Software for media server??

[drumdogg]

Im going to build some sort of media server and not sure what direction to go down. Basically i have a few hard drives with movies etc which is in my main PC which i will be taking out and putting into the media server. I am wanting a way so i can have them on a Network so i can access them through other PC's and laptops around the house.

So im not quite sure how to do this.

Should i use an OS like windows server or i have heard about FreeNAS 8. What is it like??

Any ideas folks??

Thanks

 

[jbloggs]

You might want to have a look a This

I use WHS1 running Serviio...

 

[RumbleBee]

I have a windows file server. Currently running Server 2008, but Windows 7 will do the job just as well. I got Server 2008 free, but if cost was a factor I'd just pickup another copy of Windows 7. Not used Windows Home Server or FreeNas.

On the server I have music and media that I share around the house.

Regular Window file sharing to PC's and laptops
PS3 Media Server to PS3, Xbox and Yamaha Amp
Airvideo server for all the Iphones, Ipads and Ipod's in the house.

Hardware is an old AMD Sempron with 4gb Ram and a stack of TB hard drives. Runs silent is tucked away under my desk. This allows my main gaming PC to run an SSD and that's all.

One thing to consider is that you can normally register Windows 7 on 2 computers I believe. Well I have on the kids PC's without any problems so this may save you a purchase.