Web Photo Server / CMS

Eamo01

Hi,

Interested in building a machine to help my Mum store and upload photos to, which she can then share with her friends. Will be located in her home, and be the primary storage of 20 years worth of photo (>100k). Will need software suggestions as well as hardware.

ssible:

1. What is your budget? [€xxx] up to €1500

2. What will be the main purpose of the computer? [Gaming/Video editing/3D Modelling/HTPC/Internet] (If gaming include which games). Storing and serving photos to private members.

3. Do you need a copy of Windows? [Yes/No] yes, if needed

4. Can you use any parts from an old computer? [Hard drive/DVD Drive/Case/PSU/etc.] (If possible state brand and model of the parts to ensure compatibility) no

5. Do you need a monitor? [Yes/No] yes, if needed. Have monitor I coul use to setup etc.

5a. If yes, what size do you need. [19'/20'/22'/24'/etc.]

5b. If no, what resolution is your current monitor and do you plan to upgrade in the near future? [1920x1080/1440x900/etc.] [Yes/No]

6. Do you need any of these peripherals? [Keyboard/Mouse/Wireless Card/Card Reader/Speakers/etc.] yes

7. Are you willing to try overclocking? [Yes/No] no

8. How can you pay? [Bank Transfer/Credit Card/Laser] any

9. When are you purchasing? [In x days] asap

10. If you need help building it, where are you based? [South Dublin City/Cork City/Kerry/etc.] yes, dundrum

If you have a sample build yourself, use Fluffy's script to format it nicely.

K.O.Kiki

You don't need to spend €1500 on a mammy system

I'd just get a decent used system (e.g. through GreenIT).
Ask them to throw Windows onto a 120/128Gb SSD.

Then set up her photos to backup online.
I use Google Drive, €20/year for 100Gb, automatically backs up whenever I plug in my camera/phone.
Easily allows me to share photos through email.

ED E

Whats the size of her library?

K.O.Kiki

ED E wrote: »

Whats the size of her library?

100'000 pictures should be less than 100Gb

ED E

K.O.Kiki wrote: »

100'000 pictures should be less than 100Gb

For many 100K images = 3TB. 5TB for full frame. Not everyone shoots 900kb 6Mp JPGs.

Eamo01

Library is approx 4tb. Want to have some redundancy in storage.


She want to self host as skeptical of cloud solutions, expecially privacy. Will use cloud as backup.

Thanks

ED E

Is she technical/are you willing to do regular monitoring/maintenance? If yes go ahead with the self build but if no I'd be looking at QNAP or Synology. A 4 bay with 3x 3TB disks should give you plenty of room with RAID6 or a version thereof.

Rasb

+1 for Synology. For storing and sharing photos a NAS will work better. It can be accessed at anytime by friends. Synology have a good photo sharing package for their NAS which can act as a server. Also has an app for phones/tablets.

dunworth1

https://nextcloud.com/

would be an option to run on the server basically dropbox that you host yourself


a hp micro server might be a good option to work as the nas/server

http://www.laptopsdirect.ie/hpe-proliant-gen8-intel-celeron-g1610t-dual-core-2.30ghz-2mb-4-x-non-hotplu-819185-421/version.asp

Eamo01

Okay. I've decided to go with the Synology and install nextcloud on it.

I think this model would be good fit?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0765BSNGH/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&psc=1

Amazon don't deliver to Ireland. Where would be the best place to get one?

Why not use the Synology Photo station.

And for redundancy, use Hyper Backup and use Hubic (OVH) €50 a year for 10TB for offsite backup.

dunworth1

Eamo01 wrote: »

Okay. I've decided to go with the Synology and install nextcloud on it.

I think this model would be good fit?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0765BSNGH/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&psc=1

Amazon don't deliver to Ireland. Where would be the best place to get one?

depends on where you are based but do you know any IT support companies as they should be able to order it.

zbluebirdz

Eamo01 wrote: »

Okay. I've decided to go with the Synology and install nextcloud on it.

I think this model would be good fit?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0765BSNGH/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&psc=1

Amazon don't deliver to Ireland. Where would be the best place to get one?

Use Parcel Motel - have it delivered to Northern Ireland and Parcel Motel will then have it delivered to you in Ireland. Cost - depending on the size of the package. Usually, they'll deliver it to the chosen PM Locker, but you can pick up the parcel from one of PM depots in Ireland. If you choose to collect from the depot, just send a note to PM before the parcel arrives.

Rasb

The DS718+ is probably better spec than you need for a photo server / CMS. The 218+ may be enough if you want to save a few euro.

One of synology main selling points is its operating system. It has packages to provide a range of services (photo server, file server, CMS). I wouldn't see the benefit of using nextcloud and you would lose some potential functionality.

colm_c

If she's hosting herself, don't forget about security, she'll be opening her network and he new PC to the internet via port forwarding or similar.

So up to date AV, firewall etc. will be required, and possibly a fixed ip from the broadband provider or dynamic dns.

Also need to check with the provider whether hosting is allowed in terms of service.

That to me would be more of a problem than using a cloud provider to share a few photos.

If she was that privacy conscious, the photos in viewable format would would never be on the internet.

Also, remember the rule of three for backups. Always have three.

- one at home incase your pc breaks
- one nearby incase you have a fire in your house
- one in another continent, incase your city gets destroyed

Cloud backups can take days/weeks to restore and upload.

And test your backup strategy.

I have 2 hard drives that I rotate between my home and office and use S3 as a cloud copy. All media is encrypted.

For family photos these are essential IMO, as they are media that cannot be replaced.

Eamo01

I wanted to return to this thread to say the advice worked like a charm.

The Synology setup was a breeze, the software is easy to use for my mum, automatically discovered Virgin Media modem (to allow connections from outside) and the app ('DS Photo') is a simple and effective way to share the photos.

Thanks for all the help!