What Is The Best File Server OS?

Question

I have access to Windows Server 2003 and 2008, and I can get any Linux distro preferred, I'm just having trouble finding the one best suited for being specifically a file server.
Thanks in advanced!

Answer 1

2003 and 2008 will be equally good, but 2008 will be supported by Microsoft longer.



Linux as a file server takes some configuration, but works well unless you're on an Active Directory domain. On Active Directory, nothing beats a Windows file server. Many Linux based servers exist that claim to work with Active Directory, but they all leave you wanting for more features.



I have done a *lot* of research into Windows based file server hardware. As far as terabytes per dollar, you can't beat the Ion Terastation: http://www.ioncomputer.com/ION/EntryPoint.cfm?BodyPage=ShopCart/SystemPage.cfm?Model=TERASTATION4



I have a Terastation with 16 x 7200 RPM SATA drives, and it's been running like a champ for 5 years for about 200 users.

Answer 2

in case you go the Linux path with an undemanding shared report server, you will choose Samba. Of the smaller Distros, domestic dog Linux has a small memory footprint and additionally has maximum if not each and all of the courses you will choose precompiled. Fedora 8 will artwork properly nevertheless 9 and 10 look buggy in some aspects. i haven't tried 11 yet. otherwise,you should apply Win98 or maybe Win95 for an undemanding report share device. The advice right here could be to create a 2nd partition at thecontinual so as that the working device must be thoroughly remoted from the shared area of thecontinual even nevertheless the sharing device helps guy or woman directories and separate passwords for each share. in case you'll have greater shield and constrained get admission to, back to Linux and the configuration gets exciting. on a similar time as there are strategies which will help you configure Samba, i haven't stumbled on any that relatively do the job. I constantly finally end up manually changing the configuration. undergo in techniques, there became an entire e book revealed merely on Samba and this is rather super. I particularly have an FTP/Apache/Samba report server working off of Fedora 8 at artwork on the community community. in case you think of configuring Samba is enjoyable, you will desire to do Apache, Samba and FTP so as that all of them artwork on the comparable report share path. usually I particularly have Apache serving up the archives and FTP just to function archives to the study basically area of the server. Samba nonetheless isn't working the way i like it to artwork. The particularly undesirable area is it became usually a wasted attempt and the archives are nonetheless served off of the Win98 gadget that i began out with around 10 years in the past. no person likes replace. The Linux device is particularly much less complicated to apply in spite of the undeniable fact that this is secure greater advantageous and a sprint greater troublesome to function new archives. Configuring desktops or in certainty doing something different than the bare minimum to maintain them working is "a waste of time." So i'm usually fixing a disaster whilst issues stop working. Shadow Wolf

Answer 3

I'd say go for centos:



http://www.centos.org



That is the best Linux file server except RHEL which is the one distro you can't get a --legal -- copy of most likely.

Answer 4

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http://www.howtoforge.com/