Server build help needs

robbietech

As far as a media server is concerned, given that you are already interested in a Raspberry Pi (3?), I would suggest installing the OpenELEC distro (OpenELEC Mediacenter - Download ) which includes kodi.  I have been using OpenELEC on an RPi2 for sometime and it seems to work well for a system that only has 1GB of RAM and a MicroSD system disk.  Do your homework to figure out what applications on kodi that you will be using.  Also, what sort of media server are you after?  Are you going to store yourself a lot of purchased or downloaded media?  If so, you will need additional storage somewhere in your house or on the media server itself.  There is no "one size fits all".  More homework for you.

I noted that you did not express an interest in any of the pre-built media server solutions that typically run on other hardware.

If the Raspberry Pi based solution is unsatisfactory, you can always assemble a kodi build (or something else) on a more conventional server like a Mini-ITX motherboard based system running Debian, Xubuntu, Fedora, etc.  More homework for you, again.

"control what goes in/out of Internet from my family's devices" - that sounds like you want to implement an Internet proxy.  This would create a significant Intranet (LAN) hop in front of your router.  You up for proxy administration?  I've done it before on Unix and it entails time/effort in network planning, build, and administration.  Also, given this new "man in the middle", there would be some performance price and potential complaints from your "customers".  If you are intent on this, do your home work on how-to and start with an inexpensive Mini-ITX build based system using a Linux distro.  But, I am really not recommending going this route.

If you are concerned about kids, I would recommend having them use Macs and turn on password-based parental controls.  I have seen that work very well although Mac comes with a financial price tag.  Maybe they are already using Macs?  It might be cheaper than setting up another server that you have to administer.  What's your time worth?  (=:

Thank you for your insight!  I am not committed to Raspberry PI and really did not inquire about any other media server solutions.  I am new to the maker hacker world and would like to begin with something I can not only use effectively but really sink my teeth into and learn/grow as I go.

My family uses mostly windows based and android based technology.  With this being said we do have 3 iphone users as well that also connect to my internet.  I do use the built in parental controls for the 2 younger kids but when my older kids "get too big for their britches" I would like to be able to deny services readily and make them use their hotspot to see just what they are costing and not contributing.  I guess in a nutshell I want to use this means as an objective lesson.

I am also interested in building my own CNC and or 3D printer so I kinda have in mind using a dev board that I can be consistent with.

I will cross these paths in due time, I appreciate your help moving forward with input to media server solutions first.  I do plan to store purchased and downloaded media.  I would also like to stream media from the internet and save if possible so I can watch at my leisure as I work odd shifts and miss episodes that I would have to wait to watch before the next episode is live.  kinda get out of the loop like missing a 24 episode and then trying to tie the pieces in the next episode.

Sorry so chatty but hopefully you can help focus me on tasks at hand.

Robbei