How to set up a PC as a file server for a Mac?

December 26, 2006 2:37 PM

I want to set up a PC as a file server for my Mac. I'll also use it for light video gaming and website testing. What OS should I run? What else should I consider?

I'll probably install two mirrored 500GB drives for storage and backup. I'd probably want to have a Windows install for video games and website testing -- but would Windows be sufficient for serving files to my Mac as well?

posted by jruckman to computers & internet (4 comments total)

I'd suggest just sticking with Windows simply because adding anything else into the mix will be more complicated than its worth.

Macs can access Windows shared folders, provided that they're both on the same network, though in my experience the authentication can be somewhat finicky.

To get the mac to connect:

Finder -> Go -> Connect to Server -> smb://ip-address-or-machine-name/
posted by Rictic at 3:09 PM on December 26, 2006

Windows will do fine, just as Rictic said; why bother running two different OSes when one will accomplish both goals? Saves hard drive space and hassle.
posted by Mali at 3:15 PM on December 26, 2006

Light video gaming = Windows.

Windows will work fine as a file server -- even Windows XP home will work just fine (as long as under 10 devices are connected).
posted by SirStan at 5:21 PM on December 26, 2006

Ugh. I hate to be a fourther in suggesting Windows, but it does fit the bill of what you want. My Mac [may it rest in peace] worked fine with Windows file sharing. And quite surprisingly, the Windows machine could be made to play nice with sharing files with the Mac as well.

Tragic as it is, if you want to play games, Windows is the best game in town, and dual booting, will require you to reboot each time you want to play a game.

That said, you are probably going to want to reboot anyway, Windows XP (particularly Pro) is leaps and bounds better than most of it's predecessors in terms of memory management (Win2k being my other choice), but memory leaks still are the word of the day and if you leave it running all the time, it's going to slow down. (My fileserver; a P3 750 running XP Pro requires a monthly reboot to be really useful.)

If you really want to look into OS alternatives. Ubuntu linux seems to be the current hotness, and enjoys a large following among my tech-support employees. But if you really wanna be hard core, go for FreeBSD or NetBSD. Same basic architecture as your Mac's OSX and could potentially share some programs. Not that that would be particularly useful, but it might be cool to mention at a party.

Ok, maybe not.

The BSDs are not what I would call 'use friendly' but they are powerful and reliable. Probably why Apple decided to use it as the basis of their new OS.
posted by quin at 9:52 PM on December 26, 2006