Hi, total networking noob here with some questions

[crojack]

Don't be too harsh on me.

I have pretty simple set up here at home but I think I'm at the point where I would like to have some sort of file server, networked hub if possible.
I have an intel iMac, a newer pc with Win7, these are the two main computers in use. I also have an older g5 tower that is not currently being used at all. It has two hd's in it.

I would like to set up the g5 to store all my photos and music, iphoto and iTunes libraries, on and use as a backup. How hard is it to do this? And if I do, can I share with both the pc and the iMac?

I don't have a monitor hooked up to the g5 and I'd rather not have to do that if possible. Should this be wired or wireless? I have a wireless card in the g5.

Thanks for any and all help!

 

[Darwin]

To use the G5 as a file server simply requires turing on File Sharing option in System Prefs > Sharing.

Depending on the OS version you can setup file sharing for Mac and Windows. Since the G5 is headless as you said you can also activate the vnc screen sharing which will allow you view and access it over the network. Ideally using wired will provide the best throughput since you will be limited to G (54mbps) speeds.

If your main aim is to share iPhoto and iTunes libraries it might be easier to setup sharing from within the apps themselves, of course iPhoto as far as i'm aware doesn't have a counterpart for Windows which can use Bonjour. That iPhoto encloses the whole library within a packaged file making it more tricky for simple file sharing.

 

[crojack]

thanks for the quick reply.
One reason I want to do this is because the hd on my imac is filling up quickly, and if I am going to use a separate hd for storage, I might as well use the g5, right?
So, with vnc on than I can control the g5 from my iMac?

 

[Darwin]

thanks for the quick reply.
One reason I want to do this is because the hd on my imac is filling up quickly, and if I am going to use a separate hd for storage, I might as well use the g5, right?
So, with vnc on than I can control the g5 from my iMac?

Sure thing, OS X has a vnc server already built in so switch it on in the G5's sharing preference. You can then screen share from the iMac's network panel in the Finder or by typing in the G5's address into the Screen Sharing app. (The app is hidden in the System/Library/CoreServices)

 

[RedElectro]

Sorry for jumping in, but...

I'm also new to all this kind of thing and have no knowledge of home networking at all really!

I currently have a MBP 15" i7 and a DP PowerMac G5 (that I'm still using as my desktop), my son will soon be getting a Mac Mini and I'm (slowly) saving money for a Mac Pro!

My questions are... Could I still use the G5 as some kind of server for the rest of the macs in the house, what would I need to install and what benefits would I get from doing this?

Sorry it's such a broad question, but I think it'd be a shame to stop using the G5 as I still feel it's a great machine.

 

[Darwin]

My questions are... Could I still use the G5 as some kind of server for the rest of the macs in the house, what would I need to install and what benefits would I get from doing this?

Sorry it's such a broad question, but I think it'd be a shame to stop using the G5 as I still feel it's a great machine.

It all depends on what kind of service(s) you want the server to provide.

 

[RedElectro]

True... unfortunately, I'm not sure what's possible, so I don't really know!

I should imagine the G5 could act as some kind of central storage for the other Macs for iTunes, Photographs etc - but that's just some kind of glorified NAS box. I'm just curious at this point really, how else could it be used?

 

[jerry333]

While you can set the G5 up to be a file server, it's kind of a waste in my opinion. I'd investigate selling the G5 and get a Drobo or an external drive and then serve files from your iMac.