user2773: Can I store my wallet on one machine while running the client on another?
I'd like to help the p2p aspect of the network by leaving a dedicated machine connected...

user2306: Here's how I understand your question: You have a spare computer that you'd like to run bitcoin on to help the network. You have a second computer that is your main personal computer; it's also where you'd like to keep your bitcoins. Two copies of the blockchain would waste bandwidth and disk space.
There is a way to keep the blockchain on one computer but to keep your coins on another - you can run the electrum client, and the normal bitcoin client on the other computer. Optionally, you can run the electrum server on your always-up computer, although this requires some command-line knowledge.
https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum-server/blob/master/HOWTO.md

2773: <p>Can I store my wallet on one machine while running the client on another?
I'd like to help the p2p aspect of the network by leaving a dedicated machine connected...</p>
 2306: <p>Here's how I understand your question: You have a spare computer that you'd like to run bitcoin on to help the network. You have a second computer that is your main personal computer; it's also where you'd like to keep your bitcoins. Two copies of the blockchain would waste bandwidth and disk space.</p>

<p>There <em>is</em> a way to keep the blockchain on one computer but to keep your coins on another - you can run the electrum client, and the normal bitcoin client on the other computer. Optionally, you can run the electrum server on your always-up computer, although this requires some command-line knowledge.</p>

<p><a href="https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum-server/blob/master/HOWTO.md" rel="nofollow">https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum-server/blob/master/HOWTO.md</a></p>
