What should I use as a home server operating system?

[Infinitiguy19]

I want to make a home server to scan my computers for virus's and that crap, Back up my computers and to store all my stuff so I can view it at home and online too (Streaming would be nice).

So if any of you have used any of the below let me know what you think is the best.

I am going to put the OS in a Antec 900 case (temporally till I find a crappy case) 512 MB ram, AMD athalon 64 x2 4200 and 320 GB HD (2 HD's). That should be sufficient

I can account for using Windows and Linux and 1 day experience with Mac OS 10.2

So let me know what you guys think is best.

[PoorManQ45]

Wow, hang on. Take a step back here.

You are going way to far to achieve the goals you're looking for.

I'd recommend a NAS enclosure with FTP capability. Map all the computers to the drive. You can assign permissions in the software for the NAS.

For the virus scanning I'd do that on each local machine. No use moving that to a server.

For the external access I would get a nice linksys router and flash DDWRT onto it. Set up port forwarding to your NAS drive with limited permissions(read only) for outside access. Register with http://www.dyndns.com so you have consistant access even when your ISP renews your IP address.

[PoorManQ45]

If you're dead set on a server i'd recommend going with something like the Dell Optiplex 160 and external drives.

You can get them on the dell outlet for ~$400

[Infinitiguy19]

Thanks for the reply, and its sounds pretty simple whatyou are sugesting but I have tried NAS Before (Netgear SC101) and I have had the absolute worst experince with Netgear, I actually had to call DataPlow (the makers of the SC101' file system) and they helped me out more than Netgear. But I know that because on company fails to make a product then fails to support it properly (because I had to buy another one and return the old one to get new support to solve the problem).

But since I have 2 laptops and a desktop and my old desktop which has Compaq componets in it I figue it would be eaiser to make that a central sever so we woul'nt be plaiged by slow computers that are "safe"/

Right now I am in the market for a new router so I will see if linksys is a good router or if I should go another route.

[PoorManQ45]

Whatever router you get make sure it's got DDWRT support:http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv3/index.php

This will allow you to do alot of cool things.

[Infinitiguy19]

Yea I got a Linksys WRT54G, do you know how to set it up with DDWRT?

Can i downgrade too for what ever reason?

[PoorManQ45]

Which exact WRT54G is it?

Post the model and version.

It's usually right by the barcode.

And yes, most of the time you can convert back. It's just a matter of if someone pulled the original firmware.