The optimal organization of a home media server?

Question

HTPC

I wanted to buy such a wonderful thing as HP Microserver for my home in order to use it as a storage / rocking chair / media library.
It is clear that you can just take, install Windows or Linux, configure, spin up and everything will be fine.
but since there is much less knowledge in Linux than in Windows, but I want to learn and use it, therefore I would like to put several virtual machines on the microserver for this, since there is virtualization support and the processor is not the weakest (more powerful than the ion) (AMD N40L)
1. Not only that, I see the advantages of a virtual machine in the fact that I install a hypervisor, raise guest OSes and can put the device in a corner only turned on in 220 / lan, and I can lift / drop / overload / anything over the network as much as I like, right?
2. If you make virtual machines, then which hypervisor to prefer?
I want virtual machines to be placed simply in a container in the FS and they can be backed up / killed / created
3. As a distribution kit for experiments, I chose Zentyal for now
, maybe there is something better?
I want from a Linux machine - downloading torrents, apache + php + mysql, games with different media servers such as subsonic, DLNA server, samba, and in general, if possible, install everything on it
for compatibility (so that it is)
4. the most important question:
if you still want to connect the server directly to the TV in order to watch movies on it using something like XBMC, then
a. Will virtual machines interfere with me? is it possible to run a guest OS so that it uses video output to the integrated video card:
I heard that there is no way to use hardware acceleration with virtual machines, which calls into question the compatibility of virtual machines and video viewing / decoding. Has anyone done experiments? Is it watchable or do you need only a full-fledged OS without virtualization?

Answer 1

1. The microserver, as far as I remember, cannot do hardware virtualization.
2. To manage virtual machines, you need a completely separate machine - 2008 in core mode with the role of hypervi, steers remotely and with trimmed functionality, more details on the MS website, they have a hypervisor ibet for free, on esxi in the console you can only change the IP address and login / password of users - to manage virtual machines, you need a separate Windows with vsphere,
3. for ESXi, you need a hardware raid, plus hardware support for virtualization. and a very strange compatibility list, otherwise it won't take off.
4. Forwarding hardware devices is very specific.
5. a thread of asus with dd-vrt/openvrt or installed linux + external usb broom/storage with a thread of FreeNAS will cost ten times less electricity than any server on an atom. On some routers with a lot of memory, people completely installed normal Linux with buns in the form of an asterisk and forwarding the city line into a wifi tube.

Answer 2

I advise you to put debian and not bathe.
Although, if there is no experience in Linux at all, you can start with bubunta.
1. Explain why you need virtual machines on a media server?
2.
3. In general, I have never heard of such a distribution
4. a) they will not interfere, but you will have to sweat a lot; b) if you use hardware virtualization, then VDPAU will work.

Answer 3

Start reading here and here .
You can take something like ASUS O! Play and don't worry. There is a player and a torrent.
You can find topics about him on Habré.
But they say that the most convenient is a router that can download torrents to external hard drives such as NAS and a player like asus.