What Operating System to use for a home server?

Question

I've acquired an HP ProLiant ML110 G5 server (2.33GHz with 4Gb RAM) which I'm intending to add a couple of HDDs to and am trying to determine which OS to use. The hardware will sit under the stairs, wired into my router. Here's my requirements:
- Able to backup data from XP and Win7 machines. Store high quality films and music.
- Able to hold an iTunes library and Home Share music to iPhones and windows PCs.
- Pass ripped films to a small client machine attached to the TV. The client is something I'll buy in the future, but is likely to be an Apple TV or similar hardware.

Which OS is the best solution?

Richard M · Accepted Answer

I would suggest going with Windows Home Server.  It does everything you are asking about with a few extras.  I use it at my home for backup, file sharing, media management, etc.  It's a breeze to build, configure, and use.

Backups are automated, can use "Wake on LAN", deduplicate, compact, etc.

Data stores can be set up for music, photos, movies, etc. and shared

File stores for individuals can be configured and easily managed

Works as a Windows Media Server so any MS Media extender will work just fine.  I use my XBox 360.

It's not expensive, doesn't require much in the way of physical resources, so your ML110 would be able to handle it just fine.

Yes, you could use Linux but then you would have to find all the bits to do the stuff you want to accomplish.  Go with the Windows Home Server and everything you have mentioned is included in one package.

jplatt39 · Answer

I would say go with Linux for stability.  In fact I would go with CEntOS, which is a free version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux:

http://www.centos.org

because it is the most stable OS out there.

Anonymous · Answer

Use linux, but there are lots of distros to choose from: Ubuntu, Linux mint, Fedora and Open suse.

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What Operating System to use for a home server?

3 Answers