I've got an old desktop that's not very powerful (6GB RAM, no dedicated GPU, and a CPU that's a bit questionable), which I want to turn into a server for hosting game servers, media, and file storage. It's currently running Windows 10, but I'd like to switch it to a Linux distro. I'm looking for a lightweight option with a graphical user interface because I'd prefer to avoid the command line for this setup. I'm somewhat familiar with Linux from my time using Ubuntu, so I'm open to trying more complex distros too. However, if I discover that managing a server through the terminal isn't as scary as I think, I'd be willing to explore CLI-only distros as well. Any recommendations?
7 Answers
You could try options like ProXMoX, Rockstor, or OpenMediaServer. They don't have a traditional GUI, but they provide a web-based interface for remote management. It means you can set everything up without needing a physical presence at the machine.
The lightness of a distro often depends more on the desktop environment than the distro itself. Lightweight DEs like Xfce, MATE, and LXQt are key. Linux Mint, Debian, Fedora, and even Ubuntu have versions that include these DEs. Consider trying Xubuntu or Lubuntu if you're sticking with Ubuntu—those should perform well on older hardware.
For sure! Those options should give you a good balance of performance and familiarity.
Have you thought about trying Proxmox? It provides a user interface you can get used to, and you can still SSH into it if you need to. There’s a bit of a learning curve, but it’s pretty nice overall.
There's no skipping the terminal if you want to set up a server effectively. Distros like Ubuntu Server, Debian Minimal, and Rocky Linux are solid choices. You can add Linux Cockpit to access things through a browser if you want a web management option. Just remember, using the terminal is a big part of managing a Linux server, so get comfortable with it.
I get that, but I would like to limit terminal use as much as possible. However, many services I plan to run come with web UIs, so I'm hopeful about that!
That sounds like a solid plan! Definitely give it a try, and if you hit any roadblocks, you can always go back to a GUI.
The GUI aspect won't really help with configuring your server. Most server tasks are done via web GUIs or command-line interfaces. Proxmox and OpenMediaServer are easier to manage options, so they're worth considering.
Honestly, if you're setting up a server, some terminal work is pretty unavoidable. You might want to enjoy the GUI of your main PC while accessing the server through SSH rather than relying on a desktop environment on the server itself. It could save you resources.
Linux Mint’s XFCE edition is a great choice for older machines—it runs smoothly.
Yeah, it's my go-to for low-spec systems! I've used it on netbooks and it worked great for years.
Thanks for the tip! I appreciate knowing that the DE is the main factor. I think I'll go with Ubuntu since I'm familiar with it and check out Xubuntu or Lubuntu for a lighter setup.