🛠 Configure a High-Speed File and Network Server

Objectifs

This tutorial guides you through configuring your LattePanda Sigma 2 as a centralized file server. You will learn to leverage the power of the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H processor and 10GbE network connectivity to share files quickly between multiple devices. We will use the pre-installed NVMe storage to ensure minimal access times, ideal for media storage or critical data backups. This use case is perfect for beginners starting with Linux servers.

Matériel nécessaire

• LattePanda Sigma 2 Board (Ubuntu 26.04 pre-installed)
• Cat6a or higher Ethernet cable (for 10GbE throughput)
• 10GbE compatible switch or router (or 1GbE for basic testing)
• USB drive or SSH access for configuration
• USB-C PD 20V power supply or DC jack

Étapes

1. Physical Connection: Plug the Ethernet cable into the 10GbE port on the board and your switch. Connect the power. Ubuntu will boot automatically.
2. System Access: Open a terminal on the board or connect via SSH from another PC. Identify your network interface with the command: ip a. Note the assigned IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.50).
3. Storage Preparation: Create a dedicated directory for shares. Run: sudo mkdir -p /srv/nas_data. Grant yourself write permissions: sudo chown $USER:$USER /srv/nas_data.
4. Install Samba: Samba enables file sharing compatible with Windows/macOS. Install it via: sudo apt update && sudo apt install samba -y.
5. Configure Share: Edit the configuration file: sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf. Add at the end of the file: [Share] path = /srv/nas_data browseable = yes writable = yes guest ok = no valid users = $USER. Save with Ctrl+O and exit with Ctrl+X.
6. Create User: Set a Samba password for your Linux user: sudo smbpasswd -a $USER.
7. Restart Service: Apply changes: sudo systemctl restart smbd nmbd. Ensure the service starts on boot: sudo systemctl enable smbd.

Vérification

From a Windows computer, open File Explorer and type \\BOARD_IP\Share in the address bar. On macOS, use smb://BOARD_IP/Share via Finder. Enter your credentials. Copy a test file to verify writing. To test speed, use a tool like iperf3 if you have two 10GbE machines, otherwise observe transfer times on the local network.

Pour aller plus loin

Explore adding additional drives via M.2 slots to expand capacity. You can also configure a Docker server to host services like Plex or Nextcloud, leveraging the 64GB LPDDR5X RAM for smooth multitasking.