Please talk to me like I'm stupid. I have a bunch of video files (~5TB...so far) hanging out on a bunch of external hard drives. Right now I just take turns plugging them into whichever laptop I'm going to use to watch the videos. I'd like something a little more convenient and easily accessible from multiple rooms in my small apartment, but I'm not awesome at setting up networky things (I've never successfully gotten two different laptops in my apartment to even "see" each other over the wireless router). What should I do? [more inside]
posted by aswego on Mar 4, 2013 - 9 answers

Advice needed: is this an easy setup for a home media server so anyone can watch movies and listen to music anywhere in the house? [more inside]
posted by zooropa on Jan 2, 2013 - 10 answers

In my house, we have three macbooks and one external hard drive full of media. Please help me figure out a system for sharing the hard drive, setting up a media server, and wireless backup. [more inside]
posted by Nickel on Feb 26, 2012 - 9 answers

Multimedia home server solution controlled by iPhone/iPad and plugged into existing speakers/sound system - does it exist? [more inside]
posted by tseo on Sep 11, 2011 - 9 answers

I'd like some recommendations on file server hardware. Ideally I'd like something with space for 6 3.5" SATA drives, the more the better. The server must be able to run FreeNAS and Linux with only modest hacking. I'm not averse to modifying something to get it to do what I want, but since this is going to be a production machine (albeit for home use) I shouldn't have to break out the soldering iron and JTAG cables just to get the OS setup. CPU and RAM don't matter, provided the machine can support a CPU made within the last six years and can accommodate 1GB+ of RAM. Bonus points for the following: space for multiple NICs, IBM, easy access to internals, relatively quiet. Budget max. is $400 *excluding* drives, and used equipment is (obviously) totally fine!
posted by -1 on Aug 4, 2010 - 15 answers

Batch convert AVCHD video files on Windows Home Server? [more inside]
posted by rleamon on Jul 5, 2010 - 1 answer

How can I optimally set up my home computer...er... ecology? [more inside]
posted by McBearclaw on Jun 7, 2010 - 3 answers

Looking for hardware recommendations for a very modest home Linux server. [more inside]
posted by scruss on Jan 3, 2009 - 10 answers

Need a recommendation for a specific printer server for home use. [more inside]
posted by bytewrite on Aug 20, 2008 - 10 answers

What would you do with a fresh install of Ubuntu 6.06, perfectly functioning LAMP configuration and a 200gig hard drive with a high speed connection? [more inside]
posted by jofuu on Feb 6, 2008 - 9 answers

Converting an old laptop into my first home server - what should I know? [more inside]
posted by penciltopper on Jun 19, 2007 - 15 answers