what OS for a home server?

deus3x · 27 Feb 2011 at 12:36

Hi there,

What is the best OS for a home server, streaming movies and file storage?

Is windows 7 premium ok or best to go with a different OS.

3dcandy · 27 Feb 2011 at 13:07

I'd be tempted to use Ubuntu or a Linux derivative personally...unless you need to use it for more than just a server...

accod · 27 Feb 2011 at 13:25

deus3x · 27 Feb 2011 at 13:52

I will use the server to store files but also use it to play HD movies.

Is windows sever up to that task or am i best to buy a standalone media streamer?

thanks for the recommendations, Ubuntu gets mentioned a lot.

m4rkw7 · 27 Feb 2011 at 19:21

Windows desktop OS are designed to be run as servers. If you want to use Windows, go with Windows server or even better Linux.

Emphacy · 27 Feb 2011 at 19:30

I basically just use XP for my home server, or for my web server Windows Server 2008.
You can use an open source OS however, such as Linux, making sure you don't get the server edition as that's purely command line based.

I personally would just go for windows XP or something which uses low memory but has all the easy configuration settings available.

PhillyDee · 27 Feb 2011 at 21:01

Have a look at Windows Home Server. Theres a huge thread about it

a1ex2001 · 28 Feb 2011 at 16:22

It all depends on what you want to do and why you want to do it. Personally I'd say if you just want a simple server to share files around the house and backup data to then go with either a Windows desktop OS like XP or Windows Home Server. I wouldn't recomend Linux if you want something simple and straight forward as if you have no experience expect a good few hours of head scratching and pain, however you may like that and enjoy learning something new if so it is a great low cost low power highly flexible option. I'd avoid proper windows server OS's unless you have a specific need for AD or something as other than that they really offer no benefit over the desktop OS in a small home environment.