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What OS should I use for this server?

odrusso
By odrusso
in Operating Systems
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I have recently got enough parts to build a small quiet computer to use a NAS. But I have also been thinking about setting it up to be a web server, mail server, 'remote' file server, etc. I am completely new to servers, as all I've done is install Windows 7 on the server and networked the 3 drives that I have plugged in. So, for a Mail Server, Web Server, NAS, Remote File server and possible other stuff, what OS should I go for? I wouldn't have the first clue how to use a Linux dist with only terminal access, but if that is far and away the best...

The specs of the server (If it's relevant) are:

 

A 775 Pentium, 2GB RAM, about 2.5TB total HDD space, Gigabyte GA-G41MT-S2P.

 

Thanks in advance.

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Posted

Linux with something like Webmin (web-based GUI) to easily control the various functions and modules of the server.

GW2: Vettexl.9726

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Just use Debian or something... Why would you want to use a non-GUI OS?

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Ubuntu Server is a recommendation from me!

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On such little RAM, I would be looking at some version of Linux. If you're looking at website hosting then CentOS. If not, a GUI based OS like Debian or even Ubuntu may be worth a look. 

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any linux distro will work fine. Windows is too inflexible for that kind of server work.

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Go with Linux, and use it as a learning opportunity to get used to using the terminal. It's a very powerful tool if used properly.

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Ubuntu is based on debian, so either would be fine.  The ubuntu crowd is huge and super helpful, so I would go with ubuntu server (two of my webservers and my home server all run ubuntu server)

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I prefer Debian over Ubuntu for servers, but that's just me :)

GW2: Vettexl.9726

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Ubuntu server edition, especially the newest version, has the option to have all those options and more as the functionality is built in. The main issue is it is a CLI(command line interface) which means it has no GUI, only the terminal. However it's fairly forgiving and has support if being ubuntu so there are a lot of guides and support available. My grandparents business servers run of Ubuntu Linux and they have web/print servers as well as many other things running off them. It works well for them, although my own personal home servers run using windows server 2012.

If the CLI OS too difficult to get used to then you can have almost the same functionality in the standard Ubuntu functionality if you download the correct files. It won't be the same and you will still need to do a lot through command line, but things like editing files will be easier

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