New Server build

[ftoxbix]

Hi all i have been reading this forum for a long time and finally stopped being lazy and signed up lol

Currently i have a Ubuntu Server 10.4 running with webmin, samba, torrentfluxb4, mysql,
to share files to my laptops & XBMC linux htpc running VDRtesting branch.
I have been given my works old server and not sure if i should run WHS2008 or Ubuntu Server

Dell Poweredge 840
Xeon Quad X3220 2.16ghz
2gb DDR2 (will upgrade 4 or 8gb later)
4x 1tb WD 7200rpm HDD
PowerEdge Expandable RAID Controller (PERC) 5/i http://www.overclock.net/raid-controllers-software/359025-perc-5-i-raid-card-tips.html
Adaptec(R) SCSI Card 39320A - Dual Channel Ultra320 Controller
TAS400 LTO2 Tape Drive

I am quite confident in Ubuntu but wondering if i should run WHS2008 and HyperV Ubuntu Server or ESXi (to learn). It's mainly for sharing files and at the moment i only have a 100mbit network. What Raid should i use? LTO2 Tapes are max 400gb compressed and i would like to do monthly backups of all data on server (i have enough tapes)

Any suggestion's?

 

[Dangman]

Well if you want to expand your knowledge, I'd say ESXi or 2K8 + Hyper-V.

BTW, there's no such thing as WHS2008. It's just Windows Server 2008 or 2003.

 

[ftoxbix]

Thanks for your reply.. yeah i meant Windows Server 2008 R2. I have Esxi (free version) installed on a test server (old HP Proliant GL380) I am worried about network speed (need 1gbit network?) though for file-shares also there does seem to be a way to use a tape drive for backups within the VM's. Think i will trial Windows Server 2008 R2 & Hyper V with a RAID 5 setup.

 

[ftoxbix]

Do you think torrentfluxb4 On ubuntu server will run ok as a VM? Still not convinced with Windows Server 2008 R2 and i don't really need GUI. My linux machine has been rock solid. Any suggestion's of what you would do with my hardware setup?