Complete and Utter Noob Question(s)

[Brent]

Hiya Guys!
Before I start, this is completely off-topic about FreeNAS and more of a personal question..
I haven't been to school (currently in final year) for almost 2 months, I think I suffer from anxiety problems (thinking about school makes me tense up and i start to worry (usually shake a little bit)) how can I tell my school that? (please note: I'm in Australia, I also missed all of my Trial Exams and all of my major projects due dates)

on topic:
I have some thoughts about the FreeNAS server, and know that it's really just a, "cloud" type system for back ups and what-not...but, my questions consist of..can it be more?

Here we go..
Can the use of your external IP possible allow a ZFS Dataset turn into a web server (allow others to view through your eternal..?)
Is it possible, for instance..to run a minecraft server (no I don't plan on it, but, is it possible)
What ARE the possibilities to the use of FreeNAS in an open system (for instance..allowing a disk to be accessible by anyone, for anything (almost like a cloud system...just for anyone) I know alot of you will mention about security risks, but, for the sake of this thread, put that to the side, (yes mention it ofcourse...) but...hopefully you understand)

I'm asking this because I'm entirely intrigued by what uses the server could possibly be used for, it seems like there's an abundant of different features you can, "add-on" (for instance, ownCloud and what-not)

Thanks
Brent.
(a.k.a think I'm going to fail final year...)

 

[Brent]

I'd just like to add....FreeNAS 9.1 RELEASE

 

[pirateghost]

It's just a file server.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network-attached_storage

Personally, I prefer to keep my file server a file server and dont want it to do anything other than that. Its function is to stay up 24/7 and serve files to my network, and my servers. I don't really like to advocate running plugins or jails (chastise me all you want, I don't really like it myself).

I have servers that USE my NAS to present things to the outside world. I have web servers, minecraft servers (4 of them at the moment), teamspeak servers, java build servers (all virtualized in Proxmox), and a plethora of devices connected (HTPCs, tablets, phones, laptops, desktops, etc). They each have a function. They all talk back to the NAS in some way. Years ago I made several attempts at 'putting all my eggs in one basket', by using my file server to do all the things I needed. Web, torrent, newsgroup, whatever I wanted to run, I ran in my file server...because I thought, hey this is easy. Of course until something goes wrong, or you need to edit some configs, etc. Then I have to make sure nobody is using any of the services before I could fix. If it went down while I was at the office, my wife and kid would just call and yell that they couldnt watch movies/TV episodes on the HTPCs....

If you start providing services to ANYONE, (family, friends, or hosting for SMB), you will quickly realize that downtime is not a good time.

Want a suggestion? Keep backups of whatever you do. If you want to play around and mess with jails/plugins, and get all these cool things going, just keep in mind, it will break on you one day if you keep messing with it.

So in answer to your question, yes you can present your storage however you like to wherever you want (within logical reason), its just a file server, but you can make it do whatever you want (again, within reason). I get the sense that you are just now getting into having a home server, but don't think of it as a cloud anything. Think of it as a really big USB hard drive thats attached via ethernet and not USB, and it is always on, always available to you.


You said don't talk about the security, but you really do need to think about security as soon as you open yourself up to the outside. It is a key piece that you should not just brush under the rug and ignore. It is extremely important, ESPECIALLY if you plan on hosting websites or providing services for anyone. Don't think your little NetGear router is going to protect you from anything once you open it up... You should get a grasp on your network security before you start opening up services to the internet. Being a BSD forum, I would recommend you check out PFSense ;). Personally I use zeroshell for routing, and Sophos/Astaro for web filtering, firewalling, VPN, etc., but those might be a little more complicated than you are wanting to get into. For that you might check out Untangle. For an appliance, I recommend ubiquity stuff...I love the guys working on their EdgeOS line (they came from Vyatta project)

Get yourself some extra computers (see if anyone is throwing anything away, maybe just bought a new computer and think their old one is trash, etc), get a decent little switch, and start learning. It is the only way to get started.


Oh, and stay in school and get good grades....you will need that paper some day.

 

[Brent]

Thanks Pirate, now in reply to your abundant knowledge..

I'm actually new to the whole, "jail" thing and literally have no idea with what I'm doing with it, but, slowly reading documentation and what-not I'm understanding...
And at the moment it is just a file server (with the odd exception of me slowly installing ownCloud)
How do you mean that it, 'presents' itself to the outside world? (I kinda want to get back into my RSPS I was developing a while back (yes...Java is something I can understand of all things..))
I'm also looking at getting my phone connected (you know..just so I can store photos and what-nto straight away..) (still not entirely sure on how to succeed in this, but, I am very slowly learning)
ahh, that's where it's best to say that I will have no downtime (yeah...it's a dream, it's already crapped out a few times and left me going how...)
Actually speaking about the downtime, it over-heated and went into a thermal shutdown, now I have this small pink desk fan cooling the laptop(DIY WHY NOT?)
So don't think of it as a cloud, just as you said...a usb I don't have to carry with me...

The only reason I said not to mention security was because I knew it'd be the first thing to pop up (I was actually thinking of you and gpsguy)

And don't worry, I know my silly little router would do almost nothing (gotta deal with what you got though..)
Alright, so find computers and put them to work :D I like it :D

and the school thing: i have 2 Major Projects and 8 small assessments due by 9AM tomorrow morning (currently 3:15 pm) so..yeah, I've failed...

Now onto something else
I was thinking, what if, (big what if...and goes against everything said) you could do more with the FreeNAS, like......instead of paying the whole $20 a month or web servers you use it (have a redirect from a domain name to your external IP?) I mean..It just seems so plausible and do-able, yet...something that I can't do (I'm just speaking in terms of somehow improving my sense of belonging (I really don't know..))

But, nonetheless, thanks for your comment (I'm going to go take a look around see if I can find some dead computers to resurrect)
Thanks...Again
Brent

 

[pirateghost]

Of course you can make a webserver (in a jail). That is essentially what you are doing with Owncloud... ;)
Speaking of which, Owncloud has an android client (probably iOS too) that will automatically back up your pictures from your device to your OwnCloud server.

$20 a month for hosting? whoa, thats double what you should be paying for shared hosting, and quadruple what I pay for some VPS that I have
-another shameless referral link-
$5.00/month VPS



Webservers are easy to setup...you can redirect your own domain name back to your external IP no problem. Whether your ISP will let you host is another story.

 

[Brent]

Thanks for that link, I might get started with a VPS :D (I always have problems with finding what's even best...)
also, that number was just something I came out with (I'm currently using godaddy(i regret this..) to hsot my website)

So...really, as long as yo can securely do this, you should be fine (let's speak theoretically?)

 

[pirateghost]

Thanks for that link, I might get started with a VPS :D (I always have problems with finding what's even best...)
also, that number was just something I came out with (I'm currently using godaddy(i regret this..) to hsot my website)

So...really, as long as yo can securely do this, you should be fine (let's speak theoretically?)

Yeah, but you would run a webservice in a jail, and host whatever you like from it. (you will need to get handy with your networking for the port forwards and firewalls)

A VPS will get you a clean slate and you configure it how you want...its just like having a linux server sitting in front of you...have fun with it. I host several sites from digital ocean now and they have sped up my sites immensely over the shared hosting I had with bluehost, dreamhost, and even faster/better than the VPS I had with dreamhost.

 

[Brent]

I really need to learn more about this...(don't suppose you got some more of your, "shameless 'referral' links?")

Alright, I'm really contemplating that VPS REALLLLLLLY, I just need to transfer the money needed to setup to paypal(stupid me being 17 and not having a debit/credit card)

 

[pirateghost]

You can sign up and start playing for a day without paying anything

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

 

[Brent]

:O where do I see that

 

[pirateghost]

Just create an account and create a droplet. It's what they call a vps

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

 

[Brent]

Not entirely sure how that works considering it's asking for a payment

 

[gpsguy]

As you surmised, I would have written a response similar to pirateghost's suggestions.


Sent from my phone

 

[pirateghost]

Not entirely sure how that works considering it's asking for a payment

That's weird. A friend of mine used that link last week and didn't need to set up payment right away

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

 

[Brent]

well, I'm waiting the 5 days for money to transfer over than i'll use your referral :)

@gps
Yes, entirely, I kind of expect similar (in a way) answers from you 2