New Server Build, What OS Should I Use?

1763 Views 16 Replies 12 Participants Last post by grumpy.medic, Dec 21, 2009

Priest

Discussion Starter · Dec 1, 2009

I just ordered the equipment for my new File/TS/Vent/Game/Media/FTP server.

I was wonder was OS should I put on there. I was considering Windows Server 2008 R2 X64, Windows Vista Ultimate X64,or Windows 7 Ultimate X64.

I will be definitely be using it to stream HD video to my PS3, I previously used Windows Media Player to do this off my computer and was wondering if this is possible if I go with Windows Server 2008 R2.

And I just wanted some general feed back on what would be the best to use. The only way I will be accessing this server once I have it up and running with be by remote desktop from my Win7 gaming machine and or Laptop.

And for those of you who want to know (I know you are out there) this is what will be in the server.

AMD Phenom X3 8750 BE 2.4GHZ

4x Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 1.5TB 7200 RPM in Raid10

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 320GB 7200 RPM OS Drive

Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 1066

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

ComGuards

· #2 · Dec 1, 2009

If you go with Server 2008 or Server 2008 R2, you should download and install Windows Media Services 2008.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...dinfo2008.aspx

If you're truly using it as just a server, just go with a server OS for maximum stability.

Reactions: 1

esocid

· #3 · Dec 1, 2009

If you don't want to pay for one of those OSs, basically any linux distro will accomplish all of those. I know uShare and Fuppes both work with DLNA devices (PS3 included).

Priest

Discussion Starter · #4 · Dec 1, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by ComGuards

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If you go with Server 2008 or Server 2008 R2, you should download and install Windows Media Services 2008.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...dinfo2008.aspx

If you're truly using it as just a server, just go with a server OS for maximum stability.

Yes, the only thing I will be doing on it is remoteing into it to que up downloads, as I will be also using it as a download box for GrabIt.

I was just unsure if it would allow me me to use Media player for my PS3 streams.

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chatch15117

· #5 · Dec 1, 2009

IDK if you are a student or not. If you are, check this out.

ComGuards

· #6 · Dec 1, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Priest

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Yes, the only thing I will be doing on it is remoteing into it to que up downloads, as I will be also using it as a download box for GrabIt.

I was just unsure if it would allow me me to use Media player for my PS3 streams.

Oh, and to *maybe* save you some trouble. If you go with Windows Server 2008 R2, just a heads up that Windows Firewall is enabled by default during installation. 2008 R2 is the first iteration that MS has done that. Pain in the a$$ really.

Oh, 2008 R2 is 64-bit *only*. i.e. there's no 32-bit version of the OS. 2GB of RAM is probably just about enough to run a couple of programs in the background for downloading. I honestly couldn't tell how how much RAM Media Services will consume though... No experience with it yet.

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error10

· #7 · Dec 1, 2009

Also check out Amahi Home Server.

Priest

Discussion Starter · #8 · Dec 1, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by ComGuards

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Oh, and to *maybe* save you some trouble. If you go with Windows Server 2008 R2, just a heads up that Windows Firewall is enabled by default during installation. 2008 R2 is the first iteration that MS has done that. Pain in the a$$ really.

Oh, 2008 R2 is 64-bit *only*. i.e. there's no 32-bit version of the OS. 2GB of RAM is probably just about enough to run a couple of programs in the background for downloading. I honestly couldn't tell how how much RAM Media Services will consume though... No experience with it yet.

If needed I have no problem ordering another 2GBs of ram for it.

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ComGuards

· #9 · Dec 1, 2009

2

Quote:

Originally Posted by Priest

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If needed I have no problem ordering another 2GBs of ram for it.

Well, you know what they say about RAM... "you can never have too much of it!"

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Dylan

· #10 · Dec 1, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Priest

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If needed I have no problem ordering another 2GBs of ram for it.

Server 2008 runs decently on 2gb of ram. Get some background services going, and you will want to have 4gb.

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the_beast

· #11 · Dec 2, 2009

3

Quote:

Originally Posted by ComGuards

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Well, you know what they say about RAM... "you can never have too much of it!"

Some might say you are trying to test that theory with your system...

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Raptor_Jesus

· #12 · Dec 2, 2009

Linux. Virtualize windows server. It's what I'm doing and it works great. Get the stability of linux and the awesomeness of AD rolled into one. It's a bit more work to set up, but its great in the long run. But you may have to grab more memory.

ComGuards

· #13 · Dec 3, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raptor_Jesus

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Linux. Virtualize windows server. It's what I'm doing and it works great. Get the stability of linux and the awesomeness of AD rolled into one. It's a bit more work to set up, but its great in the long run. But you may have to grab more memory.

If you're thinking about doing that, consider going the ESXi route. It's a free download from VMWare.

Or try any other free hypervisor solution for that matter.

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PDXMark

· #14 · Dec 5, 2009

FreeBSD. If your just creating a LAN file/media server, use FreeNAS. Two great solutions, I use them both for multiple reasons!

sacmo77

· #15 · Dec 16, 2009

I use win 2003 server 64bit on my box, but I dont know if ur running a professional server or not, My server is a professional server, so if ur just running it at home, then get whatever the cheapest is.

e_dogg

· #16 · Dec 16, 2009

FWIW, I've been running Server 2008 R2 on my desktop box at work and really like it. It's very stable and Hyper-V is pretty handy.

The only catch is that some desktop utilities won't run on it. For example, Iobit Smart Defrag says it needs the server version. And Avira takes some tweaks to get it to install.

But other than that it works really good.

grumpy.medic

· #17 · Dec 21, 2009

I really would look into Ubuntu Server Edition 9.10. I can only say good things about it, work with it almost everyday at work.

The nice things about it:

Free
OpenSource
Full control over your OS
All add-ons are free

Not so nice things about it:

Need at least a basic understanding of the terminal/command line interface

Now if you are only looking for network storage, then I would go with FreeNAS, but using Ubuntu Server Edition keeps your options open (imho).

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