Best software for media PC and nas in one?

los · 18 Apr 2014 at 16:08

As the title. I'm after software for my htpc so I can play films (xbmc)on it and also use it as a nas to share with the other computers.
So does anyone know the best software to use? Or am I better off just putting windows on it?

Steveocee · 18 Apr 2014 at 16:45

Pretty much any distro that can run Xbox and samba will be fine :-)

I tend to bang the Ubuntu drum a lot so there's 1 idea

los · 18 Apr 2014 at 17:26

Nice one cheers, will have a look into them.
I've only briefly used Ubuntu before, but its good to get the names of the programs, so if I decide to give it another go, I know what to use. As at present I dont have a clue

Steveocee · 18 Apr 2014 at 18:51

Steveocee said:
Pretty much any distro that can run Xbox and samba will be fine

I tend to bang the Ubuntu drum a lot so there's 1 idea

Damn autocorrect! I meant XBMC and Samba.

los · 19 Apr 2014 at 09:08

Yeah I guessed what you meant

Any particular version you recommend?

korgtronix · 19 Apr 2014 at 09:57

los said:
As the title. I'm after software for my htpc so I can play films (xbmc)on it and also use it as a nas to share with the other computers.
So does anyone know the best software to use? Or am I better off just putting windows on it?

Do you want to share the media so you can stream tv on other machines or do you want to be able to use it as a file server? If it is just to stream then I would suggest Plex as you can run the media centre alongside the server on the main machine and then connect to it from other devices either as a dlna player or through its web interface.

If not then like the others have said any linux distro running samba to share drives or nfs in an all linux house and then just run xbmc on the machine.

los · 19 Apr 2014 at 10:21

It's to share the drives as I have music photos and videos. It's an all windows hose as well lol.
That's great thanks I will look at those ones. The latest versions I presume?

Steveocee · 19 Apr 2014 at 19:39

los said:
Yeah I guessed what you meant
Any particular version you recommend?

Ive just moved up to Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and so far its been fine other than me not being able to use chromium as a browser (but i'm sure support will come shortly)

Steveocee · 19 Apr 2014 at 19:40

Steveocee said:
Ive just moved up to Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and so far its been fine other than me not being able to use chromium as a browser (but i'm sure support will come shortly)

Actually scratch that, I've just downloaded it.

14.04 FTW!

los · 19 Apr 2014 at 20:30

I'm now downloading it, so will try it out next week.
Dont suppose you know if you can install it on a memory stick or on a hard drive without wiping it do you?

Steveocee · 19 Apr 2014 at 20:36

You can run ubuntu in comjunction with another os and you can run it as a "live" installation from the usb stick.
You can install it to a USB stick if you really wanted to then make some adjustments to minimise read/writes but it's not advised.

Dual booting is nice and easy, theres even something called WUBI that ubuntu do so you can install it from your windows desktop,

sibeer · 23 Apr 2014 at 18:43

Are you looking to run any RAID on it? I ended up rethinking my HDDs and using FlexRAID on my server, but it is easier to do that sort of thing at the planning stage

los · 23 Apr 2014 at 20:26

No, Im not going raid, Ive just put a 1tb HDD in it and will possibly use an external one with it if need be.
Ubuntu is now installed but thats all I've had chance to do