Which software and OS for home server

[ZeroGravity780]

Hello everyone,

I am almost complete with my home server build and I am looking to use Linux since it is free(at least I’m pretty sure it is). I have never used Linux and I thought it would be a great learning experience. I also have never made a home server.

I would like my server to act as a file management server but if possible also be able to host Apache(or Linux equivalent) MySQL, and a mail sever. Right now I use MAMP and Mercury mail server for local development testing but I would like to use this server for that instead to make it more realistic.

I am not sure which version on Linux to use. I mostly see Ubuntu for its ease of learning or Redhat. Also I’ll need good software for the stuff I mentioned above.

If anyone could assist me I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks for reading this and have a great day!

 

[jeremyj_83]

First thing I would do is virtualize the server. That way you can have a separate file sever, mail server, etc... and that keeps the foot print of each system smaller, reduces chances of losing everything at once, and is easier to manage. You can get VMware ESXi for free if you want to do all of the management via the simple host based GUI. For each of the other servers I would use either Ubunutu or SUSE.

 

[kanewolf]

First thing I would do is virtualize the server. That way you can have a separate file sever, mail server, etc... and that keeps the foot print of each system smaller, reduces chances of losing everything at once, and is easier to manage. You can get VMware ESXi for free if you want to do all of the management via the simple host based GUI. For each of the other servers I would use either Ubunutu or SUSE.

It is premature to say "virtualize" when you don't know what hardware this "server" is created from. If he has 4GB RAM, then virtualizing probably isn't the best approach. RedHat/Fedora is a good choice.
For something that is primarily a file server, I might recommend FreeNAS which is based on FreeBSD.

 

[failboat]

proxmox is great. they have containers for many linux distros, including all the turnkey ones. spice is VDI like over LAN. I'd recommend atleast 8G ram. you could probably make 4 work. the containers really help.

 

[ZeroGravity780]

Hardware Specs:

CPU: I5 2318
Motherboard: AsRock H61M-DGS
RAM: 6Gb 1333Mhz
Storage: 120gb ssd for OS, 2x1TB Red WD
PSU: evga 450 Bronze

Specs are old but I took them from a pc that was no longer being used at work and I have read online that older components can still work fine for a home file server.

 

[ZeroGravity780]

First thing I would do is virtualize the server. That way you can have a separate file sever, mail server, etc... and that keeps the foot print of each system smaller, reduces chances of losing everything at once, and is easier to manage. You can get VMware ESXi for free if you want to do all of the management via the simple host based GUI. For each of the other servers I would use either Ubunutu or SUSE.

It is premature to say "virtualize" when you don't know what hardware this "server" is created from. If he has 4GB RAM, then virtualizing probably isn't the best approach. RedHat/Fedora is a good choice.
For something that is primarily a file server, I might recommend FreeNAS which is based on FreeBSD.

I just looked up FreeNAS and it seems to be a good choice for what I want but I am not sure if I can achieve the other tasks since you say its primarily a file server. If I choose RedHat, can I use it for the multiple tasks I want to accomplish?

 

[kanewolf]

FreeNAS requires 8GB RAM. Your hardware doesn't meet the minimum requirements (at least now).

 

[ZeroGravity780]

FreeNAS requires 8GB RAM. Your hardware doesn't meet the minimum requirements (at least now).

I think I am going to try Ubuntu unless RedHat is free. I looked on their website and all I could find paid packages.

 

[kanewolf]

FreeNAS requires 8GB RAM. Your hardware doesn't meet the minimum requirements (at least now).

I think I am going to try Ubuntu unless RedHat is free. I looked on their website and all I could find paid packages.

The free version of RedHat is called Fedora.

 

[failboat]

same with centos. paying for redhat is more for support.

 

[ZeroGravity780]

I have an option to download windows server 2016 for free because I am a student. Should i use that instead?

 

[failboat]

If you go with esxi or proxmox you can use all of them.