Which operating system/distribution/file system should I choose for my NAS/home server?

Question

linux

Hello dear community!
I decided to build myself a small NAS / server, the main tasks of which will be storing backups of my home photo archive, downloading and distributing torrents, organizing a VPN for devices in unsecured networks, gw in ipv6 Internet, maybe something else. The config is as follows: Intel Celeron G1610, 4gb ram, 2x2tb hdd, I'm going to use 16-32gb usb-flash or 2.5 hdd as a system drive. Not a monster at all in terms of performance, but it should be enough for the tasks at hand.
The following related questions arose:
1) Which wasp to choose? The main one for me is Windows, so the first thought was to roll this particular OS. However, there are several factors against this:
- still remaining "user" and not "server", it is overloaded with a mass of unnecessary services and processes that will not interfere, but still are not necessary in this case. And the place and resources will eat.
- Linux now occupies a very good position in this market. The advantage is its modular structure, the absence and / or the ability to quickly and easily get rid of unnecessary services or, on the contrary, increase functionality.
- In Linux, my knowledge is extremely scarce, so I would like to take a closer look at the internal structure of this OS using this example. Although in this case the process can turn into an endless dance with a tambourine instead of it just works.
- Windows requires maintenance itself.
Arguments "for" the windows:
- Windows is more familiar :) I have more experience with it and if any problems and tasks arise, I will at least know where to dig.
- Better driver and device support. Although what is there to "support" here, the config is as simple as an iron :)
- There is some specific software like a client for the mail.ru cloud, which has no alternative and is not expected under the tench. I know about Vine, but this is a crutch, and communication with Linux will be through the console, and the window application cannot be wrapped in it.
2) In the case of choosing Linux, the following sub-questions arise:
- Which distribution kit to choose? Tentative List: Debian 8.1, CentOS 7, Ubuntu Server. I would like to hear the pros and cons of these distributions. I will also consider the reasoned proposals of all FreeNAS and the like.
- Which FS to choose? I know that unlike Windows, under Linux, to put it mildly, there is a whole zoo of them. It is clear that this issue can also be solved in principle by the method of scientific poke, but converting and driving back and forth 4tb of important and heavy files, to put it mildly, is not a fast process. I would like to know in advance in the direction of which FS to look. Maybe there is a guide?
The main clients for this setup will be Windows computers and Android devices.
I do not want to raise the issue of Windows licensing in this discussion.
Raspberry does not need to be advised, all sorts of rented cloud hosting too :)

Answer 1

Download Free/Open BSD, put the system unit in a closet, and forget about it for 30 years.
Windu does not need to be put under any sauce. Better to just shoot yourself in the foot.

Answer 2

freenas.org
openmediavault.org
nas4free.org
openfiler.com
well, for aesthetes https://community.nexenta.com/welcome
well, you can consider raising the server Windows in the core version as a file server. the pros are obvious

Answer 3

Debian 8.1, ext4. No tambourines are needed, do not read all sorts of horror stories from a hundred years ago. Everything will just work.
If it is supposed to do RAID on the HDD, then do only software.

Answer 4

I have experience with FreeNas. True, it is more tailored for a corporate user, but there are also some goodies for the home.
What's good is a web interface with all the features, file sharing using different protocols, stability, no problems in case of power failure.
I have more than five systems with a service life of more than 3 years. D' Normalization writes about BSD systems correctly.
There are no VPN and network goodies managed from the Web interface.
ZFS file system.
If Linux - for him the most stable FS - ext4. Maybe not the most productive, but stable.

Answer 5

There is a mail.ru cloud client for Linux, but only a graphical version, there is no console management.