly does a good job of covering the basics, but SuSE's version of YaST 2 makes getting at OS and hardware settings straightforward.

However, if you're really trying to save money, even the $85 or so for SuSE 8.0 Pro is pricey. If that's the case, download Red Hat 8.0, for free, here.

The choice of distro is a personal one, and one size does not fit all. So, depending on your particular knowledge level and preferences, choose the distro that you feel comfortable with, and let's move on to the building of this beast.

Piecing these components together for this home server is very much like building any other kind of PC, and the same rules apply: it's not a race, so take your time. Don't use excessive force getting components in place. And, if you find yourself getting frustrated and ready to reach for a hammer, walk away and come back to it later. Here are the key hardware decisions you'll need to make, and our recommendations.