Linux Fileserver - what hardware?

[d0z3y]

Hi
I am building a new linux server which will do the following:
Samba fileserver
Twonkyvision media server
bittorrent client
maybe host some games, and a mailserver etc.

Hardware requirements
- I was planning on getting SATA drives but would also like to be able to connect up 2 IDE drivers purely to transfer data off.
- I would like onboard video in order to minimize cost.
- Passive chipset cooling to reduce noise.
- No overclocking.

I am not sure what distro to go for yet, maybe Gentoo.

The server will be on 24/7 and I would like it to be relatively quiet but am struggling to decide what hardware to get in order to maximise Linux compatibility.

I was thinking of going for the following hardware:

Gigabyte GA-M68SM-S2 nVIDIA MCP68S Micro-ATX Motherboard
Akasa AK-862 CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940/AM2)
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 3600+ 2.00GHz (Socket AM2) - OEM
4 x Samsung SpinPoint T 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache
OCZ 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400C4 Dual Channel Platinum Revision 2 XTC Series DDR2

I already have psu, case, fans, optical etc.

Does anyone have any comments or suggestions?

 

[BillytheImpaler]

I recommend Ubuntu Server 64-bit. It's what I use and I love it. If you're more familiar with Gentoo than Debian (whose package management Ubuntu uses), go for Gentoo.

That all looks fine and dandy.

 

[celliott]

As a fileserver I assume you will also throw in a decent Raid Controller for those 4 drives? The last thing you need with large amounts of data is a disk failure.

I would personally reccomend CentOS 5, I run it on several servers in production and it's extremely stable since it's based off Redhat Enterprise.

 

[d0z3y]

Thanks.

Billy: I haven't used Gentoo before just Solaris, Redhat, Mandriva, and Fedora. Was thinking about Ubuntu - may play with that too before I make a firm decision.

Celliot: I was not going to bother with Raid as I already have a terabyte nas that I use for backing up any critical data.

 

[mattyrigby00]

the performance difference between that cooler and the stock one is probably tiny

 

[BillytheImpaler]

the performance difference between that cooler and the stock one is probably tiny

It's an OEM CPU, it won't have a stock cooler.

 

[d0z3y]

Aaagh.
That motherboard is out of stock with no eta. Can anybody recommend a suitable motherboard?

 

[Outcast]

THIS Mobo

I've done four builds dual booting XP & Ubuntu... Not a single issue.

 

[d0z3y]

Thanks Outcast: Do you think there will be any issue with having it running 24/7?

 

[Outcast]

Use a decent enough heatsink and I can't foresee any problems...

I used THIS heatsink

Quick Link to heatsink