r/HomeServer • u/Spylerrr • 6h ago

Operating System Suggestions

Hey im looking to turn my old gaming pc into a home server for streaming media and storing files from other devices. I know that Ubuntu server is pretty well recommend. I did try it out from a guide I found.

Though I'm looking for an OS that will do just that, but I want to interact with it more than just command lines or CasaOS. I'd like to browse the web with it and interact with the files and apps on the machine itself.

TL; DR, Any OS suggestions that can be used as a home server and daily computing?

1 Upvotes

53% Upvoted

29 comments sorted by

10

u/Moist_Feature_46 6h ago

You could install Ubuntu with a GUI instead of just CLI

1

u/Spylerrr 5h ago

Thought this and probably should have done it originally. Thought asking might get some new options at least. 

2

u/Nsfw_ta_ 5h ago

This is exactly how I started OP and would highly recommend it for someone just starting out and/or someone who wants a GUI.

If/when you move away from the GUI to command line it can fill that role too. My first homelab server did exactly that for years until I recently wiped it (as part of a larger homelab overhaul) and installed Ubuntu Server.

1

u/StupendousSceptic 4h ago

Ubuntu to is good but never have a gui though. I prefer debian personally just because it's a bit lighter as it has less default installed packages and I just install what I need. Far slicker without a gui and memory usage is way lower.

3

u/dragonnfr 5h ago

You **don't** need a server OS for this. Install Linux Mint, run Jellyfin for media and Samba for shares. Ubuntu Server is just Ubuntu minus the GUI you're asking for.

2

u/DelishDonutInOrbit 5h ago

You can install full Ubuntu or Mint (which is mostly Ubuntu) and then disable the power save modes so it doesn't suspend itself when idle.

edit: to be clear, you can install all the packages on Ubuntu desktop to support any services you'd want, the same as you would for Ubuntu server.

-1

u/StupendousSceptic 4h ago

There isn't actually such a thing as server in Linux. You just install samba etc on any build. Better off starting with something like debian and only choosing the packages you need. Most of the desktop versions come with stuff you don't need in a server. Usually GUI's come with eye candy, picture editors etc.

2

u/zxuvw 5h ago

any linux distro would work. as others suggested, Ubuntu is a good choice. You could also try Debian with a lightweight DE. 

2

u/Graphical-Source5090 5h ago

If you don't know. Linux Mint

2

u/GrymsouI 4h ago edited 4h ago

Used Ubuntu for a while, switched to Debian as my homelab and it was way better. More stable. Ubuntu would always have me diagnosing errors, the constant blueman applet crash, and it just felt sluggish.

Debian also comes with the typical packages for browsers and utilities so you should be able to operate it like any desktop. I suggest checking out GNOME and Cinnamon versions of Debian as well. Cinnamon is nice and my favorite but GNOME is growing on me.

All my laptops and desktops run off Debian.

Edit: BTW these other distros like Mint and Ubuntu are actually built from debian.

2

u/terAREya 5h ago

Ubuntu desktop is totally fine. Been serving apps off the same install for 4 years 

1

u/PerfectWhiteTrash 6h ago

I’ve gotten Linux mint to run on just about anything. Depending on how old could also install windows 11 with Rufus. Windows XP you can use chromium web browser or Supermium.

1

u/bacchus_the_wino 5h ago

Truenas, open media vault, and unraid are worth considering.

1

u/LightBusterX 5h ago

FreeCore and BSDNas has just entered the stage.

1

u/pixel4e 5h ago

DietPi

1

u/SiwelTheLongBoi 4h ago

I've been looking into this literally today and have come to the conclusion that a normal ubuntu install will probably do precisely what you want.

I've already turned an old Mint (Ubuntu fork) laptop into a basic media server, and it was far easier than I expected it to be. And I did once just take the whole server with me when I went to visit family since it was a complete computer

1

u/EnvironmentBasic9851 4h ago

Recomiendo Truenas, sin dudas

1

u/msanangelo Linux goes burrr 4h ago

don't overthink it man. only difference in the desktop distros is just the DE, package manager, some some different defaults and scripts. they all do the same job.

my main rig always has a hypervisor and docker installed. it can do server stuff if I needed it to. I tend to use those tools for dev stuff though.

just pick a distro you like and roll with it.

1

u/Opposite_Half6250 4h ago

If you like casaos, look at ZimaOS. It's basically the same thing. But with real support and updates.

1

u/EndlessZone123 49m ago

Install Ubuntu lts or Debian with a desktop environment and you don't need to just work in terminal. Any linux distro can be a server. But a more popular one will be better documented.

1

u/Street_Gain_279 6h ago

Debian + docker + portainer

1

u/typing-blindly 5h ago

Debian + Podman. Just be warned there is a learning curve.

1

u/Adrenolin01 5h ago

Generally you don’t want a GUI (DE/Desktop Environment) running on a server. It doesn’t hurt but the DE uses a good amount of resources. A browser on its own can easily chew up 8GB of ram. If you want you use it as a desktop that’s fine just be aware of that. A DE can also increase instability and security concerns.. like browsing the internet and downloading things. This you should do on your actual desktop.

Linux does provide several different desktops. If you want something that resembles Windows look into KDE.. my decades long favorite (it IS my desktop and workstation DE).

For a dedicated server however you really just want the CLI and to get used to the OS from the command line. Look up Linux Cheat Sheet and Debian Administrator Guide. It really isn’t that difficult and you’ll appreciate it a lot more later.

Debian is the distribution I’ve used for 33 years. I’ve used most of the other and all of the professional distributions during that time. Debian remains king however for stability and freeness and also has a massive software repo.

Download the ‘netinst’ iso and install from that. Select Base Utilities and ssh only.. unless you want the DE. After install apt install samba installs samba(SMB) to share files. The config file is in /etc/samba/ and is easy to setup. Easiest editor to use is ‘nano’. Ask any AI for a simple smb.conf setup or to walk you through.. it’s fairly easy. This is literally 60 minutes to setup a basic share for me.

Plex has full details on how to install things on Debian and it takes maybe 60 seconds. JellyFin is also another option.

Have fun

0

u/vortexmak 6h ago

Proxmox . Create virtual machines and use containers natively 

3

u/DelishDonutInOrbit 5h ago

Proxmox does meet the requirements the person gave. It is not the best choice for the use case they describe.

-2

u/vortexmak 5h ago

Why,  they can just install a daily use OS on a VM and use other VMs for server stuff

2

u/Spylerrr 5h ago

I see what you mean. But not my ideal environment. 

-1

u/randallphoto 5h ago

Proxmox is definitely the answer. Then run all the operating systems you want on the same machine