best NAS OS

[nmhammer2]

I'm currently depating on the os I want for my Nas i haven't gottent the box yet but it will be core I and I get HDD's hardware raid, and NIC's. I'm currently stuck between FreeNAS and windows home server (I can get it free.) I need to be able to stream to my ps3 and back up two computers with the least amount of space (like windows incremental back ups)

[Jekub]

FreeNAS requires 1 Gigabyte of ECC RAM per 1 Terrabyte of storage which may be a problem for you.

[nmhammer2]

Fee as has update their documentation to say you don't need ecc ram but it would be better if you did.

[Blebekblebek]

it just matter of preference

since it's home network without any complicated stuff needed you can even go with desktop windows (XP/7/8)

 

also it's better to manage if you are working on windows enviroment, you will be able to access your files imidiately when thing goes bad, because freenas must use ZFS format.

if you already know what you want and what you need anything will do.

[Uwillparish]

it just matter of preference

since it's home network without any complicated stuff needed you can even go with desktop windows (XP/7/8)

 

also it's better to manage if you are working on windows enviroment, you will be able to access your files imidiately when thing goes bad, because freenas must use ZFS format.

if you already know what you want and what you need anything will do.

what do you mean when things go bad? a hard drive failure?

[Blebekblebek]

all parts can be failing at some point

in my case, motherboard is the common things to go bad first, because it's running 24/7.

[Uwillparish]

all parts can be failing at some point

in my case, motherboard is the common things to go bad first, because it's running 24/7.

Isn't there a linux distro that can use ZFS? just load a copy of that and grab your stuff

[Blebekblebek]

I use XPUD for emergency situation

just plug my drive and ready to go.

[rtpb5642]

Red Hat Enterprise Linux with Webmin

[Blade of Grass]

Isn't there a linux distro that can use ZFS? just load a copy of that and grab your stuff

Lots of them can. 

I personally use Debian Linux for my home server, it supports ZFS.

[MrBucket101]

I use ubuntu server and I love it. I doubt I will ever use anything but ubuntu. Huge community support, so whenever I have an issue, I turn to google, and I have an answer in usually less than 15 minutes. Makes troubleshooting a breeze. Checkout the server link in my sig for some more info.

Honestly, any linux based OS will be fine for a NAS. Windows works too, but IMO it's not as elegant.

 

It all depends on what you are looking for. If you want something simple that requires little to no configuration, then I would look into FreeNAS. If you are wanting something with more features and choices, then I would look into a full blown linux OS. After all that's all FreeNAS really is, just a heavily customized version of FreeBSD.

 

I like the control I have over everything, I got to pick exactly what OS I wanted, then I picked my filesystem, and then from there I kept going. Some people just want it to "work" so they might not enjoy it as much.

[Embattled]

I use ubuntu server and I love it. I doubt I will ever use anything but ubuntu. Huge community support, so whenever I have an issue, I turn to google, and I have an answer in usually less than 15 minutes. Makes troubleshooting a breeze. Checkout the server link in my sig for some more info.

Honestly, any linux based OS will be fine for a NAS. Windows works too, but IMO it's not as elegant.

 

It all depends on what you are looking for. If you want something simple that requires little to no configuration, then I would look into FreeNAS. If you are wanting something with more features and choices, then I would look into a full blown linux OS. After all that's all FreeNAS really is, just a heavily customized version of FreeBSD.

 

I like the control I have over everything, I got to pick exactly what OS I wanted, then I picked my filesystem, and then from there I kept going. Some people just want it to "work" so they might not enjoy it as much.

I prefer Mint for mine, but since Mint is built off Ubuntu many fixes and applications are cross compatible  

[MrBucket101]

I prefer Mint for mine, but since Mint is built off Ubuntu many fixes and applications are cross compatible

There's no real difference between mint and ubuntu, at least in reference to a NAS.

 

Mint should have branched off and included *buntu in the name like Kubuntu, Lubuntu, and Xubuntu. Just causes more confusion and splits in the community IMO. The only difference between mint and vanilla ubuntu is the desktop environment and included apps. Mint uses MATE/Cinnamon, and ubuntu uses unity. It gets even hairier when you install KDE on mint. At that point you're pretty much running kubuntu with a different wallpaper lol.

 

I'm running the server version of ubuntu which just strips out all the unnecessary bloat. I don't have a desktop, and nothing was installed that I didn't install myself (with the exception of dependencies lol)

 

TL;DR. No difference as far as a NAS is concerned. You don't need a GUI, CLI is 100x faster once you learn the basics. If you HAVE to have a GUI, then just pick whatever suits you best or looks prettiest.

[Embattled]

There's no real difference between mint and ubuntu, at least in reference to a NAS.

 

Mint should have branched off and included *buntu in the name like Kubuntu, Lubuntu, and Xubuntu. Just causes more confusion and splits in the community IMO. The only difference between mint and vanilla ubuntu is the desktop environment and included apps. Mint uses MATE/Cinnamon, and ubuntu uses unity. It gets even hairier when you install KDE on mint. At that point you're pretty much running kubuntu with a different wallpaper lol.

 

I'm running the server version of ubuntu which just strips out all the unnecessary bloat. I don't have a desktop, and nothing was installed that I didn't install myself (with the exception of dependencies lol)

 

TL;DR. No difference as far as a NAS is concerned. You don't need a GUI, CLI is 100x faster once you learn the basics. If you HAVE to have a GUI, then just pick whatever suits you best or looks prettiest.

I would just run the ubuntu distro for servers without the GUI, but since I haven't achieved the standing of Linux Wizard yet I needed a GUI and MInt seemed like the best one for me.

[MrBucket101]

I would just run the ubuntu distro for servers without the GUI, but since I haven't achieved the standing of Linux Wizard yet I needed a GUI and MInt seemed like the best one for me.

You'd be surprised at how fast you pick it all up when you're left with no other option. Took me about a month to get comfortable, and another 3 to get good. I still don't have everything memorized, but "man <command>" will return the man page with all the documentation, really handy.

[nmhammer2]

ok i think i will do linux because i want to start learning it. So the nest question is wich distro. I'm fairly tech savy on the software side but haven't touched linux.

[MrBucket101]

ok i think i will do linux because i want to start learning it. So the nest question is wich distro. I'm fairly tech savy on the software side but haven't touched linux.

 

My initial decision to run ubuntu had everything to do with the massive community behind it. Their forums are very active and you can find help with anything as long as you dont mind spending 10-15 minutes googling.

 

You can't really go wrong whether you're running Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, RHEL, or OpenSolaris. As far as your NAS goes, they're all capable, just depends on what else you want out of the OS.