What version of windows for a home server?

[forty2skates]

I'm getting a Dell small business server free from a friend. Don't know specs other than 4TB of storage currently and no OS loaded. Machines that access this storage will be running a variety of OSs from 7, XP, Ubuntu 12.04, and Android. I get MS software from the MS employee store through a friend so I can pick anything and it'll be <$50 so cost is a non-issue. Any thoughts on what might work out best?

 

[Sephiroth]

Personally I wouldn't go with windows for a home server (I would use Debian stable or CentOS) but if you have to use windows go for Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise.

 

[Frank Booth]

I'll second Ubuntu/Linux OS.

 

[Lucas15]

It's your choice really on Linux or Windows. Both have advantages and both have disadvantages.

With Linux, more resources are freed up but you are required to do everything via an SSH, or console. It really depends on what you're going to be doing in the end. I recommend either Ubuntu or Debian.

With Windows, it uses slightly more resources but you have a remote desktop in front of you to manage things as if you were on your own computer managing things. I'd recommend Windows Server 2k8 out of all the available ones. I don't say 2012 because I haven't really seen many reviews on it to make a judgement call.

 

[hate]

UBUNTU SERVER 12.10

I have been using it for years... the benefit to ubuntu over other linux versions is how widely used it is. That means there is a ton of FREE tech support. so yeah go ubuntu server and throw on the cloud server as well.

 

[Darren Lemric]

I would also go with Ubuntu, though I'm not sure going with the server version would be best if you have little experience. The key though is that it sounds like you'll only be needing a SAMBA setup. The great thing about linux is that you'll have a much easier time(believe it or not) finding documentation on how to set everything up. I'd go with a regular version of Ubuntu 12.04* to ease the transition though, otherwise you'll have to install a desktop manager yourself, and depending on your level of tech ability, that could prove daunting enough to push you away, it would be much easier to start with a gui and just add the server components that you need.

* I say Ubuntu 12.04 because of its long term support, which will equate to more stability over the long haul. YMMV