Amahi Home Server: File Duplications & App Store Overview
Amahi Home Server: File Duplication, Shares, and App Store Overview
This is the concluding article in a three-part series focusing on the Amahi Home Server. Here, we will detail the process of establishing new network shares for file storage.
We will also configure file duplication for essential data utilizing the Greyhole storage pool. Finally, a brief exploration of the applications available within the Amahi app store will be conducted, including a look at Transmission for torrent downloads.
Creating Network Shares
Establishing network shares is fundamental for organizing and accessing files across your home network. Amahi simplifies this process, allowing users to quickly designate folders for shared access.
Before proceeding, ensure you have completed a basic Amahi installation and added at least one hard drive to your server. This provides the necessary foundation for creating and utilizing network shares.
Setting Up File Duplication with Greyhole
Greyhole is a crucial component for data redundancy within Amahi. It functions as a storage pool, enabling the duplication of files across multiple drives.
This duplication safeguards against data loss in the event of a drive failure. Configuration involves specifying which folders should be mirrored and the level of redundancy desired.
Exploring the Amahi App Store
The Amahi app store offers a variety of applications to extend the functionality of your home server. These apps can be easily installed and managed through the web interface.
One popular application is Transmission, a lightweight and efficient BitTorrent client. It allows for direct downloading of torrents to your server.
Testing File Redundancy
To validate the effectiveness of the Greyhole setup, a practical test was performed. A drive was intentionally powered off while the server remained operational.
The server continued to function without interruption, and access to duplicated files was maintained, demonstrating the successful implementation of file redundancy. This confirms the protection offered by the Greyhole storage pool.
This concludes the series on setting up and utilizing Amahi Home Server. From initial installation to file duplication and application exploration, Amahi provides a robust and user-friendly solution for home server needs.
Enabling Advanced Configuration Options
The storage pooling functionality discussed in this guide is considered an advanced feature. Therefore, activation of advanced settings is a prerequisite. Access your HDA interface and navigate to Setup -> Settings -> then select the checkbox to enable Advanced Settings.
Accessing Advanced Settings
This step unlocks the necessary options for configuring storage pools. Without enabling these settings, the relevant features will remain inaccessible.
Confirm that the Advanced Settings checkbox is ticked. This will reveal a broader range of configuration possibilities within the HDA interface.
Shares
Shares represent the core organizational unit within your server environment. Essentially, a Share functions as a network folder designed for file storage, and Amahi pre-configures several default Shares, including those for Books, Movies, and Pictures.
To establish a new Share, navigate to Setup -> Shares within the Amahi interface. Then, select the "New Share" button.
Creating a New Share
The standard settings are generally sufficient. Simply input the desired name for your new Share and click Create to finalize the process.
This will establish a dedicated space for your files, accessible across your network through the Amahi server.
Shares provide a centralized and convenient method for managing and accessing your digital content.
Data Replication on Amahi
When advanced settings are activated, a new Storage Pool option becomes visible on the Setup -> Shares screen. This feature allows for the selection of drives to be incorporated into a storage pool. Once drives are added to the pool, file duplication can be implemented, providing data redundancy.
Important: The initial drive listed represents the drive on which Amahi is installed. It is highly recommended to exclude this drive from the pool, as its capacity being fully utilized would compromise server functionality.
In this instance, two drives have been added to the pool, enabling the creation of up to one duplicate copy. To include drives in the pool, simply check the corresponding boxes:
Next, the system needs to be instructed to create copies of files within a specific share. Return to the Shares screen and select the desired share – in this example, Movies. Scroll down to the Storage Pool setting, activate the Uses Pool option, and specify the number of redundant copies to be created.
To validate the functionality, 20 GB of movie files were copied, and approximately thirty minutes were allowed for Greyhole to complete the balancing process. A simulated hard drive failure was then induced by disconnecting power to one of the drives while the system was operational. The outcome presented both positive and negative aspects.
Initially, access to the movie files was confirmed, demonstrating the successful operation of the duplication feature. However, Amahi, by default, provides no notification of a drive failure. Consequently, a genuine drive failure would go unnoticed. The developer of Greyhole (Guillaume Boudreau) was consulted via the official chatroom regarding this issue. The issue was identified as residing within Amahi itself.
Although Greyhole is capable of sending email alerts upon detecting errors, Amahi does not enable outgoing email functionality by default. The recommendation was to follow the instructions in this Amahi wiki tutorial on enabling outgoing emails [Broken URL Removed], and subsequently modify the greyhole.yml and greyhole.conf files to include the desired email address for receiving alerts.
It is anticipated that future releases of Amahi will address this limitation. The responsiveness of the Greyhole creator, providing a comprehensive answer within five minutes, was particularly noteworthy. This level of support is uncommon in many commercial software packages, and it has reinforced confidence in the Linux and open-source communities.
A helpful resource detailing recovery procedures following a hard drive failure within an Amahi system is available here, should the system experience a boot failure.
App Store and Torrent Management
Utilizing a server for torrent downloads is a beneficial practice. The ideal scenario involves simply placing torrent files within a network share, allowing the server to manage the entire process autonomously. Transmission, accessible through the Apps -> Available section, provides this functionality by default.
Upon installation, users gain access to the torrent management interface via the Transmission Web Interface. Additionally, a dedicated share named Torrents is automatically generated for streamlined file organization.
Exploring Additional Apps
While Transmission is a powerful option, several other applications within the app store are worth considering.
Notable Applications
- Wordpress: For individuals seeking to host a blog using the leading and most actively maintained blogging platform, Wordpress offers a simplified setup process on a home server. This allows for easy migration to a professional web host as traffic increases. (It's important to note that some Internet Service Providers prohibit running a web server on a residential connection.)
- WebVNC: To achieve a truly headless server experience, WebVNC enables remote desktop access and viewing through any web browser, extending beyond the standard HDA dashboard.
- DLNA: This application facilitates seamless viewing of shared movies and media files on DLNA/UPnP-AV compatible devices, such as Xbox360 or Playstation 3. DLNA is crucial for those prioritizing movie streaming over basic storage.
- CrashPlan: Although personal experience is lacking, CrashPlan aims to provide a comprehensive backup solution, featuring encryption, compression, and automated backups across Windows, Mac OSX, and Linux systems.
Concluding Thoughts
This concludes the current series of articles. We extend our gratitude to those who contributed suggestions and alternatives in the comments of previous posts. Your input is valuable as we continue to explore new possibilities.
Please share your experiences with setting up your Amahi server, and let us know if you found this information helpful. Would you feel confident entrusting your files to this system?
