Home Server

[TripperJoe]

I'm building a home web/print/NAS/etc server and I have access to the MSDN academic alliance.

I had a few people suggest Windows 2008 server, but I am unsure if that is overkill for my semi-budget machine. It will be running 1.8ghz single core AMD with 1gb pc3200 DDR.

Am I better off using linux? This would be my first time running either O/S but also my first time in any linux environment.

 

[Blazer]

dont know if it fits your application but look at WHS [windows home server], it had data corruption problems with more than 1 drive but it could have been fixed in pp 1.

 

[TripperJoe]

WHS isn't available on MSDNAA--just 2003/2008.

And I will be running 3 drives (OS+Raid1)

 

[RebateMonger]

Well, the EASY way to do what you mentioned:

File Sharing
Web Server
Media server
(and you didn't mention it) Automated Backups of all your PCs

is to use Windows Home Server. Install it on one drive, then add your other two drives. Turn on Drive Redundancy for important file shares.

It'll do what RAID 1 does: Failure of a single hard drive won't cause data loss. If you lose the OS disk, you'll have to re-install WHS, but that's pretty easy. You weren't going to RAID your OS disk anyway, based upon your original post.

But, yeah, you'll likely have to eventually pay the $150 for the software. But there are four-month-long free trials readily available.

 

[TripperJoe]

Hmm, but isn't WHS just a pared down version of 2008?

That is, can 2008 do everything you mentioned? Because it's free!
And I have raid1 on my motherboard. I was just going to use that.

 

[Spicedaddy]

I think I'd stay with 2003 based on the hardware you mentioned.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Another suggestion to use WHS. Yes, you'll have to pay for it, but it's worth it. And it does have features that are just in Server 2003. You can always get the trial for WHS, load up some linux distro (that supports Samba), to test it out. It might be time consuming, but testing each one will allow you to find out which one is perfect for your requirements.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: TripperJoe
Hmm, but isn't WHS just a pared down version of 2008?

That is, can 2008 do everything you mentioned? Because it's free!
And I have raid1 on my motherboard. I was just going to use that.

It's based on 2003 actually. And even though it shares the 2003 core features, it has a bunch of stuff that belong to just WHS, such as the backup client, the prepackaged web server for remote access, the easy-as-pie admin console, drive extender, etc. If you absolutely must have free then go with 2003, but unless you're a business WHS is much better suited for the job.

 

[loup garou]

Another vote for WHS, it's worth buying. I love my WHS box, so easy to setup and it just works.

 

[Modelworks]

Check out http://www.clarkconnect.com/
Does everything you listed for free.
Very easy to install and will get you some experience with the linux side of things.