Help configuring G4/500 as a local fileserver

[smacks]

I'm adding another workstation to my LAN, and the locals here have convinced me to stay away from a NAS and turn my old G4/500 into a fileserver.

1. Should I consider a Gigabit Ethernet PCI card for this machine? It will be serving up files up to 150 MB. I have a GigE switch already...

2. Would it help to get a SATA PCI card to upgrade the drives inside this server? I'd like the flexibility of being able to move these drives to my G5 should the need arise...

or should I just leave it and go with additional IDE/ATA drives?

This machine will be serving files up to 150 MB, and there will usually be 2-3 other workstations accessing files at the same time.

TIA,

J

[The Grim Ninja]

Sawtooth G4s don't really benefit from Gig-E cards. Something in their architecture doesn't take advantage of the speed.

If you really wanted a speed boost, you would upgrade to a Gig-E or better G4. As things are, adding speed enhancement devices will give lackluster results compared to current speeds.

[C(-)ris]

Your G4 500 might already gave gigabit ethernet. If it doesn't I would get the card.

I would go for SATA drives if you are buying new ones. No sense buying drives that are old technology. Being able to have a backup machien for the drives is definitly something to consider. Since you have a G5 SATA makes even more sense. If there is a hardware failure on your server you can move the drives and the SATA card to the G5.

[mattkime]

I'd go with a SATA card. That machine doesn't support drives larger than 128 GB so you definitely need a card of some kind.

As for the gigE card - should be worth the $20. Try to make sure that your switch supports jumbo packets as it greatly increases transfer speed.

[C(-)ris]

[quote mattkime]

As for the gigE card - should be worth the $20. Try to make sure that your switch supports jumbo packets as it greatly increases transfer speed.

I believe the switch and ALL machines on the network must support jumbo packets for it to work. That includes printers.

[smacks]

Thanks for the tips - Most PCI GIgE cards I've found don't mention Mac compatibility, with the exception of the Sonnet Presto (about 80 bucks, shipped)

Anybody know of a cheaper solution?

Cheers, J

[mattkime]

>>I believe the switch and ALL machines on the network must support jumbo packets for it to work. That includes printers.

Ahh....interesting. I did some research. Looks like devices that support IEEE 802.1Q can communicate between eath other with jumbo frames and other devices with normal frames.

the $18 card here supports it...

http://forums.macresource.com/read/1/138515

[mattkime]

>>Looks like devices that support IEEE 802.1Q can communicate between eath other with jumbo frames and other devices with normal frames.

Bah, further research reveals that its a pain to set up.

You're right.

[ka jowct]

Sawtooth G4s don't really benefit from Gig-E cards. Something in their architecture doesn't take advantage of the speed.

I put a gigE card in mine, and found that it made a noticeable difference. The card was only about $20 (Hawking).