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!
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 which will allow you to pretty much 1 click install all the apps you see on this sub
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
Proxmox seems to be exactly what you want.
+1 for Proxmox
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.
I’m unsure how you go from proxmox to popOS… sounds like you never wanted something like proxmox.
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.
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?
Web based gui is probably preferred but either way is fine.
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.
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
It hasnt even been a whole day since the last “which OS should i use” post…
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.
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
Proxmox or TrueNAS scale I suppose. Alternatively just pure Debian/Ubuntu, you could install cockpit on top for easier administration https://cockpit-project.org/
Try Ubuntu 22.04 LTS. It has got desktop and server versions. Its free software.
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/if you do run proxmox check out this repository … jump start your rabbit hole into container
https://tteck.github.io/Proxmox/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.
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.