Choose an operating system tailored for your home server needs.
Choose an operating system tailored for your home server needs.
After much discussion, I finally gathered the components to launch my home server. I plan to use some unused parts, but I've purchased a new HDD, a fresh power supply, and a case. I'm unsure which operating system to choose. Let's start with the hardware I have—Ryzen 1600, MSI B450 motherboard, two 4TB HDDs, GTX 970 for installation and troubleshooting if needed, 8GB RAM, a 600W power supply. I expect to expand later with more space, possibly adding an M.2 drive for cache or the OS, and gradually upgrading. I'm not very experienced with Linux, though I've used Ubuntu before. My goal is to have a reliable system for backing up my PC, laptop, phone, tablet, and a game server for Minecraft and similar games. Any recommendations?
The operating system isn't crucial when you only need a network-connected drive for backups and maybe a game server. If you're new to Linux and don't have much background, Ubuntu should be perfect.
Meanwhile, my server using Proxmox with virtualized TrueNAS, Jellyfin, and a few additional VMs for tasks like game servers and NextCloud runs smoothly at 60GB of RAM. The performance varies based on configuration, though it’s clear that adding more memory is advisable if you plan to use ZFS extensively.
Choose an operating system and start using it. Linux is suggested, though Windows Pro is also fine. For Linux distros, pick one—Ubuntu works well, but Void Linux or Gentoo are interesting options too. If you need a web interface, TruNAS is a good choice; otherwise, Ubuntu is a solid option. For phone backups, consider Nextcloud for Minecraft. To learn Docker basics, explore it there. For remote access, cook would be better than exposing your server publicly. You might want to try a mesh VPN like Tailscale or use Cloudflare tunnels for advanced security. Personally, I wouldn’t go that far.
Sure, relax. Your suggestions were helpful, and we’ll focus on what to check next. I can’t do it right away, but I’ll handle the Ryzen 9 later. Great thinking!