File Server Configuration

Hi all,
I want to put up a file server for a small 100 MBit-Netzwork (7
stations). So I've got some issues:

I intend to use a small (slow) IDE-HD for the OS and Server-Software
(Samba), as the OS and Samba is loaded into RAM after the boot
sequence. And I want to use two S-ATA-HD with RAID for the file
storage. I think this way it is easier to maintain the OS, as it is on
a separate device.
Is this approach OK or does Samba load data from the IDE-HD while
running, so this will slow down the hole system??

Is it possible to us the File-Server with 2 Network-LAN-Cards as a
gateway to the Internet for the 7 stations, as my (8 port) switch is
full?

How much RAM would you suggest?

Which Linux-Distribution would you suggest? (security most important)

Kindest regards, M. Langbein

Matthias Langbein wrote:

> Hi all,
> I want to put up a file server for a small 100 MBit-Netzwork (7
> stations). So I've got some issues:
>
> I intend to use a small (slow) IDE-HD for the OS and Server-Software
> (Samba), as the OS and Samba is loaded into RAM after the boot
> sequence. And I want to use two S-ATA-HD with RAID for the file
> storage. I think this way it is easier to maintain the OS, as it is on
> a separate device.
> Is this approach OK or does Samba load data from the IDE-HD while
> running, so this will slow down the hole system??
>

Well at least the smb executable and libraries will be loaded from your os
disk. Caching is surely a help here but you should also consider, that the
system will also have to swap on the systems disk. So after all I wouldn't
user an extra slow disk for this purpose.

By the way you mentioned to uses SATA disk as the fast disk. But you know
that SATA is only the interface like (parallel) ATA also is. The interface
have a speed limit by themselves but usually the disks a slower than the
interface so if you use a disk with SATA that does not automatically mean
that its faster than a disk with (parallel) ATA interface.

Have a nice day
Rainer