Best OS for a Server?

[sammykinzz]

hey guys.

I would like to set up a server, i want it to be a web/file/print server...

whats the best OS reccomended to use?

 

[PoopaSwoof]

A lot of people like Windows Home Server .
I am using XP pro for my server and it works for what I want it to do.

 

[bass_man1989]

Yeah, I just use XP Pro. The virtual desktop keeps a monitor off my desk and I use tweak UI to make it automatically log into the Admin profile. Works fine.

 

[ConTRo13R]

any unix based os, lightweight, does what you need, dont need a powerful pc to run so electric cost will be small

Though if your not into that it has to be windows home server edition

 

[!]

CentOS or Fedora

 

[Brujahpriest]

Honestly depends upon your needs and what hardware you have laying around.

If you have the spare hardware to build a box, then the cheapest monetarily by far is any of the *nix flavors.

If you dont have the hardware and your needs are relatively low, you could get by with setting up a NAS with those capabilities. I personally set up a DLink DNS-323 (has print server, File sharing etc.. and ITunes playlist sharing capabilities.) for less than $500, no OS install needed. Of course I did also install Twonky on the thing so I could do connect to computer with my Xbox and stream media files to the living room.

Lastly if you need the oomph and have the money, grab a copy of Windows 2k3

 

[sammykinzz]

hmm i been looking at SME Server... i have played around with it before, any u guys had a look at it?

 

[Revenant]

I'm in a "server" class right now... The only thing I've been taught to use is Microsoft Server 2003, apparently 2008 in rockin but seeing as how you dont even need it to be a member server I believe you could easily use Server 2003 Web edition...

Idk what kind of machine you're running but if you're going virtual VMWare pwnz the n00bz

 

[ssl]

a l.a.m.p. setup is quite common; a w.a.m.p. setup is also popular; there is also the w.i.m.p. setup (iis instead of apache); maybe w.i.s.p. (sql server? instead of mysql); i am not sure of how well apache works with asp.net, but if it does, you can use a w.a.m.a. setup, or a w.i.m.a setup.

just a couple of options available to you; generally, i would start with your goals, and match the available setups to reflect your goals.

 

[!]

Apache > IIS

LAMP all the way!

 

[Rusteh]

it really all depends on what your comfortable with. Windows is definitely the easiest since support is EVERYWHERE for it since it still dominates over 90% of servers world wide (just a ballpark estimate). But like everybody else said, Linux/Unix is much lighter on the system reqs but requires a bit of background knowledge on how to use it.

 

[Lapinkiller]

Windows = viruses XD

Linux it's the best for Server