Home server OS recommendations

SauRoNZA said:
Here you go.

http://m.winsupersite.com/windows-1...should-be-able-upgrade-rtm-version-windows-10

I don't agree with the author that you should rather reinstall from a completely different OS (7,8,8.1) instead of upgrading From the same thing to the final release which won't leave a lot of old OS crap behind.

A clean install of Win10 would be better, but that's so typical Windows and my OSX brain won't accept that.

Granted they don't specifically say that you need or don't need a product key, but my bet is that you won't. It's not about making money with the OS any more so they don't care, I even recall hearing that you'll be able to upgrade from ANY previous OS pirated or otherwise.

The previous version is simply a vessel to allow a simple upgrade, and it's obviously stopped at 7 for compatibility reasons.

I wouldn't be surprised if on day of release you can download a torrent of Windows and install it no product key required. They want as many people on the platform as possible and it's not about having them pay for it.

Exactly like Mavericks, they want everyone on the same version and more importantly they want them buying from their Store.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link. That is interesting indeed.

I can understand Apple doing this because it runs on hardware they sell, barring the handful of hackintoshes out there. So essentially to get Windows 10 for free you should just install the developer preview and then upgrade when the release comes out.

This just doesn't sound right to me, this is Microsoft we're talking about. I guess time will tell.
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
Maybe OP should also just clear this up too. I understood this as being able to remotely manage the server and not just RDP specifically. With distros like OMV and FreeNAS you don't need remote desktop as everything is managed via web console.
Click to expand...

Sorry guys, should have been clearer. I actually just want to remotely manage everything, since I am not going to give this server a dedicated screen/keyboard/mouse.

Regarding the recommendations for running windows, that is not going to happen anytime soon. I loved Windows 7 and I even enjoy Win 8.1, but I only have one licensed copy of Windows and I long ago decided against pirating software. The Windows 10 preview might work, but it might still have instabilities and I want a proper home server solution to last me a long time.

I had a quick look at the various recommendations and decided to try OpenMediaVault. If it doesn't work or I don't like it, I'll try freeNAS/NAS4free. Thanks for all the advice!
 
AntennaMan said:
Sorry guys, should have been clearer. I actually just want to remotely manage everything, since I am not going to give this server a dedicated screen/keyboard/mouse.

Regarding the recommendations for running windows, that is not going to happen anytime soon. I loved Windows 7 and I even enjoy Win 8.1, but I only have one licensed copy of Windows and I long ago decided against pirating software. The Windows 10 preview might work, but it might still have instabilities and I want a proper home server solution to last me a long time.

I had a quick look at the various recommendations and decided to try OpenMediaVault. If it doesn't work or I don't like it, I'll try freeNAS/NAS4free. Thanks for all the advice!
Click to expand...

Cool, thought so. You should enjoy OMV then, it has a very robust web management interface.
 
Mac mini with os x server

Low energy usage. So small you can strap it to the back of your tv or put it in a draw
 
For a Microserver, what I've encountered and have subsequently opted to use quite successfully - has been XPEnology.

It has been working like a charm. Covers all the needs for media servers, has app for Plex, Sickbeard, Sabnzbd and many more.

It all works out of the box, with no issues.

It forms the core of my home operations currently.
 
Species8472 said:
I have been all over with home server options recently. Started with Win7 on my HP Microserver, then tried FreeNas.

I then replaced it with Ubuntu, went overboard and installed ZFS on the Ubuntu box.

After a while my server gave me some issues and I had no clue how to resolve it. I ended up formatting and puting Win7 on it again.

Bottom line, unless you want to learn about linux, stick to Win7.

P.S. FreeNas worked perfectly, however I wanted to run other services on my machine, Sickbeard, Couchpotato, etc and hacking it into FreeNas was just not lekker.
Click to expand...

FreeNAS has this built in as plugins these days..

I currently have mine running on Ubuntu and manually configured it all like i want but i'm considering tossing it in favour of FreeNAS + Zentyal (firewall) and retain a Ubuntu box for dev & tst stuff I do. But then I am a unix & mac person so yah. I'm just waiting for hdd prices to come down enough for me to buy some for a raid.

I prefer ubuntu as a base where possible unless its a device/application vm as ubuntu has a lot of device & sotware support
 
Just an update, I have successfully installed OMV, but it seems there might be a problem with my ethernet port, since it continuously says that the cable is unplugged. Installed Ubuntu just to make sure it isn't limited to OMV, still the same.

I have just bought a USB-ethernet adapter thing to see if that works.
 
AntennaMan said:
Just an update, I have successfully installed OMV, but it seems there might be a problem with my ethernet port, since it continuously says that the cable is unplugged. Installed Ubuntu just to make sure it isn't limited to OMV, still the same.

I have just bought a USB-ethernet adapter thing to see if that works.
Click to expand...

You check that the cable is good right? :D

Why not just get a new network card? Most likely cheaper than a USB device too. Also may have compatibility problems with USB network device.
 
AntennaMan said:
Just an update, I have successfully installed OMV, but it seems there might be a problem with my ethernet port, since it continuously says that the cable is unplugged. Installed Ubuntu just to make sure it isn't limited to OMV, still the same.

I have just bought a USB-ethernet adapter thing to see if that works.
Click to expand...

There was some or other firmware problem with Ethernet on the Microserver, but my first question would be is it enabled in the BIOS?


As for Windows 10 Technical Preview I've been running it for about a month now (and I mean that as in literal uptime) and have had no dramas.
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
You check that the cable is good right? :D

Why not just get a new network card? Most likely cheaper than a USB device too. Also may have compatibility problems with USB network device.
Click to expand...

Cable was the first thing I checked :)

The usb ethernet adapter works, I can now successfully access the internet.
 
SauRoNZA said:
There was some or other firmware problem with Ethernet on the Microserver, but my first question would be is it enabled in the BIOS?


As for Windows 10 Technical Preview I've been running it for about a month now (and I mean that as in literal uptime) and have had no dramas.
Click to expand...

I checked the BIOS and there is actually no option to do anything with the ethernet. I am now going to have a look at this firmware issue you mentioned.

PS just came from Esquire and they have the new HP Proliant microservers for R3200~ish. Not sure exactly what specs though.
 
AntennaMan said:
I checked the BIOS and there is actually no option to do anything with the ethernet. I am now going to have a look at this firmware issue you mentioned.

PS just came from Esquire and they have the new HP Proliant microservers for R3200~ish. Not sure exactly what specs though.
Click to expand...

The option to switch Ethernet on/off is a bit of an odd one as I remember.

It says something about Ethernet Boot or something like that, but it's actually Ethernet On/Off.

I know it's under the Boot menu. So if you see anything about Ethernet there make sure it's set to Enabled.
 
CamiKaze said:
How does mint stack up to this?
I need Mint to download movies and series in the background.
Click to expand...

Mint is a full Desktop OS. So you can do anything with it but you'll need to to it yourself.

OpenMediaVault is a web-server driven menu system.
 
SauRoNZA said:
The option to switch Ethernet on/off is a bit of an odd one as I remember.

It says something about Ethernet Boot or something like that, but it's actually Ethernet On/Off.

I know it's under the Boot menu. So if you see anything about Ethernet there make sure it's set to Enabled.
Click to expand...

I'll have a look tonight. Maybe I'll be able to see something. I really do hope it is something like that.
 
SauRoNZA said:
Mint is a full Desktop OS. So you can do anything with it but you'll need to to it yourself.

OpenMediaVault is a web-server driven menu system.
Click to expand...

Cool, I created a VM with Sabnzbd, Sickbeard and CouchPotato. Need to test it but waiting for my line to be activated.
 
CamiKaze said:
How does mint stack up to this?
I need Mint to download movies and series in the background.
Click to expand...

SauRoNZA said:
Mint is a full Desktop OS. So you can do anything with it but you'll need to to it yourself.

OpenMediaVault is a web-server driven menu system.
Click to expand...

^ This answer.

OpenMediaVault is a purpose built distro, it makes a certain set of functions really easy to perform.
 
SauRoNZA said:
The option to switch Ethernet on/off is a bit of an odd one as I remember.

It says something about Ethernet Boot or something like that, but it's actually Ethernet On/Off.

I know it's under the Boot menu. So if you see anything about Ethernet there make sure it's set to Enabled.
Click to expand...

PXE Boot?
 
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