Which OS for HTPC+NAS box?

[GTaudiophile]

I want to create new PC to act as both an HTPC AND a network storage solution. The HTPC will simply act as a media streamer for online content, including 1080P content. It may be used for DVD ripping but not so much for Blu-Ray playback. It will not be used for gaming or as a TV Tuner/DVR.

The NAS portion will most likely have a 2x2TB RAID 1 array (I want redundancy). It will he a backup PC for other machines on the home network, hosting digital photos, music, and some videos.

I doubt it will rarely do both jobs at the same time. Meaning, I doubt I will use it to stream content while moving lots of large files and back forth to the NAS.

What OS would you all select for this type of work?

Any suggestions on CPU/IGP? Hard drives? Hardware vs. software RAID?

 

[beginner99]

I want to create new PC to act as both an HTPC AND a network storage solution. The HTPC will simply act as a media streamer for online content, including 1080P content. It may be used for DVD ripping but not so much for Blu-Ray playback. It will not be used for gaming or as a TV Tuner/DVR.

The NAS portion will most likely have a 2x2TB RAID 1 array (I want redundancy). It will he a backup PC for other machines on the home network, hosting digital photos, music, and some videos.

I doubt it will rarely do both jobs at the same time. Meaning, I doubt I will use it to stream content while moving lots of large files and back forth to the NAS.

What OS would you all select for this type of work?

Any suggestions on CPU/IGP? Hard drives? Hardware vs. software RAID?

I'm thinking about this too. (well about the NAS part, don't need a htpc, wd tv live).
If you really only stream maybe a dual core atom or a new Brazos board would be fine. But I'm not sure how taxing dvd ripping is.
About RAID: Most raid is "software raid" the intel raid is something in between, 'firmware raid' because it uses CPU cycles for its work. For real hardware raid you need a add-on card and anything useful is >300$. Hence software raid. AFAIK commercial NAS boxes all use software raid and also you can only use intel on board raid with windows.

Can't really recommend an OS.
I've heard of FreeNAS but probably not good for HTPC?
Other claimed an Ubuntu server version works better and is more flexible. (for NAS)
And of course Win 7.
Depends on your budget.

Because I just need a NAS i will probably go for an out-of the-box solution. Cheaper and less hassle, hopefully.

 

[doan]

I'm doing the same thing, my Windows 7 htpc is also serves as my NAS, Web server, and mail server. Any OS can do NAS, Webserver and mail server. But for the htpc tools, windows gives you the most options.

 

[Modelworks]

The problem you may run into with any OS except windows with a HTPC is DRM content. It just doesn't work for a lot of other OS , so sites like netflix are out.

For me it was much easier to use set top boxes and bluray player for the stored content and built a nas out of an old pc to store all the media. If you build the nas out of an old pc you can add features like downloading to let it handle task for you.

 

[GTaudiophile]

The problem you may run into with any OS except windows with a HTPC is DRM content. It just doesn't work for a lot of other OS , so sites like netflix are out.

For me it was much easier to use set top boxes and bluray player for the stored content and built a nas out of an old pc to store all the media. If you build the nas out of an old pc you can add features like downloading to let it handle task for you.

I currently have an old machine running FreeNAS. Works great. It has two 500GB HDDs in RAID 1 using a 3ware RAID controller.

The problems is that the NAS needs upgrading to at least two 1.5-2TB drives and I also want an HTPC, so why not kill two birds with one stone?

Good point on the DRM!

So which version of Windows? Pro/Ultimate? Home Server 2008 R2?

 

[doan]

If you're going to use it for HTPC, you'll want to avoid the sever OS's (you will have to manaully configure video, sound, etc). Any Windows 7 will work. Ultimate will allow you to remote in with remote desktop and still get Aero features.

 

[GTaudiophile]

If you're going to use it for HTPC, you'll want to avoid the sever OS's (you will have to manaully configure video, sound, etc). Any Windows 7 will work. Ultimate will allow you to remote in with remote desktop and still get Aero features.

That is not so much important to me. What I would like to do is be able to use WinSCP to securely FTP into the machine. Can Win7 support some form of OpenSSH?