Server at home
Server at home
I recently built a new home server and used Windows Home Server 2012 R2 for around 2 weeks before I gave it up. I didn't like how it was set out and found it overly complicated to use. I use Ubuntu Server now and I like it a lot better, even though I'm not really a Linux person it is just awesome, you should try it out. As for what to use the server for you could run a Plex server for media streaming, print server, torrent server or you could host game servers.
I recommend exploring Linux, especially for server tasks—it's significantly more efficient than Windows Server. Consider reading up on it or giving it a try. Debian or Ubuntu would be great starting points, as they're user-friendly. Best of luck with your server project!
Set up each virtual machine for a specific task—such as a game server, FTP service, WordPress site, or development sandbox. Adjust or replace any that don’t meet your needs. Use the free VMs from Microsoft for testing; they’re suitable and typically valid for about 30 days before you need to reinstall them. Before starting, take a snapshot of each VM to preserve its state.
Linux runs smoothly on any system, but a setup with four CPUs can consume more energy than expected.