Which OS is best for Home server?

[falconed]

Hey all!

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: 1 x 160GB WD (for OS), 2 x 640GB WD (in RAID1 ? may possibly change to WD greens)
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 Home Server or something like Ubuntu Server (8.04)? I have built PCs before so building it wont be hard, it's just choosing the OS.

Note: I have never dealt with Linux before.

Any help would be great.

 

[ViRGE]

Personally I'm a big fan of Windows Home Server. It's easy to set up & administrate, and the drive extender feature beats the pants off of having to expand RAID sets. If you also needed a backup solution it would be a shoe-in for your needs, but if you aren't using the backup feature the utility of the OS is diminished.

 

[Philippart]

I'm a big fan of Windows Home Server too, I can only recommend it. You just need to check how you can stream to your PS3. I stream to my Xbox360 and it works perfectly!

I'm sure linux can do the same, but compared to WHS, it's much much harder to set up (even fustrating at times)! Especially if you don't have a lot of linux experience, like me.

 

[lxskllr]

I don't have a server setup yet, but I'll probably give Linux a try first. It's free to try, so nothing's lost if it doesn't work out. That said, I really like what I've read about WHS. I think that's a perfect fit for a home Windows network. I guess my advice is to try Linux, then if it doesn't work, go with WHS.

 

[sourceninja]

I would recommend ebox (http://ebox-platform.com) or freeNAS (http://www.freenas.org/)

I have found them both to be solid platforms. They are both very easy to setup and install (and use web interfaces for management).

Another platform getting great reviews is http://www.openfiler.com/ I have not used it, but it looks good.

 

[loup garou]

Another vote for WHS here.

 

[mc866]

WHS +1, very easy to use and setup.

 

[Fallen Kell]

While a lot of people are saying WHS, I have to say linux or solaris. Why? One word, security. It may take you a little longer to figure it out if you don't know about linux or unix, but it isn't that hard. All you have to do after installing the OS is setup samba which is simple as can be and your files can then be shared out on from that location. You also have 1000x better support for remote management of the server, either through telnet, ssh, rsh/rlogin, ftp, sftp, and X sessions, so no need for a keyboard/mouse on that server unless if physically can not boot up and get to the network.

 

[ShawnD1]

Originally posted by: Fallen KellYou
linux or solaris. ....have 1000x better support for remote management of the server, either through telnet, ssh, rsh/rlogin, ftp, sftp, and X sessions, so no need for a keyboard/mouse on that server unless if physically can not boot up and get to the network.

Serious question: why is this better than Remote Desktop?

 

[Nothinman]

Serious question: why is this better than Remote Desktop?

Bandwith usage is a huge point, others are file transfers, scriptability, the ability to redirect any TCP port, X forwarding so you can run GUI apps if you need and probably other things that I'm forgetting right now.