Home Server

[Marcvs]

Trying to design a small home server to run a few things on for some relatives.

Space is highly at a premium and budget is as low as possible.

Things it needs to do.

Have some way to perform backups on both OSX and windows - preferably automated (im thinking a networked drives linked to time-machine should do it)
Support GigE
Run FTP Server (internal use)
Run a torrent client.
Supporting 3 or 4+ HDDs would be superb
Low power draw would also be very useful.
Would be cool if can figure out a way to play back 1080p video via a HDMI connection

Things I have laying around:
HDDs (500Gb ones - enough to get setup)

Am entirely open to suggestions regarding OS

[herulach]

What's your budget, and how confident are you you won't need to do anything else? Everything except the hdmi connection can be done by a dumb NAS product, with the advantages of a neat Web based interface.

If you'd rather have something more general purpose then either a fairly standard apu based build (which should be doable in the 200 range or a Hp microserver + cheap GPU (assuming the 100 cashback is still on) will work fine.

The former being more powerful, but the latter having a better warranty and likely much more energy efficient

[Marcvs]

Budget wise as cheap as possible, low 200s-250 would be ok, but ofc ill take less if i can get it for less without too much compromise.

Since when can a NAS run a torrent thingy, at least with a significant number of torrents going?

I generally prefer build my own vs premade stuff - its easier and cheaper to fix down the line, plus i can swap parts out if i need to.

Also on requirements, its for relatives so who knows what they will decide 6 months down the line - If i can get one that would work as a htpc too i might build one of my own down the line.

[GeorgeStorm]

I would recommend a Microserver, but if you want to make your own an AMD APU mitx setup might be good.

[herulach]

Budget wise as cheap as possible, low 200s-250 would be ok, but ofc ill take less if i can get it for less without too much compromise.

Since when can a NAS run a torrent thingy, at least with a significant number of torrents going?

I generally prefer build my own vs premade stuff - its easier and cheaper to fix down the line, plus i can swap parts out if i need to.

Also on requirements, its for relatives so who knows what they will decide 6 months down the line - If i can get one that would work as a htpc too i might build one of my own down the line.

Since at least 2004, I used to have an nlsu2 which sat with easily 2/300 torrents active. Scan have a 2 bay dlink unit for 50 quid including print server, NFS, smb dlna & torrents

Getting into 4 bays is more expensive, and a microserver+Ubuntu, xbmc & transmission is probably a better choice, but its at least 100 quid more expensive.

[Marcvs]

Yea really would prefer the 4 bay option here.

[GoNz0]

Yea really would prefer the 4 bay option here.

people keep saying the HP microserver, 4 bay, under £100 after cashback, job done and you don't have to build anything

[Marcvs]

Ive blown up 2 Microservers, plus the cases are fugly .

Also cheapest i can find with cashback is 150.

[Macadee]

Had this e-mailed this morning : http://www.box.co.uk/HP_ProLiant_Mic...__1341681.html, £110 after cashback

[MrJim]

CCL Have HP Microservers with £100 cashback, plus you can get 3% back through Quidco too:

http://www.cclonline.com/product/108...erver/SRV0383/