Hi there,

I'm planning to install a small nettop computer as a home file- and media-server in my home network. I want it to run Linux but I'm unsure which distribution is best suited for this task. It should meet the following requirements:

• Able to be controlled completely via SSH
• Small X-Window-System that allows VNC control
• Ability to run a DLNA-Server (with fast indexing of available files)
• Running a webserver and bittorrent client
• Running Samba with easy configuration
• Small size (<= 10 GB)
• Huge available repository in case I want to install new applications

I'd personally prefer a distro with an active "root" user (I simply don't like the Debian-style) but that's not a requirement.

TIA
SoWhy

Here are several of the nauseating "Which distro is best for ________" threads. The common response is, "Try this one because it's my favorite." In the end, the answer is....pick your favorite and configure it to do what you want and/or need.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...for-me-914088/
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...t-time-876126/
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...-my-pc-832902/
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...esktop-777954/
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...rdware-759287/
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...stions-731182/

I'm aware of such threads but I'm also aware that there are a number of specialized Linux distros that you don't find easily (such as RIP Linux), hence the question. I know I can just pick one and configure it like I want it but I'd prefer to start with one that's already specialized for the task at hand

Any distro.

Any distro.

Sorry, don't know.

Any distro.

Any distro. Since Samba is the same on all distros the configuration is the same on all distros.

I don't know of a server distro that is that large in a default install and even with the packages you need installed. Even if you make a full install of Slackware, which is not needed on a server, you won't get your system so big.

Debian, RHEL/CentOS/SL, Ubuntu -> a lot of Software available in repositories
the above + Slackware -> even more Software available as source code

In fact Debian has an active root user in the default install, and many Debian derived distros have. The use of sudo together with deactivating the root account was an "invention" of Canonical for Ubuntu. So I hope you mean: I simply don't like the Ubuntu-style.

So when I see your requirements I would recommend Debian, CentOS or Slackware. But as always, try them all (you can use a VM for that) and see which one you like the most.