Setting up home network - Looking for Advice

[OSULugan]

I have had a very simplistic network setup in the house for a while. 3 separate PCs running a flavor of Vista or XP, 2 NAS devices and an Xbox 360.

I want to take 1 of the PCs and use it as a server to get shared user accounts with matching permissions to the other 2 PCs (and any additional PCs we add in the future). I'd also like to be able to stream content to the main TV (if possible using the Xbox). I currently use 1 NAS device for storing family pictures/movies, and the 2nd as a backup by using Synctoy to synchronize them every time I load a set of new pictures, etc.

Will Windows Home Server 2011 suit my needs? I'd assumed I'd get a version of Windows Server via a Technet subscription and maybe upgrade to Windows 7 at the same time, but the new licensing on Technet keys has kind of frightened me away from that. Wouldn't I need to setup a domain server to manage the shared accounts, or is there a simpler way to do that?

I'm also considering pushing a Linux install (likely Ubuntu 12.x) to the server. Can that handle my shared user accounts needs easily? What about streaming media to the Xbox? This also may be preferable as I am considering pushing towards linux on at least 1 desktop in the future, which would be used mainly for office-type apps and web/e-mail usage.

Any advice, good links to guides/etc.?

Thanks!

 

[JackMDS]

Windows Home server does not support Domain at all.

In case you actually meant to ask about Windows Server 2012 Essentials.


http://social.technet.microsoft.com...s/thread/aa40963c-7235-40f7-85f5-8f8d030a7c13

 

[OSULugan]

Which is a cost of $500 or so to buy, which prices it right out of the running.

At least Windows Home Server was in the $50-$100 range, but I see that microsoft discontinued that line (not that it appears that it would've sufficed for what my needs were) and are combining it with their more expensive product.

So, Linux it is.