Web and Media server in one machine?

[mogli]

There is probably a very simple answer, but I am not familiar with servers at all.

I am planning on putting together a machine to store all my media (audio, video, pictures, mythtv recordings, ripped dvds), here are the planned parts:

Motherboard: Intel BOXDG965WHMKR LGA 775 Intel G965 Express ATX Intel

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 1.8GHz 800MHz FSB 2MB Cache LGA775

Memory: 2GB (2 x 1GB), 240-Pin, DDR2 SDRAM, DDR2 667, (PC2 5300), Dual Channel

Hard Drive (x4): Western Digital Caviar RE2 WD5000YS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s

Computer Case: Antec Performance One P180 Silver cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower

Power Supply: SeaSonic S12-330 ATX12V 330W

TV card: Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-150

I am planning on keeping this in my living room, so needed it to be quiet.

Couple of questions:

--I also wanted this to be a webserver for my site, good idea? will it be possible to put it all in one system, I read that webservers run well on FreeBSD but I need a linux install to run Mythtv with full functionality can I run both on the same system, should I run FreeBSD on another computer and just access the media server for files? or should I just use a linux install for the webserver purpose?

--Any suggestion for best linux flavor?

--Any comments on the setup?

--What do you suggest are the best media managers for organizing and categorizing the audio video and pictures? (itunes? iphoto? and Mythtv?),

any suggestions would be helpful, thank you very much, in advance

 

[kingtas]

I'm no Guru but I have some experience so here's my two cents.

If you are not experienced at setting up web servers and securing them, I would keep the web server seperate. At a minimum put the web portion on a seperate HD. But I wouldn't put anything I value on a web server. The nice thing about running a seperate server is that you can port forward http request from your router/firewall to only your web server, isolating it from the rest of your network.

I've only used Red Hat Linux which is now Fedora. Not to hard to learn with the right books and websites to ask for help.

FreeBSD is great as a web server but probably a little harder to set up. It is rock solid and uses little resources. You can order their book and cd's at a reasonable price from their site.

Both Linux and FreeBSD will require a lot of file editing from the command line.

You could also run Windows, as well. If you don't need a lot of simultaneous connections, even 2K, XP Pro or Media Center has IIS included. You're limited to 10 connections but it can be hacked to 40. Much easier to administer but not quite as secure as Linux or FreeBSD if you don't lock it down.

Some links for you. Good luck.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/

http://www.freebsd.org/