FTP how to, and some free web host advice

[Ollie Snowie]

I'd just love to blurt out, "My FTP address is osftp.serveftp.com. It's not up yet but it's on the way!"
I'm doing an FTP how to for Windows, which will be on http://ollie_snowie.tripod.com/ when finished.
Could someone please make an FTP how to for Linux or Mac?
Also, I have noticed that lots of people here are using geocities, and their bandwidth limiting is very annoying. I think Tripod is much better than Geocities in the way of bandwidth. Also, you don't get those annoying jump-across-the-webpage javascript adverts; just a straightforward popup window that is easy to close. Go to http://www.tripod.com/ for more information.

Add-on:- Does anyone know if there is a way to make a PIC based PC compatible mini computer that will do the job of a server. I have seen PIC projects that are interfaced through a parrallel port before, but are there any that can use USB + Ethernet + IDE? I feel like I'll be spending a long time making this semi-PC. Until then I'll have to put up with a whirring computer all day long.

[James]

I thik maybe you might be interseten in lookin at some diskless (http://www.disklessworkstations.com/) workstation (http://www.uniqsys.com/) providers. I don't know if they can be configured to boot from a external (http://www.thecomputercenter.com/links/harddrives.htm) USB (http://www.crucial.com/store/listbyattr.asp?attr=USB%20Flash%20Drive&cat=drives+storage) drive. You might need a whirrimg computer to boot from, but you could put it in another room, or pad it with socks. Pricewatch (http://www.pricewatch.com) is your friend. :cool:

[Tuatara]

There's always Quiet PC (http://www.quietpc.com/uk/) if noise is your main concern.

Having just spent 2 years doing a car alarm with PICs I'd say you've got your work cut out if you want to DIY.

[Ollie Snowie]

Yes, noise is a main concern, but power consumption is the largest; I could make a silent power supply with huge heatsinks and no fan, so that's not a problem. Also, people here seem to be paranoid about having a computer on all the time, but after a long and terrible story about "knocking the house down" to get a network cable into the cellar, it seems a shame to abandon it now. Also, my sister wants the computer that I was going to use as a server and I'm not allowed to go and buy another computer.
Slightly (very) off topic, I'm working on a computer built totally from scratch (AND, OR, NOT, etc) and so far it can +, -, *, / (I've not made the real thing yet, it's just schematic on paper). I can't see it being compatible with USB, ethernet and IDE, but if I can find out how these protocols work, it's at least a start.
UKers: http://www.computer-reclaim.co.uk/ (processors from £4!) - (money is a huge concern as well).

[T_Pyro]

Ollie Snowie:
Exactly what is the comp that you're building from scratch supposed to be used for? If it's just for an electronics project to demonstrate the architecture of a computer, it's worth it, but if you want to use it do any "real" work, then you just can't start from the basic gates! To run any useful program on your "computer", it'll have to support far larger instruction set than just the basic arithmetic/logic operators. However, if you're really head-bent on pursuing your goal, I'd recommend using a microprocessor instead of starting right from logic gates. The Atmel AVR-RISC microprocessor family should suit your needs, but if you want more fancy I/O connections like USB, IDE etc, you could use National's SuperIO controller- it can handle a plethora of I/O devices simultaneously!
The Atmel AVR 8-Bit RISC family:
http://atmel.com/dyn/products/param_table.asp?family_id=607&OrderBy=part_no&Direction=ASC

I'd once designed a small architecture computer using 4bit instructions and 8bit registers, but never got around to imlementing it 'coz it demanded far more time and funds than I had at hand...

[Ollie Snowie]

I'm not really quite sure waht the computer will be used for; the one built from mere logic gates was just intended to demonstrate how a basic computer works, and I was thinking of making a microcontroller based one later. After all, microcontrollers are built from logic gates, but a logic gate bought on its own will cost 1*10^blah more than one bought as part of a microcontroller and also have to be run at a much slower speed due to distortion.
I don't think there's much more to be said on the topic of scratch-built computers being used as servers; it probably works out cheaper to use a PC.
A better avenue would be how to make a silent, low energy, *low cost* computer, although I think this turns out to be fairly easy (slow computer, overclocked, water cooling, no fans). If processors+PSUs can stand temps. up to 100*C, this would be fine as long as the water was always topped up (the whole computer could be waterproofed on the inside and put in the toilet flush reservoir :D). In fact, that made me think of something; the computer could be put inside an external double skinned box with water in between the two skins. That should cut out the noise.

[Ollie Snowie]

I've just got started again on this. I've designed an ALU that does:
A+B
A-B
B-A
NOT A
NOT B
AND
OR
XOR
Shift Left
Shift Right
Mask bits...
Memory access...
a bit more useful.

I can't seem to find a supplier that sells all the things I need, like the SuperIO controller.
I've tried:
www.farnell.co.uk
www.maplin.co.uk
www.cpc.co.uk
www.rswww.co.uk
www.arrow.com

It'd be great if we could compile a list of suppliers for other things, as well as precursors, but better moved to the water cooler, perhaps.

Info on how an FPU works would be great, as all I can find is what an FPU is and does. If it's just not practical to make an FPU with logic gates or programmable logic arrays, then some pinout diagrams and instruction sets (with binary codes) for microprocessors that have built in FPUs would be great too. Otherwise, just a source of the math coprocessor that Jameco used to sell, as I can't find it in any of the shops mentioned above. It looks like math coprocessors are going extinct because of built in FPUs.

[T_Pyro]

The page http://www.national.com/pf/PC/PC97317.html has all the info on the SuperIO you'll require. It's available at http://avnet.com as part no. PC97317-IBW/VUL.

Ollie Snowie, could you email me? Maybe we could compare our implementations. I'm using 4 general-purpose 8-bit registers, some standard flag registers (debug, sign, carry, etc.) and a 32K (8bit) memory. The SuperIO controller's not in my plans, though (too complex). I'm planning on using the PC16550 for serial access, or (if all else fails) the parallel port in ECP mode.

[James]

I recently got a LTSP Term 150. I put a 80GB notebook hard drive in it. Overall it tends to run a little warm. I was also a pain to set up initially.

[Chaosmark]

This honestly isn't intended to be thread necromancy, as I have some information to add that might come in handy for others who are attempting something similar to what Ollie was trying to do, though that user is quite obviously long-gone.

Buying a completely new PC aside, probably the best way to start up a quick and dirty server would be to use a LiveCD (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livecd) of some sort or another. I know that there are quite a few Linux-based ones that have been specifically designed for server work, but if you so desired, you could also make up your own LiveCD with exactly what you need for the server. Even niftier, you can make ANY computer your server with the proper CD build (something based on Knoppix (http://www.knoppix.net/) would probably be your best bet). And, once you're done playing server (such as when you get home from work and want to do other stuff with your computer) you can just take out the CD and reboot your computer.

[Addendum]

Found the thread I was thinking about as I was first reading about LiveCDs right here (http://www.roguesci.org/theforum/showthread.php?t=4105). More general in thought and application, but still a good read.

[iHME]

I'm going to start up my own ftp server. The server is a P2 350Mhz 128Ram computer with a old 40gb hdd. I will try to document the proces of setting up my server as well as I can. Thus making it more like a howto than a project log.
The servers core will be Debian, which is a rocksolid linux distribution
and proftpd ftp server daemon.

By time more info and pictures will be available here:

http://tinyurl.com/35ldcc


and for software

http://Debian.org
http://proftpd.org