Recommendation for Single Board Computer for personal home server

Hello, I'm a Linux enthusiast and would love to run a home server with an SBC. I'm planning to run Ubuntu or Debian server in it. These are my following use case scenarios:
1. HTTP server
2. samba file server
3. ssh daemon
4. proxy
5. SATA support
6. Gigabit ethernet
7. No need for WiFi

I also have a spare of 3GB DDR3 RAM, so if the board supports adding external RAM would be an advantage. My current budget is under $150. Can you please suggest some SBC's with good performance. GPIO pins support would be great.

I use a raspberry pi for 1-3,7 and as a mail server, its on 24/7 running debian, easy to use easy to set up low power.

For a SATA interface, there is cubiebox, cubietruck.

Originally Posted by Keith Hedger I use a raspberry pi for 1-3,7 and as a mail server, its on 24/7 running debian, easy to use easy to set up low power.

Is it possible to run Ubuntu server ARM or a plain Debian in it?

Originally Posted by veerain For a SATA interface, there is cubiebox, cubietruck.

Cubie seems to be costlier.

Originally Posted by gowthamgts Is it possible to run Ubuntu server ARM or a plain Debian in it?

I use the plain raspberien.

Raspberry Pi2 here for my home server

You could try a Banana Pi. This is a Raspberry Pi clone but with SATA: http://www.bananapi.org/

I'd use a BeagleBone Black. The Rev C boards come with Debian, but you can run anything, including Ubuntu. I'd stick with Debian. All the rest of the stuff you can run.

I'd run it off of the internal MMC and store all personal and medial files on a USB attached drive. Just make sure you use a powered USB HUB for your peripherals.

Originally Posted by gowthamgts Is it possible to run Ubuntu server ARM or a plain Debian in it?

Yes, I ran debian armel (ARMv4) on my model B pi. Although in a round about way. Install raspbian, save it's kernel (/lib/modules/...) and wipe it's / partition. cfdisk to reallocate the / partition to expand it. mkfs to create the filesystem. And while booted to raspbian do a debootstrap install to that partition (implies two cards and a usb card reader). You will likely want a custom compiled kernel though. And the sunxi/fbturbo video driver for anything GUI. For the pi 2 you can use the armhf (ARMv7) version of debian. Raspbian is just simpler and optimized for the pi. But raspbian has it's annoyances.

There's the odroid C1, which has gigabit ethernet where the pi is still 10/100. I was drooling over the utilite when it first came out because of dual gigabit ethernet and a SATA port. But way over priced IMO. The cubie options are probably more in line with your specs. The cubox has eSATA. And I think the cubie truck 4 meets most of those reqs. But to be honest, once you crest that $100 mark, might as well get something normal-ish like an hp stream 11. And your extras on a USB3.0 hub. There's not much of a learning curve with that route and most things just work. Caveat, need a 3.19+ kernel for the touchpad.

gowthamgts,

Personally I would go for the latest Raspberry Pi 2 - Model B with Raspbian as the OS:

http://thepihut.com/products/raspberry-pi-2-model-b

For Gigabit LAN you would need to add something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...HY4ZTHOAC6B46S

Relative benchmark speeds:
http://www.midwesternmac.com/blogs/j...bit-networking

You may find this comparison of Rasp Pi vs Banana Pi of interest:

http://www.htpcguides.com/raspberry-...ro-benchmarks/

What kind of data. If your wanting to stream media to an HTPC then you may need gigE but for sharing basic files, making backups, etc 100M seems sufficient.

http://www.itrunsonlinux.com/hardwar...compute-stick/

Maybe fitlet?
Its basic is $129

http://www.fit-pc.com/web/products/s...pecifications/

Otherwise RPI (Raspberry Pi). Raspbian is essentially Debian for RPI.