Server OS

[The aussie tech kid]

Hello.

I want to build a home server for uses like a network firewall, a central storage location and maybe even to try and boot devices from it. I want a Linux based OS so I do not have to pay as 13 year olds do not have jobs, and also just for a new OS experience. As far as hardware goes, I have a computer that I revived from school. The dell OptiPlex 9010 has 4gb ddr3, 750GB Toshiba hdd, i3 3240. I am also new to Linux. But there are so may distro's, and I do not know what to get. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

[Dujith]

https://opnsense.org/ is agood place to start for networking and something like FreeNAS. run them both as a VM and you can add VM's to tinker and try away

[Radium_Angel]

37 minutes ago, The aussie tech kid said:

But there are so may distro's, and I do not know what to get.

Stick with either a debian-based distro, or redhat-based one.

My preference is Ubunutu 16.04 LTS. The LTS is Long Term Support and doesn't put a lot of cruft in the build. A solid starting choice.

[jde3]

SuSE is fine. I still have the box set for SuSE 6.1 released in 1999 and even back then it was a quality distro.. something they have always maintained.

 

[Blake]

8 hours ago, jde3 said:

SuSE is fine. I still have the box set for SuSE 6.1 released in 1999 and even back then it was a quality distro.. something they have always maintained.

 

I think I just found the guy that leaves ancient boxes in the back corner of server rooms, running business critical processes.

 

Can you at least start the virtualise these servers? 

[jde3]

No, lol. SuSE 6.1 wouldn't support any modern hardware newer than a 686. Box set, (meaning software you use to buy from a store.. that was a thing) not box.