What is the best version of Linux to use?

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htpc

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Finally I'm making the move but where to?

Wat is the best & probably the easiest version of Linux to install for my needs?

I've got a dual core 3Ghz desktop, 8Gb RAM, 2 x NIC & 15Tb Disk space that I want to use as a fileserver, but that said also install DHCP, DNS Cache Server, Squid, MySQL, WebMin, MRTG, Sickbeard, Couchpotato & SabNZBD on it.

This will primarily be used to share multi media files to my 3 x Raspberry PI's running OpenELEC and keeping the XBMC library in MySQL. As for the rest transparent proxy & IP assigning.

I currently running a VM with Debian Squeeze that works quite well with the above installed, but now I want to move away from the VM as the machine is taking strain running both OS's.

I dont need a GUI interface for this machine as it will be hidden in a closet with no screen attached when finished.

Any suggestions on the specific OS or on the software that I want to install on it?
 
Just stay with Debian. This is not a production server you dont need CentOS for this. Debian is fine.

If you know how to setup all these packages from CLI, not sure why you are asking us what the best distro is. Im pretty sure you know what you are doing.
 
Since you already run Debian Squeeze in a VM, I will suggest Debian Wheezy. Good stable distribution, and Wheezy is great and the current stable version. I personally use it myself on my HTPC, my monitoring VM and my download VM with no complaints at all.
 
Yep, stick what you're familiar with. Do the Debian install and install Webmin on there, then you have easy access to things like DNS, DHCP, etc, etc through a web interface and you don't have to fiddle around in the command line.
 
What is the best version? The one you enjoy working on and does not frustrate you.

I would also suggest to stay with what you know, but that should not stop you from experimenting.

n00b friendly distros:
Debian based: Linux Mint, Ubuntu, Kubuntu
RPM based: SuSE, Fedora, PCLinuxOS
 
I would also suggest you look at some of the BSD based solutions to obtain integral access to ZFS - something like Nas4Free.

Just my 3c worth.

I have been using this as my main file server, automatic RSYNC backup, Torrent server, media server, all running in a HP Microserver.
 
when i made my move to Linux last year a friend recommend Maya or Linux Mint as it is better known, it's very easy to get into.
 
Dr Evil said:
when i made my move to Linux last year a friend recommend Maya or Linux Mint as it is better known, it's very easy to get into.
Click to expand...

I have just liberated my little notebook from Windows 8 and installed Mint 15 Cinnamon. It is fast, stable and runs really smooth on an i3 with 2GB RAM. My son's i5 with 6GB RAM does not perform as well and he has Win7. Mint is the most mature, user-friendly distro. I have used AriOS, Debian, Sabayon, openSuSe, Fedora, Mandriva, Ubuntu and Mint, in various releases over the past six years, Mint really is the easiest to use.
 
reneg8or said:
I have just liberated my little notebook from Windows 8 and installed Mint 15 Cinnamon. It is fast, stable and runs really smooth on an i3 with 2GB RAM. My son's i5 with 6GB RAM does not perform as well and he has Win7. Mint is the most mature, user-friendly distro. I have used AriOS, Debian, Sabayon, openSuSe, Fedora, Mandriva, Ubuntu and Mint, in various releases over the past six years, Mint really is the easiest to use.
Click to expand...

I'm using Mint 14 on my home and work machines. I regret installing it though. Not a big fan of Cinnamon.

I would love to try out Elementary Luna, but I'm not sure how good multi monitor support is.
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
I'm using Mint 14 on my home and work machines. I regret installing it though. Not a big fan of Cinnamon.

I would love to try out Elementary Luna, but I'm not sure how good multi monitor support is.
Click to expand...

Try gnome 3, has awesome support for multiple monitors.
 
reneg8or said:
Cinnamon not my favourite, either :) Yet it beats Windows 8 hands-down as far as the UI goes. Gnome3 also is on my list of possible upgrades.
Click to expand...

I'm a big Fedora fan but had to move over as Fedora 17 was causing my PC to lock up every few days. I'll maybe give the new version a try.
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
I'm a big Fedora fan but had to move over as Fedora 17 was causing my PC to lock up every few days. I'll maybe give the new version a try.
Click to expand...

F19 with Gnome 3 is very smooth, lots of little tweaks over F17 but nothing radical.

re F17 hanging, I had slow memory leaks on my main work system which could take days before Firefox crashed. When I installed F19 I ran a memtest first and discovered a failing 4GB memory module, needless to say I haven't had any crashes/hangs since :)

... that's the problem with old farts, we tend to assume we know what's wrong & live with it instead of going back to basics :D
 
MickZA said:
F19 with Gnome 3 is very smooth, lots of little tweaks over F17 but nothing radical.

re F17 hanging, I had slow memory leaks on my main work system which could take days before Firefox crashed. When I installed F19 I ran a memtest first and discovered a failing 4GB memory module, needless to say I haven't had any crashes/hangs since :)

... that's the problem with old farts, we tend to assume we know what's wrong & live with it instead of going back to basics :D
Click to expand...

Just installed Gnome shell on Mint 14, working so much smoother now. My issue with the lock-ups isn't likely to be memory though as the Mint box is running solid and have no issues except the fact that Cinnamon is a bit clunky.
 
Server World http://www.server-world.info/en/ has got some good guides on how to do terminal based installs on most of the stuff you want. This is for several OSs including squeeze and wheezy.
 
Ubuntu 12.04 works brilliantly for a noob like myself. The compiz cube is also nice to have (and easy to install) and the package manager makes it easy to install new software e.g. VM, WINE, etc. I am not sure about the server edition, but if it is as user-friendly as the desktop version then I would say give it a go. It also has a reasonably big community so chances are your problems (if you run into any) have already been solved by someone else.
 
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