Which windows based server OS for home (thinking of moving away from Ubuntu Server)

DJMK4 · 23 Oct 2009 at 08:21

Well I have recently built myself a small home server (AMD Sempron 3100+, 1GB of ram to be upgraded to 2GB very soon, SATA raid set-up).

Iv been working with Ubuntu server v9.04 recently, its my third attempt at a linux based OS but im just not getting a feel for it, I dont feel confident administering it, things take ages to do and if something goes wrong its a pain to sort out/roll back.

My work although im in the networking and VoIP industry, we all use windows based platforms and in my 5 years in the working IT industry everything has been Windows based so im looking at using this at home aswel.

I want to use the box primaraly for a file server, for media storage/media streaming to PC's/laptops in the house, as a VPN server, as a torrent download box where I can connect to a web-based client from any machine, possibly for active directory, to create scripts to automate scheduled tasks and more.

Was thinking of Windows server 2003 as I have a copy of this, what other OS would be good though, I was thinking of possibly purchasing a copy of Server 2008 if it was worth it?

Any help appriciated.

Thanks

SiD the Turtle · 27 Oct 2009 at 08:02

Have you considered Window's Home Server?

iaind · 27 Oct 2009 at 08:56

XP does everything you need for home (apart from AD but cant see the point of that in a home setup) - 2003 is overkill

egraphixstudios · 27 Oct 2009 at 09:59

server 2008 r2 if your buying new licenses. I use svr 2008 and will be upgrading to svr 08 r2 soon.

As i run domain at home on SBS 08 with exchange and IIS in a vm environment. i tried svr 03 but the fancy easier features of svr 08 made my decision to go with svr 08.

I also tried ubuntu server at first but couldnt get to grips with it and decided to stick to what i know!

iaind · 27 Oct 2009 at 10:17

I dont understand why you would spend £400+ on a server OS for home that you'll never use the features of - the OP is talking about a file server that he can chuck bittorrent on.

My £120 1Tb NAS (WD Mybook world) does all that just fine too. FreeNAS would do the job too if you're particularly adverse to XP

Qu3 · 27 Oct 2009 at 10:32

+1 for Windows Home Server if you want to stream media and backup your computers

DJMK4 · 27 Oct 2009 at 11:00

I have been concidering Windows Home Server but dont want to have "too many restrictions" on the server features,which im worries WHS will have.

Also, with WHS, can you create vbscripts and other scripts to automate tasks? im assuming yes...

iaind · 27 Oct 2009 at 11:08

DJMK4 said:
I have been concidering Windows Home Server but dont want to have "too many restrictions" on the server features,which im worries WHS will have.

Also, with WHS, can you create vbscripts and other scripts to automate tasks? im assuming yes...

You create vbscripts in notepad and can run them on any concievable version of Windows - so yes

Skidilliplop · 27 Oct 2009 at 11:13

WHS doesn't have that many restrictions, infact some of them are just MS saying "Don't turn this on because you're not supposed to use it" It'll do everything you need it to do for a home setup and more. It even does stuff like DFS which I couldn't really see you using at home.
It will let you create logon scripts etc the same as 2003 or 2008 would.

Certainly not worth shelling out for 2003 or 2008. Even the SBS versions. If there's anything it doesn't do there will be a 3rd party app out there that does do it for less than the cost of 2003/8.

DJMK4 · 27 Oct 2009 at 11:14

iaind said:
You create vbscripts in notepad and can run them on any concievable version of Windows - so yes

lol, I know it was a stupid question

Im not 100% sure im going to move away from Ubuntu yet, im still giving it a bash but I feel so much more comfortable using a Windows based OS and I want to brush up on my scripting skills, so I think it will be benificial for me to use Windows also for ease of use and less troubleshooting when things go wrong. Something that would probably take me twice as long on Ubuntu.

Skidilliplop · 27 Oct 2009 at 11:21

If you just want to brush up on scripting you can create logon scripts for local accounts in XP. You don't need to buy windows server to do that.
If it's just a file and print server you want for up to 5 machines, I'd say ubuntu is probably better for most things. It depends entirely what you want as an end product.

I use ESXi 3.5 atm with both windows, linux and BSD virtual machines on, so I get the best of all worlds

But to be honest I only really use 2003 for DFS, which could just as easily be done using rSync in a linux setup. It's more used because "I had it anyway so why waste it" than because I need it.

SiD the Turtle · 27 Oct 2009 at 11:47

DJMK4 said:
I have been concidering Windows Home Server but dont want to have "too many restrictions" on the server features,which im worries WHS will have.

Also, with WHS, can you create vbscripts and other scripts to automate tasks? im assuming yes...

Well WHS is 2003 SBS under the hood, with some of the more business features like AD and Exchange switched off. You can still remote on to it and use it as a server, install apps, set permissions etc. My advice is to install it on a spare box or a VM and evaluate it.

Saundie · 27 Oct 2009 at 12:02

Given that you already own Server 2003, and have extensive experience with it, is there any reason not to use it? I know you want to expand your knowledge, but for something like this you'll probably want something you feel comfortable with, and know to be stable. Testing new OSes can be done best in a VM, I guess.