Help Choosing OS reddit / selfhosted ---------------------------------------------------------------------- xcoldfingerssx · 2023-10-22 00:49 TL;DR: have a server and want an OS for it. Currently using CasaOS. Any and all recommendations GREATLY appreciated. I have a homeserver that I have 36TB of storage for and I want a nice simple OS to use. I'm currently using CasaOS but I keep hearing bad things about it such as very poor security. I'm thinking of moving over to Cosmos OS which is similar but lacks a file manager. I really just want to be able to use Jellyfin/cloudflare/other fun apps. I also don't know annnything about linux so I love these web GUIs. Im open to some kind of linux desktop but preferrably something with very minimal experience needed. Thanks! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- sparky5dn1l · 2023-10-22 01:15 Using those OSes to config container for selfhosting is easy to setup but hard to troubleshoot. U still need to learn more about Linux, Security, Networking for the long run. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -SHINSTER007 · 2023-10-22 01:17 Get debian or ubuntu server, you can install docker within the Ubuntu install these days. Learn how to install portainer (very simple) -- then install this [ portainer template](https://github.com/Lissy93/portainer-templates) which will allow you to pretty much 1 click install all the apps you see on this sub ---------------------------------------------------------------------- wmantly · 2023-10-22 01:40 Proxmox seems to be exactly what you want. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ddpbsd · 2023-10-22 01:48 Unless you need a windows infrastructure just go with some linux distro. There’s no reason to use the open solaris forks or any kind of darwin nonsense. Keep it simple. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- audero · 2023-10-22 01:49 Do you need a desktop environment on the server itself or will you just log in from another computer via ssh or a web based gui? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This-Gene1183 · 2023-10-22 01:57 UBUNTU, always UBUNTU ---------------------------------------------------------------------- mervincm · 2023-10-22 02:10 Open media vault is an excellent option as it is nothing but a aquality of line / web GUI that you install over Debian. It has an excellent docker compose extension that lets you use all those apps ---------------------------------------------------------------------- donrayss · 2023-10-22 02:13 Just like wmantly wrote above, best is to install Proxmox as it comes with webgui and straightforward. You can then install Ubuntu or Debian VM for hosting your docker and install portainer inside the Ubuntu or Debian to manage your docker containers. Of course you will still need to learn a little on networking to configure few things. And if you want to expose, you need Nginx Proxy manager or Caddy and for security you can use cloudflare to hide your services online so that your IP will not be exposed. There are other ways to this too but a little more complex. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- moltenwalter · 2023-10-22 02:27 You can try unraid. It's fairly simple to use, everything is in webui etc. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Archmage_Gaming · 2023-10-22 02:38 +1 for Unraid. Tons of documentation / tutorials, clean web UI, and you can run both docker containers and VMs on it. It's not free but the licence lasts forever and can be transferred across hardware ---------------------------------------------------------------------- marwanblgddb · 2023-10-22 02:49 You can either use proxmox : - ability to have multiple virtual machines and OS's on one machine - backup the whole virtual machine locally or to another location Or directly Ubuntu server / debian I think you should go with proxmox, and Ubuntu server in a virtual machine ---------------------------------------------------------------------- bobbarker4444 · 2023-10-22 02:59 Proxmox 100%. Absolute perfect environment for playing around with jellyfin and whatever other software you want to check out. Just make a container, install whatever you want in it, then either leave it or delete it when you're done. Makes life so simple ---------------------------------------------------------------------- thekrautboy · 2023-10-22 03:22 It hasnt even been a whole day since the last "which OS should i use" post... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- igderkoman · 2023-10-22 03:30 ESXi ---------------------------------------------------------------------- jqnorman · 2023-10-22 04:12 The documentation available is a huge sell as well as the best homelab app store on the web ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ButterscotchFar1629 · 2023-10-22 06:59 Just use proxmox ---------------------------------------------------------------------- daYMAN007 · 2023-10-22 07:32 >I'm currently using CasaOS but I keep hearing bad things about it such as very poor security. Never heard that before, if that is your reason i would just continue using it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- szayl · 2023-10-22 08:36 Debian ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DIBSSB · 2023-10-22 09:24 Try unraid it has free trial Try truenas Try all of em use what you like at the end that’s what I did And it depends on use case I settled with unraid ---------------------------------------------------------------------- kon_dev · 2023-10-22 10:05 Proxmox or TrueNAS scale I suppose. Alternatively just pure Debian/Ubuntu, you could install cockpit on top for easier administration https://cockpit-project.org/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AlternativeBasis · 2023-10-22 10:09 I tried Proxmox and gave up, too much complicated in how to share mass storage between different VMs Now I use PopOS, the "poor man raid" MergerFS to store the data and Docker/Portaineir to run my services: Plex, Jellyfin and Syncthing. And there's still plenty of power to occasionally play Diablo4 using Lutris. PopOS is already pre-configured for games, otherwise my choice is Debian. I'm a little suspicious about Ubuntu, I believe it is positioning itself to sell a premium version. Or worse, for a monthly subscription. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Waste_Taro_2555 · 2023-10-22 10:57 Try Ubuntu 22.04 LTS. It has got desktop and server versions. Its free software. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Cylian91460 · 2023-10-22 13:20 You have 2 choices, listen to sane others or do like me and put arch Linux on it and ofc only run the git version! (I don't recommend at all to do that if you are not familiar with development and git ) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- xcoldfingerssx · 2023-10-22 13:45 Web based gui is probably preferred but either way is fine. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GhostHacks · 2023-10-22 14:04 All Operating Systems/software have vulnerabilities. Security isn’t about just choosing a more secure OS, it’s about hardening and risk mitigation. Is your server open to the internet? Do you host financial or corporate IP? You seem to enjoy the OS, I would use this opportunity to learn about security, rather then go down the rabbit hole of different OSes. I see CasaOS supports CentOS, what Linux OS did you use to install CasaOS? Have you explored SELinux? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- xcoldfingerssx · 2023-10-22 15:12 I should learn about security but I also just want a home server that will work for the forseeable future and be flexible so that I can run jellyfin or host videogame servers. I decided to use CasaOS because its really easy to get started with but now I'm wondering if I should use proxmox as that will leave all doors open for the future. Although I dont know if have even half of the technical skill I need to do it safely. >what Linux OS did you use to install CasaOS? Have you explored SELinux? I installed it on ubuntu server. This way my first time installing any linux distro. No other experience. My main goal is simplicity and flexibility. I have 0 experience with linux cmds and all so a simple GUI would work wonders. >Is your server open to the internet? Do you host financial or corporate IP? I dont think so. I was too scared to port forward anything. I did buy a domain and use a cloudflare tunnel to access it. Thanks ---------------------------------------------------------------------- dibu28 · 2023-10-22 15:16 Proxmox ---------------------------------------------------------------------- dibu28 · 2023-10-22 15:16 +1 for Proxmox ---------------------------------------------------------------------- wmantly · 2023-10-22 15:46 I'm unsure how you go from proxmox to popOS... sounds like you never wanted something like proxmox. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GhostHacks · 2023-10-22 15:52 Honestly, it sounds like you made a good choice. I would keep your existing setup. Since you don’t have it exposed to the internet, you should be fine. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AlternativeBasis · 2023-10-22 16:03 Before some months ago my domestic server are a archaic Core 2 Duo refurbished workstation and my desktop a 2013 MacBook. A souped-up desktop with some silent (Noctua) fans now can do both the roles, with a lot less hassle. I am a old geek, 30+ years in IT, and, believe me, I tried. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- xcoldfingerssx · 2023-10-22 20:31 Define exposed to the internet. That would be port forwarding right? I do have a cloudflare tunnel and have my jellyfin linked to my domain. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- EndlessHiway · 2023-10-22 22:41 lol ---------------------------------------------------------------------- EndlessHiway · 2023-10-22 22:42 Will you send me some money so I can buy it? I don't want to have to bother learning anything. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- audero · 2023-10-22 23:09 If you’re going the Docker route and running everything in containers it’s much of a muchness really. Just pick a common distribution that’s well documented, don’t install a desktop environment, and install Portainer as a web ui to manage your Docker environment. I’ve done it on Arch, Debian and Ubuntu. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- weller_rocks · 2023-10-23 03:47 Proxmox or XCP-ng Both are easy to set up and use. Both give you freedom to run a virtual infrastructure. I run both, prefer Proxmox fwiw [https://www.proxmox.com/en/](https://www.proxmox.com/en/) if you do run proxmox check out this repository .... jump start your rabbit hole into container [https://tteck.github.io/Proxmox/](https://tteck.github.io/Proxmox/)