What is the best/easiest home server to switch to from WHS 2011?
 

I am a total newbie and am trying to change from WHS 2011 to a linux based home server. I need it to do automatic backups from all network computers, drive pooling ( like drive extender ), media server for movies and music, file server and if possible the ability to have internal email that doesn't need the internet. Right now we have whs, 2 machines running mint and a win7 machine. We are both newbies and don't know anything about the commands so I need this to be gui and easy if possible. I am an "older" person and don't understand a lot of this ( a little slower at learning ) but really want to get away from Microsoft products. Thank you in advance for your help and patience.

That's quite a list. My suggestion to you would be to take one of your Linux boxes and set up an alternate domain server on it, you can do that with SAMBA and if you have a problem with getting it set up, there are a lot people on this board who know SAMBA quite well and will help you.
Once you have another machine logging into it as a Domain Controller, you can start looking at the other issues, I'd start with backups, since that's easy enough to do with a login script,
Samba is a file server and it's a lot easier to set up an configure than it's more high tech alternative NFS. Start with samba as your media server, if it doesn't fit your needs, upgrade to an NFS (a smaller pool of people here have experience with NFS servers, but we'll certainly try to help you with that as well).
I'm a grouchy old man, but I find that by making it a daily exercise to solve problems I'm unfamiliar with, I manage to stay...well, sharp as I ever was :)
When converting a network, it's best to set a series of goals and try to acheive them in sequence, Most of the people who get frustrated and give up do so because they are trying to fix everything at once.
Good luck and post back if you have any questions at all, the only dumb question is the one you don't ask,

First, I want to thank you for you reply dijetlo! I agree that we have quite a wish list. :) I also agree on doing this in steps instead of all at once. I will definately prioritize the list with backups being at the top. We have a spare machine I plan on setting up to test and learn on before moving the whs machine to linux as that is where all our files are at and previous backups prior to Mint. Do I need a server distribution or will Mint handle what we are trying to do? I looked at Ubuntu Server but it is all command line ( I plan on learning more as time goes on and was hoping there would be something a little easier to get me started). If not then it will just take longer to get there but I am commited to making the change. I am hoping to get the right distribution installed for what we need from the get go instead of starting over several times since we don't have backups going right now.

Thanks!

Mint is a server distribution Darlene. It's also a desktop distribution. I'm writing this on a machine that I use as a workstation, but it' also my families file/media server and up until a couple of minutes ago, it was a fully operational Apache Web server and it had that capability from the day I installed it (though it took me a while to get it configured).
The only question you have to ask yourself is which distro appeals to you. Linux is not very "distro specific", I use Slackware, but I ask questions of people who use Debian or Mint or Ubuntu with confidence they can help me fix whatever issue I'm facing. The differences are mostly stylistic, not functional, especially when your just starting out.
You can migrate from distro to distro, many people do and they get a broader understanding of the differences as a result. I'd suggest you look at Ubuntu to start, maybe someone reading this can sing it's praises, I've never used it, but I understand it's very friendly to new users. Or you can go with Slackware, it's the Distro I learned on, it's got a steeper learning curve when it comes to system management but my 14 year old uses it on her laptop, I doubt it's beyond your ability to learn. Every distro has it's strengths, the people who use it will be happy to tell you about them, but in Linux, you have options, always options...

Taking the risk to start a flame war.... but I would recommend Mint over Ubuntu. Which the OP is already using. Ubuntu tries to imitate Windows quirks just one notch too well. Mint is fine, and when using Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE) you are fully compatible with Debian Testing.

One general remark about server administration: it is better done from the command line than from a GUI. But that is difficult coming from WHS. I know people who use webmin. Although it is not my favorite, it gets the job done.

jlinkels

It's tricky isn't it? We're all advocates for our favorite flavor, did you notice how I worked three references to Slackware there at the end, one complete with my 14 year old. Totally gratuitous, I felt bad about it as soon as I did it, I'm representing myself as an impartial person here (LOAD SLACKWARE DARLENE, DON'T LISTEN TO THESE GUYS, THEY ARE JUST JEALOUS OF OUR ROCK SOLID SERVER HISTORY AND COOL TERMINAL APPS!!!) and I'm doing my best to be impartial, but it can be difficult sometimes....

:)

@Darlene, I'm just kidding, pick the one you think you'll like best and, oh, BTW, welcome to the Linuxquestions community. It can be a lot of fun once you get to know the inmates in the asylum....

I am a strict Debian guy :)
But admitted, when I have to do a quick install or test machine I mostly use Mint. You see, Ubuntu makes me puke whereas Mint does not. So I am much more righteous than most others, I do not recommend my own distribution, but something else which is good. :D

Of course, nothing beats Slackware, even I do know that. Seriously, I have not seen such a dedicated community as the Slackware community. It must be good. I am just not using it because I can't afford the time to re-learn a lot of things Slack does differently. I think Debian is a good second best when it comes to adhering to standards.

And regarding the OP: if he or she is using any distro and feels comfortable, fine. As long as it is not Ubuntu. Although there seems to be an Ubuntu server version which resembles Linux.

jlinkels

xbmcbuntu has a good dlna server if that is what op is looking for as far as a media server goes.

for my home network i have a fedora file server (using sshfs) that hosts apache but i dont have a need for email.

Thanks for all the replys and info! It has given me a better understanding about linux. I will definitely check out Slackware and Linux Mint Debian Edition. I use Mint Mate and my hubby uses Mint Cinnamon and have only been using them a month or so and so far really like it. Like I said I really don't know about the command lines in linux but have downloaded a few pdfs to try to learn about it. I will check out xbncbuntu and webmin as well once I get something up and running and get backups going. I look forward to getting to know the fine folks in this community!
It sounds like you all are really helpful and fun people. :)

"out of the box" home servers
 

Sorry for replying to an old post, but I hope to help some Linux newbies.

First of all, I know that a basic linux distribution has the same guts that a server does, so you can take a desktop distro and with few tweaks run it as a server.
The problem with that is that it takes a lot of configuration, which scares people away from linux and into open arms of Micro$oft.
Basically Linux is like getting a truck full of car parts and you are told to build your car. Linux geeks are excited since you can build anything you want or need, but your average user that just wants to use it is scared away.

So instead of suggesting to people ways to build a car, why not tell them where they can get a car that is already built by experts (which makes it much less of a security issue)

** So here are my suggestions for home linux servers that are easy to use and ready to use right out of the "box"

1) SME Server www.contribs.org (this is the one use myself)
It is super easy to install and easy to use. There is no GUI, so it minimizes security issues and reduces CPU usage, so it can be installed on older hardware. But it does have a Web based interface, which makes it easy to control even by newbs.
What I like the most about it, it uses templeting system. Basically, if you want to change something beyond what is available in web interface, you don't change the system itself, you just create a template for system to use. The nice part is that if something goes wrong, just delete the template and system returns to the original state. Unlike any other system, if you screw something bad enough, you might have to re-install the whole system.
SME server also has a lot of contribs (Programs) that can be installed that expand the functionality of the server. And active community and forums to help out.

Programs below I have not used myself, but I have heard good things about these "out of the box" home servers.

2) http://www.blueonyx.it/
3) http://www.clearfoundation.com/
4) http://www.amahi.org/