First of all, I thought long and hard as to where to post this, and even though this isn't WHS, it is kind of related! Mods, please move if you feel it is better suited elsewhere.

So, I've been considering the pro's and cons of what to go for for a simple home server that's primary function is for storage, and ideally to stream media to a Samsung LCD. Secondary functions really just come down to "What else it can do" and "Oh cool, I can do this too".

So far my options seem to be:

FreeNAS - I've used this before and liked it for its simplicity and low overheads.
Windows Home Server - Would rather a "Free" option, but hey if the extra's can justify the Benjamin’s then why not, and Windows is mainly windows, right?
Ubuntu - this would be a completely new for me, but there are plenty og write ups on setting this up as a home server, plus would have the added benefits of flexibility over FreeNAS.

Note that I'm not against something new, and reliability or WAF is not an issue (it doesn't matter how often I show here what things can do, she doesn't use 'em!)


Hardware, I have a few different older comps that can be used, however, not against some new hardware if required. Will most likely be setup and hidden away in a well ventilated closet, so needs to be headless.

Opinions or comments?