Engineers Garage

  • Electronic Projects & Tutorials
    • Electronic Projects
      • Arduino Projects
      • AVR
      • Raspberry pi
      • ESP8266
      • BeagleBone
      • 8051 Microcontroller
      • ARM
      • PIC Microcontroller
      • STM32
    • Tutorials
      • Audio Electronics
      • Battery Management
      • Brainwave
      • Electric Vehicles
      • EMI/EMC/RFI
      • Hardware Filters
      • IoT tutorials
      • Power Tutorials
      • Python
      • Sensors
      • USB
      • VHDL
    • Circuit Design
    • Project Videos
    • Components
  • Articles
    • Tech Articles
    • Insight
    • Invention Stories
    • How to
    • What Is
  • News
    • Electronic Product News
    • Business News
    • Company/Start-up News
    • DIY Reviews
    • Guest Post
  • Forums
    • EDABoard.com
    • Electro-Tech-Online
    • EG Forum Archive
  • DigiKey Store
    • Cables, Wires
    • Connectors, Interconnect
    • Discrete
    • Electromechanical
    • Embedded Computers
    • Enclosures, Hardware, Office
    • Integrated Circuits (ICs)
    • Isolators
    • LED/Optoelectronics
    • Passive
    • Power, Circuit Protection
    • Programmers
    • RF, Wireless
    • Semiconductors
    • Sensors, Transducers
    • Test Products
    • Tools
  • Learn
    • eBooks/Tech Tips
    • Design Guides
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Webinars & Digital Events
  • Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • EE Training Days
    • LEAP Awards
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • White Papers
    • Engineering Diversity & Inclusion
    • DesignFast
  • Guest Post Guidelines
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

The top home-server software options of 2022

By Nikhil Agnihotri December 29, 2022

Servers are no longer limited to corporate offices and are common in homes. They can run 24×7 on any low-cost PC or microcomputer. 

A home server manages online communication, internet browsing, downloading, and file sharing between computers, tablets, mobile phones, printers, and other smart home appliances. They can also serve as centralized media storage for data stored on such devices. 

Microcomputers like Raspberry Pi can be configured as network-attached storage (NAS) to run as a home server, capable of managing a home network or small office. 

The minimum hardware required for a home server is a computer with a sufficient hard disk or a microcomputer configured as a NAS system. There are several home server software options, many of which are open-source and free to use. More costly versions are also available, and each with pros and cons. 

Choosing the ideal home-server software system can be daunting, with several key factors, including security, speed, cost, ease of use, setup options, and after-sale support. 

In this article, we’ll discuss some of the top software available in 2022, including free and paid server options. 

Ubuntu is one of the most common home-server software options. It’s free, open-source, and secure. You’ll need to be familiar with Linux to use it and expect manual, command-line installation. It’s a do-it-yourself home server — but that means you won’t need to rely on a service provider or a plugin developer. 

Fortunately, plenty of support is available for the Ubuntu installation. After setup, the Atomic Scripts are simple and easy to use and maintain. 

Amahi is currently the best free home server software with a comprehensive user interface, so no command-line instructions are required. Built on Fedora Linux, it’s a beginner-friendly server with several advanced features. These include media streaming, email management, disk pooling, iCal, calendar integration, file sharing, DNS, VPN, and multiple backups with one-click apps. 

Amahi is considered a “Home Digital Assistant,” offering a secure option to store, organize, and share media files like recorded TV shows, music, and videos. It has cross-platform compatibility between desktop computers, laptops, OS, and consoles. The base system and several plugins are available without cost, but some of the plugins have a price tag.

Emby offers a website builder, providing full control of the media stored on the server. It supports multiple video formats, including MP3, MP4, AVI, MPEG, WMV, and several others. It automatically detects digital living networking alliance (DLNA) devices, which means users can directly stream media (including live TV) from their smartphones or computers connected to the server. It also comes with parental.

FreeNAS is a free, open-source storage source designed for cross-platform compatibility and runs through an optical disk or a pen drive. It only requires 96MB RAM to operate, making it ideal for home use. FreeNAS offers secure backup of local and cloud-based data both.

Built on FreeBSD, FreeNAS allows for data encryption and backup, supporting several file-sharing protocols, such as AFP for Apple, CIFS/SMB for Microsoft Windows, NFS for Unix devices, and FTP and WebDAV for the web. It also supports MiniDLNA.

FreeNAS’ features can be extended with plugins, including Bacula-SD, Emby, CouchPotato, SubSonic, ownCloud, MineOS, Plexmediaserver, BTsync, CrashPlan, S3cmd, Cruciblewds, Sonarr, Syncthing, SickBeard, Transmission, SickRage, XDM, SABnzbd, FireFly, HTPC manager, Mylar, Maraschino, and Headphones.

Xigma NAS is another free, open-source storage option for a home server. Like FreeNAS, it can run via a hard drive, SSD, optical disk, or pen drive. With a web-based user interface, Xigma NAS is easy to use and troubleshoot. It has a smart-monitoring feature that automatically notifies users via email if any storage or media concerns are detected. It supports file sharing with Apple macOS, Microsoft Windows, Unix devices, Android, and iOS. The database support includes MySQL, which is managed through PhpMyAdmin. Data encryption is also supported.

Plex is ideal if you intend to stream videos or build a streaming website. It requires no technical know-how and can be set up in minutes. It’s designed for video streaming, however, so the server has system requirements — meaning you’ll need a high-quality computer to run Plex.

Plex operates as a centralized library where several formats of videos, music, photos, and other media can be stored, organized, shared, and edited. It can be downloaded for Microsoft Windows, macOS, FreeBSD, Linux, Dockers, and several NAS operating systems.

Plex supports data encryption, watch history for each account, direct streaming of TV shows, and mobile and cloud synchronization. You can create and manage multiple accounts with sharing restrictions and parental control.

ClearOS is a Linux-based server operating system, developed by Linus Torvalds. Currently, it offers more than 100 apps and comes in a free community version and a paid professional version. It is preloaded with a small-to-midsized business server and is ideal for small IT offices.

As a home server, ClearOS has selective applications. The biggest advantage of ClearOS is its flexibility as it comes with a fully functional Linux Kernel that can be tailored according to preference. It’s easy to use and includes a free server.

OpenFiler offers free and commercial versions. It has a Microsoft-based server edition and a Linux-based home edition. OpenFiler is a powerful server to run a full-fledged NAS system or an IP storage gateway. Unfortunately, it does not support the latest versions of macOS. It’s more of a storage operating system than a media server.

OpenFiler is worth trying if you require an industrial-level server with availability for home use. It has a web-based user interface and supports multiple file-sharing protocols with cross-platform compatibility. It also offers cost-free storage capacity expansion. Thisguide is a helpful resource for installing OpenFiler. 

Open Media Vault (OMV) is a free, open-source, Debian Linux-based storage operating system, ideal for a home or small-office network. It has a web-based administration with multi-lingual support. OMV can be configured for multiple users and requires no networking knowledge for setup or maintenance.

It features a smart-monitoring system, and its functionalities are extended with the help of plugins. The file-sharing protocols supported include SSH, FTP, NFS, RSync, and SMB/CIFS. Some popular OVM plugins include USB backup, FileBrowser, ShairPort, OneDrive, SSH Web Console, DAAP/MPD/RSP server, TFTP, PhotoPrism, S3, antivirus, LVM, SNMP, UPS, and S3.

Rockstor is ideal for use as a private cloud server that can be configured as home server using plugins. It’s a Linux and BTRFS-based storage operating system with advanced NAS and cloud server features. It can be set up using Raspberry Pi 4, ARM 64, or openSUS-compatible systems. It comes with a ready-to-use installer for Raspberry Pi and ARM64EFI.

Although not free, Rockstor provides strong privacy, secure data storage, encryption, and file-sharing protocols for all major platforms. A custom installer can be built using openSUSE. 

Windows Server 2019. Windows Home Server was discontinued in 2013. Those who still want to run a home server in a Windows-like environment can now use Windows Server 2019 for managing files and media in a personal home network. 

Windows Server 2019 offers excellent media streaming with complete backup and is available with a lifetime license. The server can be managed remotely by a simple and intuitive user interface and maintains an image-based backup for each computer and device. The storage capacity can also be expanded by adding hard drives. 

Final thoughts
Several other popular home-server software options include Serviio, Universal Media Server, PlayOn, OpenFLIXR Media Server, Kodi Open Source Home Server, OSMC, and Madsonic. The best free and open-source software is currently the first on our list, Ubuntu.

If Linux is unfamiliar to you, Amahi, Open Media Vault, and ClearOS offer simpler interfaces. Plex and Emby Media Server offer the most straightforward interfaces to work with. If you require a private cloud server as an alternative to cloud services, Rockstor is the choice. In case, you miss Windows Home Server, Windows Server 2019 is the only resort.

 

You may also like:


  • What is FreeRTOS?

  • What are the top open-source software systems for home automation?

  • How to use ESP8266/ESP32 as a TCP server and client…

  • Understanding the basics of MicroPython programming

  • How to design an online home-surveillance system using Raspberry Pi

Filed Under: ARM, Software, Tech Articles
Tagged With: amahi, arm, emby, homeserver, server, smarthome, software, ubuntu
 

Next Article

← Previous Article
Next Article →

Questions related to this article?
👉Ask and discuss on EDAboard.com and Electro-Tech-Online.com forums.



Tell Us What You Think!! Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

EE TECH TOOLBOX

“ee
Tech Toolbox: Internet of Things
Explore practical strategies for minimizing attack surfaces, managing memory efficiently, and securing firmware. Download now to ensure your IoT implementations remain secure, efficient, and future-ready.

EE Learning Center

EE Learning Center
“engineers
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for EE professionals.

HAVE A QUESTION?

Have a technical question about an article or other engineering questions? Check out our engineering forums EDABoard.com and Electro-Tech-Online.com where you can get those questions asked and answered by your peers!


RSS EDABOARD.com Discussions

  • Reducing "shoot-through" in offline Full Bridge SMPS?
  • What is the purpose of using a VCVS?
  • Checking line impedance
  • Why do I hear whistling sounds in my vents?
  • Mains inverter with switching node going out on the mains cable!?

RSS Electro-Tech-Online.com Discussions

  • Why can't I breadboard this oscillator?
  • Failure of polypropylene motor-run capacitors
  • a point I can't understand about the sinc expression
  • Quick advice on remote car starter?
  • Wideband matching an electrically short bowtie antenna; 50 ohm, 434 MHz

Featured – RPi Python Programming (27 Part)

  • RPi Python Programming 21: The SIM900A AT commands
  • RPi Python Programming 22: Calls & SMS using a SIM900A GSM-GPRS modem
  • RPi Python Programming 23: Interfacing a NEO-6MV2 GPS module with Raspberry Pi
  • RPi Python Programming 24: I2C explained
  • RPi Python Programming 25 – Synchronous serial communication in Raspberry Pi using I2C protocol
  • RPi Python Programming 26 – Interfacing ADXL345 accelerometer sensor with Raspberry Pi

Recent Articles

  • AC-DC power supply extends voltage range to 800 V DC
  • Infineon’s inductive sensor integrates coil system driver, signal conditioning circuits and DSP
  • Arm Cortex-M23 MCU delivers 87.5 µA/MHz active mode
  • STMicroelectronics releases automotive amplifiers with in-play open-load detection
  • Convection-cooled power controller integrates EtherCat connectivity

EE ENGINEERING TRAINING DAYS

engineering

Submit a Guest Post

submit a guest post
Engineers Garage
  • Analog IC TIps
  • Connector Tips
  • Battery Power Tips
  • DesignFast
  • EDABoard Forums
  • EE World Online
  • Electro-Tech-Online Forums
  • EV Engineering
  • Microcontroller Tips
  • Power Electronic Tips
  • Sensor Tips
  • Test and Measurement Tips
  • 5G Technology World
  • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy

Search Engineers Garage

  • Electronic Projects & Tutorials
    • Electronic Projects
      • Arduino Projects
      • AVR
      • Raspberry pi
      • ESP8266
      • BeagleBone
      • 8051 Microcontroller
      • ARM
      • PIC Microcontroller
      • STM32
    • Tutorials
      • Audio Electronics
      • Battery Management
      • Brainwave
      • Electric Vehicles
      • EMI/EMC/RFI
      • Hardware Filters
      • IoT tutorials
      • Power Tutorials
      • Python
      • Sensors
      • USB
      • VHDL
    • Circuit Design
    • Project Videos
    • Components
  • Articles
    • Tech Articles
    • Insight
    • Invention Stories
    • How to
    • What Is
  • News
    • Electronic Product News
    • Business News
    • Company/Start-up News
    • DIY Reviews
    • Guest Post
  • Forums
    • EDABoard.com
    • Electro-Tech-Online
    • EG Forum Archive
  • DigiKey Store
    • Cables, Wires
    • Connectors, Interconnect
    • Discrete
    • Electromechanical
    • Embedded Computers
    • Enclosures, Hardware, Office
    • Integrated Circuits (ICs)
    • Isolators
    • LED/Optoelectronics
    • Passive
    • Power, Circuit Protection
    • Programmers
    • RF, Wireless
    • Semiconductors
    • Sensors, Transducers
    • Test Products
    • Tools
  • Learn
    • eBooks/Tech Tips
    • Design Guides
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Webinars & Digital Events
  • Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • EE Training Days
    • LEAP Awards
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • White Papers
    • Engineering Diversity & Inclusion
    • DesignFast
  • Guest Post Guidelines
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe