File Server & Desktop Advice

[goopot]

Hello,

I've been using rimu for about 6 months now for rsync backup and my web server but now I'm thinking of more adventurous things to do. Any advice/experience of

1) Using rimu as a file-server as a central store for my desk-top and laptop. I.e. Rather than having my files on my desktop and backing up to rimu, just run all my files straight from the server. I have to talk to windows so I'm assuming samba
2) Running a virtual desktop on rimu. I'm thinking either a vncclient on the home pc or else X on cygwin

I've got a 256/128 adsl connection at home. Advice anyone?

Dave.

[retep]

I have not seen anyone using the VPS as a file server. Nothing should stop you doing that though. Someone else may chime in here. Do consider security when you setup file sharing. e.g. making sure users authenticate before using the file system (duh) and ensure that data going to/from the VPS is encrypted.

Mini HOWTO: Installing a GUI
apt-get install vnc-server gnome-desktop control-center fontilus gnome-applets gnome-icon-theme gnome-panel gnome-session gnome-terminal gnome-themes nautilus xterm XFree86-base-fonts XFree86-twm

echo "DESKTOP=GNOME" > /etc/sysconfig/desktop

Un-comment the unset SESSION_MANAGER and exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc lines in ~/.vnc/xstartup (else you'll get a vnc console with just a plain old xterm, cf. a flash gnome UI).

# run this then set a password when prompted
vncserver :1

ps axf shows this: 6681 pts/1 S 0:00 Xvnc :1 -desktop X -httpd /usr/share/vnc/classes -aut

So connect with your VNC client using this: yourserverip:1

Rather than connection to your VNC server with no encryption, you may want to run this from your PC end (so the session is done via a SSH tunnel):
# 5901 is 5900 plus the VNC screen number
ssh -C -N -L 5901:localhost:5901 root@yourserverip


Then VNC to localhost:5901


With this latter option your VNC traffic will be compressed, and from the local port 5901 to the localhost on the remote machine at port 5901 (which is what vnc is listening on for the :1 connection). And yourtraffic is encrypted.


Prevent the server using up all the CPU on the host server when the screen saver comes on: RedHat Icon | Preferences | ScreenSaver. Under Mode, change it to Disable Screen Saver


To stop the server:
vncserver -kill :1


Please stop the X server whenever you are not using it. As it consumes valuable CPU and memory resources.


Minumum 64MB of memory used by X (uses maybe 40MB) so only do this if your plan has 128MB of memory or more. Sample memory usage:
Xvnc 8%
gnome-panel 13%
nautilus 26%
nautilus-throbber 10%


Note when you log out the vnc session can close. If you restart it you may get an error like:


Warning: yourvpsip:1 is taken because of /tmp/.X1-lock
Remove this file if there is no X yourvpsip:1
A VNC server is already running as :1


Just rm that file.

[goopot]

Thank for the info -- very helpful. I won't have enough memory at present to run the desktop mode I think. I realise I don't understand how memory works on the VPS's: I've bought a certain amount with my plan, but does that behave as virtual physical memory? i.e. can I set-up some swap space in my VPS? Or if I've got X Megs then is X the max I can ever use (be it physical or virtual)?

I think I'm getting confused with too many "virtuals"! Any simple explanation?

Dave.

[retep]

Each VPS is allocated some 'real' memory and some 'virtual' (or swap) memory. Each user should run with their regular memory without using swap. Swap should only be used in emergencies/one off situations. Since VPSs that use swap chew up a lot of CPU and disk IO on the host server, which can affect the performance of other users.

Was there something you need to do that requires you to have GUI on the server? Personally I find it easier to work with VPSs from the command line (or via the webmin control panel).

[goopot]

Nothing important - just pushing the envelope!

I'll play with samba for a while (then may ask the bank manager about getting more memory).

Thanks for all the help.

Dave.