Power mac G4 Agp as a server

[Mycatisbigfoot]

I am geting a power mac g4 server and have some big plans for the old computer,

Here are my plans
Put on 10.5 Server 10 client ( I own a legal coppy and never used it)
Make it a time Capsol server
Make it a Netboot Server ( for tray loading imacs)
Make it a Open Directory server
Make it a Mail server
Make it a Ichat server
Make it a FTP Server
Make it a Web Server
Make it a sofware update server
Make it a DCHP server
Make it a VPN server
With that I am upgradeing

the cd drive - To a dvd Drive
Puting 4 sticks of 256 MB of ram = 1GB of ram
Another network card
put 2 160GB hard drives in
Put a Scsi Card in it ( the old apple style )

So what would i need to do?

Should i get my own Ip? I am behind a router, and i would like my internet to split off at the power mac and go to my older computers,
also should i buy a usb 2.0card?

 

[gr8tfly]

I have a PM G4 QuickSilver 2002, 933MHz, with Leopard Server on it. When I finally get around to it, it will replace my B&W G3 Jaguar server which has been running 24/7 for >5 years.

I have a static IP, own domain, and the server is a DNS. It also has a second enet card and acts as my home's router. I run Apple Mail & Apache off it. The main reason for switching to the G4 is to run Leopard - which has much better Mail services (especially in configuring and using SPAM blockers).

I'm adding a USB2 card to the G4 so I can use some of my USB2 external HDs. I have FW, too, but the I ended up with a couple of useful USB2s to dedicate to server backup.

You really should have a static IP, imo. You can port forward to a local IP for your server and set the router up with the static IP. Off hand, I'm not sure of the exact configuration of the server DNS in this situation, but I'm sure there is a way to do it. Again, it wasn't an issue for me, since my server's enet was assigned to the static IP - I think it's just an easier setup (For me, anyway, since, I'm not an expert. Even though I'm a s/w eng, networking has been a need to know, rather than a want (for the most part). I generally do ok, though. )

 

[Mycatisbigfoot]

ok, So all i need is the static ip and a domain? , Ok I think i can do that,

and what sites help you set up the server? and what verson of osx are you on?
10.5? also should i get a sata card and buy some sata hard drive and put them in for time macheen? as i would like to use my laptop as more of a laptop, then have it hooked in to all of my perferals, also who is the best isp in canada ( i have bell at the moment) and i can not get videotron (shaw)

 

[gr8tfly]

ok, So all i need is the static ip and a domain? , Ok I think i can do that,

and what sites help you set up the server? and what verson of osx are you on?
10.5? also should i get a sata card and buy some sata hard drive and put them in for time macheen? as i would like to use my laptop as more of a laptop, then have it hooked in to all of my perferals, also who is the best isp in canada ( i have bell at the moment) and i can not get videotron (shaw)

My current server is running 10.2 Jaguar. It's a bit primitive for many aspects of setting up a server, but as you can tell by its longevity, is very stable (I'll go months at a time without a restart - usually, I need to give Mail a kick). The new server, the G4 QuickSilver, is running 10.5 Leopard Server (10 client).

There are too many sites to name, with regard to setting up a DNS. But, with Leopard Server, I believe a lot of the dirty work (editing .conf files, etc.) can be done through the GUI. Apache was a bit of a pain in 10.2, largely because I was trying to move from Linux to OS-X. Again, I don't expect nearly the heartburn going to 10.5. There are tools to do the upgrade included with 10.5 (for many, if not all, tasks).

The only reason to get a SATA card is because of the waning availability of PATA drives. You won't really see any speed advantage doing file sharing over 802.11(n).

Sorry - I don't have much input on your other questions regarding ISPs. But, anyway, have fun! It's a good learning experience, too.

 

[Mycatisbigfoot]

Ok thanks, zMy last mac osx server was just a net install server, and that ran fine but it was on 10.3 and i could not get tray loading imac g3s to boot, so i just tosed it, My school gave me the code for 10.2 server as i know it will boot tray loaders but i can not find the disk XD thats funny,

but ok thanks

but ok thanks

also with that i have 2 x2 1Tb hard drives that are sata, would the mac boot off the sata card? and how good is it for a router? as i may just make my air port express a network axcess point, and make the computer a router

 

[gr8tfly]

Ok thanks, zMy last mac osx server was just a net install server, and that ran fine but it was on 10.3 and i could not get tray loading imac g3s to boot, so i just tosed it, My school gave me the code for 10.2 server as i know it will boot tray loaders but i can not find the disk XD thats funny,

but ok thanks

but ok thanks

also with that i have 2 x2 1Tb hard drives that are sata, would the mac boot off the sata card? and how good is it for a router? as i may just make my air port express a network axcess point, and make the computer a router

As a router, my B&W 350MHz does OK most of the time - I stream audio and video through it (iChat) and the normal web media work fine. Sometimes, I think it gets a bit slow when Mail is "under attack (a flood of spam)" - then, the routing might take a hit processing wise. I haven't been able to actually see the system get saturated that way, but it's hard to catch. It's just a suspicion I have, since I seem to fine a bit better responsiveness when my MBP's on another network (even with a slower connection). My connection is 3000/768, for reference.

I can't even remember how much ram it has (384MB, I think), but I never have page-outs, so that's not a problem area.

If you have a 2nd enet card for it, it might be worth giving it a go (using the server as your router and setting the Airport Express as a bridged access point). If nothing else, you can do all your configuration in one place - and, I suspect Leopard Server will be a much more configurable firewall than the Airport Express, if needed.

 

[Mycatisbigfoot]

well I am going to wait as i still have to get the computer i am geting it in 2 days as also that same day I am geting 10.6 so... I will have something to do all day. and mabby the whole well and i am going to be making lots of youtube videos with this as well,