What OS to use for my home server? reddit / selfhosted ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GAMERYT2029 · 2023-10-03 19:28 I have a PC with a Ryzen 3 1200, 8GB of RAM and 2x 6TB HDDs and I'm going to use it as a server/NAS but I am unsure about what OS to pick. I'm going to be hosting Nextcloud, Navidrome and Vaultwarden on my server and I may add more services in the future. What OS should I use on it? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- EndlessHiway · 2023-10-03 19:30 Whichever one you want. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Upstairs-Bread-4545 · 2023-10-03 19:35 big debian fan but there are so many options and not every option is the right one for everyone ---------------------------------------------------------------------- pyrodorobo · 2023-10-03 19:39 Yolo it, do whatever you want, if it doesn't work out tear it down and install a new one. If you don't want to do that too often throw proxmox on there and create a vm and mess around on it with stuff you can have going down on a different VM. The world is your oyster. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ericjhmining · 2023-10-03 19:45 [Unraid.net](https://Unraid.net) would work but it costs. 30 days to try it though, so could get an idea of what it does and if it meets what you want. Proxmox is another good option as a hypervisor. (I'm currently using both for different things. Unraid for my NAS and some docker containers and then proxmox for VM's) Ton of options out there though, so google away and try to see what you like. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- mirokra · 2023-10-03 19:47 I prefer NixOS, because I like declarative configuration approach. It makes configuration to be the documentation of the system. Also, it's easy to undo things, because NixOS rebuilds the system according to config without leftovers. Though, only issue could be corrupted state data, if one is changing settings, that would result in change of how state data is stored. But, that's expected after such changes regardless of distro. And, there are nice options for setting up services... and, installation of service is often just one line to set it as "enabled", and it will run with default config. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- mirokra · 2023-10-03 19:51 > if it doesn't work out tear it down and install a new one. That's what makes NixOS great. If something doesn't work for me, then I just erase config (lines) for it, and rebuild system without it. No installation leftovers. No need to reinstall OS from scratch. Only state data needs to be deleted manually. Though, this is also delivered by docker. However, NixOS brings it to OS level, and in more immutable way. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- thaneekl · 2023-10-03 19:55 trial and error to your heart content. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- levogevo · 2023-10-03 20:10 Proxmox ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Spuxilet · 2023-10-03 20:18 I am using arch linux because it's minimal, lightweight, reliable and VERY simple. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- killermenpl · 2023-10-03 20:19 You can try TrueNAS Scale. It'll set up ZFS, provide easy management for NAS features like SMB shares, and a GUI for docker. All with a Debian base. Or just install your favorite Linux distro, just don't install any GUI and it'll be more than enough. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GolemancerVekk · 2023-10-03 20:36 I recommend using containers for your services rather than installing them directly on the OS. Installing on the OS is kind of like trying to mod Skyrim without a mod manager. Some options: * Debian stable gives you a very solid base OS. * Proxmox makes it very easy to use all kinds of containers and virtual machines. * Flatcar Linux is designed from the ground up around using containers. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- mpw-linux · 2023-10-03 20:43 Linux. I think you might need more memory for NextCloud ?! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DudeWithaTwist · 2023-10-03 20:44 NixOS is great after you've experienced the limitations of other OSs. For someone in OPs shoes who's just starting out, I think they should just pick whatever they want. Let them make some mistakes first :) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- soulless_ape · 2023-10-03 21:05 If it is just for file server Debian. You could use Open Media Vault or TrueNAS. If you want virtualization Proxmox works great. For home router and firewall pfSense, ipfire or opensense ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Sumpug · 2023-10-03 21:33 Really? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- No_Lawfulness420 · 2023-10-03 21:36 As said, there are many options. I also prefer debian as hostOS because it is small and reliable. I have all my hosted stuff in docker containers on top of it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Spuxilet · 2023-10-03 21:36 Yes. I have used it on my laptop for 8 years and it never broke on me. On homelab i have minimal install just base packages and docker installed manually. It will soon be 2 years and it works flawlessly. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- fergara · 2023-10-03 21:46 Any Linux distro would do. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Upstairs-Bread-4545 · 2023-10-03 21:47 yep, doing the same ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Sumpug · 2023-10-03 21:48 Considering the hardware I would just do a bare metal install of a reasonably stable Linux distribution since 8 gigs of RAM on spinning rust would be terrible for virtualization. I think your best options are going to be CentOS Stream, RHEL, something based on RHEL, or Debian. A lot of services including some that you mentioned tend to default to containers for their deployment which largely takes package availability out of the question. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Sumpug · 2023-10-03 22:02 Pushing updates out the door as fast as is reasonably possible instead of following a regular and consistent release cycle is the exact opposite of what people tend to look for in servers. Even without any problems with stability coming up it's binaries on systemd which will most likely be running containers like most of the common choices for servers. It just seems kind of pointless. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- indykoning · 2023-10-03 22:07 I think pyrodorobo got it exactly right, try some things out! I personally use Proxmox because I knew I wanted at least a VM and then be able to run docker containers outside of that VM. And now with Proxmox I can backup these things, and try new interesting things out and tear them down without hindering my current homelab. Like casaOS or umbrelOS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- manofoz · 2023-10-03 22:08 I just went unRAID and it’s a lot of fun. Mostly community driven, the base OS has a “community apps” plugin you use to get all your dockets. VMs were a pain but once I got one setup I didn’t need another for what I use it for. Loving it for the home / family media server use case. Especially liked that I could move all my media from my old server with unregistered drives (another plugin) and then add them to the array and increase its space. I’ve got too many 4TB drives though, going to start swapping them out for 20s since I filled it way faster than I expected (got 208 TB but 40 are party, 8 are M.2s). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Spuxilet · 2023-10-03 22:08 >Pushing updates out the door as fast as is reasonably possible They do not do that. In fact they were some of the slowest to release for example python3, postgresql, mariadb updates. I have asked for it on arch forum and testing seems to be the main cause of it. That maybe the reason i have not seen any breakage during so much years. Simplicity is the thing i love most about arch and it serves me well. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- eldog · 2023-10-03 22:21 TempleOS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TopdeckIsSkill · 2023-10-03 23:34 did not see openmediavault in any comment. Is it so bad? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Salamandar3500 · 2023-10-03 23:52 You should check out Yunohost. It's a debian based project that helps configuring your server, the security, and install apps (with a 600+ catalog). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- jsmoothjazz · 2023-10-04 00:04 I have openmediavault with docker installed. Its basically Debian with a browser based front end and additional nas features preloaded. Its great for folks like me, a lifelong windows guy but wants to dabble in linux to run a server. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- tonyutter12 · 2023-10-04 00:19 I do the same, but with Ubuntu Server . ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Patient-Tech · 2023-10-04 00:24 Linux. NixOS is sort of the advanced level stuff, then I’d say Proxmox is intermediate and then I used Ubuntu server and all the tons of tutorials on the next for the beginner level. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- bttech05 · 2023-10-04 00:44 Unraid is stupid easy to use but it’s not an array that takes advantage of read and write speeds. However it makes it easy to add disks later ---------------------------------------------------------------------- circularjourney · 2023-10-04 01:31 I update once a month for years. Pretty darn regular and constant. Plus no need for big upgrades. My base OS is as minimal as it gets, everything interesting is in containers. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- notdoreen · 2023-10-04 01:51 Proxmox will give you the most flexibility for installing additional Operating systems on top of it. You can install Proxmox as your base OS, then add other operating systems as virtual machines as needed. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- notdoreen · 2023-10-04 01:52 Second ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Varnish6588 · 2023-10-04 02:05 Debian, Ubuntu, whatever you feel comfortable with... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- netvip3r · 2023-10-04 02:26 Nah, NextCloud is stupid light. I run NextCloud on nginx on a Raspberry Pie 2gig ---------------------------------------------------------------------- mpw-linux · 2023-10-04 03:39 That is good to know. On the NextCloud site the requirements are different. Thanks ! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- VVaterTrooper · 2023-10-04 05:03 Third. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- not_f0und · 2023-10-04 06:29 I use Debian 11 + [Yunohost](https://yunohost.org/#/index_en) to manage the exact same apps and more ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Sumpug · 2023-10-04 07:05 Does being minimal really matter if you aren't short on resources? Are you really benefiting much from skipping out on things that are commonly configured by default? Why would I choose the Minimal Install option for my preferred distro on bare metal when it means I am going to have to install and set up things like smartd and fwupdmgr that are normally ready to go off a fresh install to begin with? I don't get it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Commercial-Low8434 · 2023-10-04 07:27 I use Unraid for my home "server" mostly because I'm used to a Gui. Its not a bad system and I can live with 160 quid for a lifetime. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DIBSSB · 2023-10-04 08:25 Unraid Or Ubuntu ---------------------------------------------------------------------- circularjourney · 2023-10-04 13:07 You changed the subject so I assume my last two points may have found a little traction? I don't like minimalism in my host OS b/c of hardware constraints. I like it for the blank slate. Plus, less code is more IMO. If you are going to install everything your other distro has by default then by all means this is a moot point. However, my other points still stand as far as I can see. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2023-10-04 16:48 [removed] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Re4mstr · 2023-10-04 17:49 Fourth. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- sonicdh · 2023-10-04 19:24 Seconded. I tried both TrueNas and UnRAID and what cinched it for me was unRAID let me add drives to my server as I went along without breaking my array. Granted, the server I was building is a storage server first and foremost. I'm about to build a small web-facing server so I might go with Truenas or something else for that since I won't be modifying the array as much. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- netvip3r · 2023-10-05 02:13 If you're going to host a multi-user, heavy app'd setup, then yeah you're gonna need more resources. I run a single user instance with maybe 5 additional apps and the CalDav/CardDav system. I could probably run this in a Raspberry Zero if it wasn't that I use an m.2. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Sumpug · 2023-10-06 11:01 I can't read deleted comments so it's hard to tell. Regardless of whether or not it works for you. Arch is just a bad recommendation for a pretty typical home server setup. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- circularjourney · 2023-10-06 12:27 For the OP, I agree. I was just defending arch against the broader argument that it is a bad idea for servers in general. There are pros and cons. Arch gets dismissed in the server space too quickly for being a rolling release. For someone like yourself there might be some arguments in favor of it. Whether that is enough to move the needle is personal matter.