Media Server Ideas

[clvrbas]

I want to build a media server to be able to stream my movies, music and pictures from anywhere or a tv. I am debating a couple of options and wondering what all your thoughts are:

1). Build an Ubuntu media server using Ubuntu server, low power and stable. Dedicated machine to just run as a server with all my stuff

2) Windows Server dedicated to media, no screen just like I would do with Ubuntu, dedicated media server.

3) install a 1TB or more HD in a desktop and run Plex. So I can access all my stuff on the go.

I am still doing all my research, but wanted to start soliciting thoughts from thus community.

Note: I am primarily a WP user, however I am not anti Linux, just no apple

 

[jmshub]

My home server runs Windows Home Server 2011, which was an excellent product that Microsoft has discontinued. I use it to store all of my media (Pics / MP3s / a few videos), documents, and the home server software automatically backs up my client PCs. I put five 1 TB hard drives into a RAID6 configuration, yielding me about 2.8 TB of usable space, but I can drop two hard drives without risking data loss, plus I use Crash Plan to back up the data from there, instead of the individual PCs in my network.

My solution is heavy and not for everybody, but I like it a lot. Although my server varies significantly from your needs, I'd still recommend using RAID for data protection.

 

[clvrbas]

My home server runs Windows Home Server 2011, which was an excellent product that Microsoft has discontinued. I use it to store all of my media (Pics / MP3s / a few videos), documents, and the home server software automatically backs up my client PCs. I put five 1 TB hard drives into a RAID6 configuration, yielding me about 2.8 TB of usable space, but I can drop two hard drives without risking data loss, plus I use Crash Plan to back up the data from there, instead of the individual PCs in my network.

My solution is heavy and not for everybody, but I like it a lot. Although my server varies significantly from your needs, I'd still recommend using RAID for data protection.

I read about RAID and that does seem like the beat option. On your configuration is there a way to view remotely on WP or tablet?

 

[jmshub]

I can use remote desktop or a remote desktop or an app like TeamViewer to connect to the server if I'd like, or Microsoft offers a server companion app that I haven't used in a long time.

 

[Pete The Penguin]

I want to build a media server to be able to stream my movies, music and pictures from anywhere or a tv. I am debating a couple of options and wondering what all your thoughts are:

1). Build an Ubuntu media server using Ubuntu server, low power and stable. Dedicated machine to just run as a server with all my stuff

2) Windows Server dedicated to media, no screen just like I would do with Ubuntu, dedicated media server.

3) install a 1TB or more HD in a desktop and run Plex. So I can access all my stuff on the go.

I am still doing all my research, but wanted to start soliciting thoughts from thus community.

Note: I am primarily a WP user, however I am not anti Linux, just no apple

How about using a dedicated NAS box?

 

[azcruz]

I use Synology for this purpose + more. Currently has 9TB of disks.
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