I am thinking about buying a Playstation 2 and turning it into a server; however, the PS2 has no PCI slots, just two USB ports, one Firewire port, and one ethernet port. I was wondering how useful a network could be in terms of networking devices that aren't hooked to a computer. I've heard the term "network drive," but don't really know exactly what that means. Can I route a raid array into the network and serve web pages off of those drives, or do I have to have them hooked to a computer which is on the network? If I do, is there a small device I can buy instead of a computer which will put a device on a network? If I don't, can I hook up any device to the network without a computer?

I sure ask a lot of questions.

I don't understand how you would have a PS2 as a server ? If your behind a cable modem or dsl, why not just buy a router to connect different devices onto your network ?

More details, as I'm confused on the playstation part of your question.

A few years ago, Sony released a Linux kit for the PS2. It is aimed at people who want to develop PS2 games, but it is fully functional as a Linux computer and can run Apache, Samba, or whatever. You can can read all about it at my website . I'd say the PS2 has great potential for low-cost computing.

Anyway, how can I connect devices to it through the network?

For the total cost of buying the PS2, listed on your site, I'd much rather browse the classified of the local newspaper & pick up a used system for about the same $$$. With some good buying skills, you could probably even build a lot better system from scratch.

As for the networking part, You'd probably have to read up on that on a PS2 website somewhere.

IF it does networking rather normally under linux, it should then be just like any other "server" configuration.

Uh, yes. A PS2 is like any other server, but forget I ever mentioned a Playstation for the moment. I just care about the network part. Pretend I'm trying to hook a external CD burner to two computers. Can I just get a adapter or two and plug it into the network, or do I have to have it hooked to another computer? If I do have to have it hooked to another computer, is there some sort of computerized adapter that I can use instead?

But, returning to the Playstation: I did consider getting a cheap computer, but I found that the $400 PS2 could probably beat up any other $400 computer. The PS2 has four processors. It has one 128-bit CPU, which runs at 300 mhz, two floating-point processors, which run at 6.2 gigaflops (combined), and a graphics processor, which puts out 75-million triangles per second. I doubt any other $400 computer could top that. (Also, for you other people who would like to know more, I go into more detail about this on my PS2 web page.)

Thanks for your advice though, and thanks for visiting my page(hits are always appreciated). Even though I've got my mind pretty well made up, I don't want to go wrong buying a PS2. If you still think I'm wrong, I don't mind advice.