Thread: Which OS is best for Home server?

I don't know if here was the right place to ask due to there being a few OS sections so I'll also post in Windows.

I am thinking of going with this build for my first home file/media server:

MB: GA-MA74GM-S2H
CPU: 4850e
Case: Thermaltake Wing RS100 (with 430W PSU)
RAM: 2 x 1GB Kingston 800mhz
HDD: 3 x 500GB WD Green (RAID5)
OS: ?

What I basically want from the server is:
- Store files
- Stream media to PS3/HTPC
- Remote access

What OS do you think I should go with? Should I go with Windows (server 2k3/2k8, home server) or something like Linux (Ubuntu Server 8.04)? I have built PCs before so building it won’t be hard, it's just choosing the OS.

Note: I have never dealt with Linux before.

Any help/suggestions would be great!

It’s difficult to know how well you would adapt to linux, but if linux was your kind of thing, it would be the best solution.

Even though it is possible to make a linux distribution look vaguely like some version of windows or another, it really isn't a bargain basement version of windows underneath; its different, and if you really want 'windows but at lower cost' you'll probably be unhappy. OTOH, if you are happy about learning a different OS, and you are happy that this learning will make your next Linux project easier, you'll probably be fine.

Try a live CD first; you'll get a good idea of what's on offer. Actually, try a few and see which distro/GUI you prefer.

And you'd probably be best advised to try at least one distro specifically intended for media purposes; they may only be versions of, say, Ubuntu with a bit of a layer over the top and a bit of pre-configuration, but they would make the learning curve a bit shallower.

(And, while this isn't related to the question you want answered, I wouldn't go with RAID if I had the option of going with one big disk; there are just too many little 'gotchas' with the low cost RAID solutions for me to believe that it is anything other than a way of making your data less safe, and hiding that fact.)

There's no such thing as a perfect OS, but Linux is almost perfect for what you want to do

I'd recommend Ubuntu and Fedora


Both have live CDs so you can try them before you install

You can dual boot both if you want
Store files - no problem with samba and SSH/SFTP

Stream media to PS3/HTPC - shouldn't be a problem with VLC and other tools

Remote access - VNC and SSH take care of that


Linux is legally free ( $0 ), open source, fast, stable, configurable, customizable, reasonably easy to use and DRM free

windows is loaded with DRM, the server versions cost a damn fortune and Microsoft can turn off your operating system anytime they feel like it ( what is it the black screen of death / lockout )?

Windows tries to prevent you from doing things, Linux tries to enable you to do stuff

You can get tons of free help here and at other forums to get your Linux system setup

I agree with Verge on FakeRAID -- it sucks and I wouldn't trust it either

Hardware RAID is the way to go if you can afford it, otherwise just use single disks

Good luck