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Server Software
If I was going to build me a home server, what MS server software would I want to use?
If I was going to build me a home server, what MS server software would I want to use?
Since MS has killed off Windows Home Server, you should read through the linked article to see what to buy now: Windows Server 2012 Essentials: The Home Server Replacement | Windows Server content from Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows
For a home server, often even the client editions will do perfectly fine, XP or 7 can serve well in a home environment. Windows Home Server is a good dedicated option. A dedicated Windows 2008/2012 seems too much for me, but of course it's possible and a nice way to learn it.
What task will that server have?
I see, then to begin with, I would just go for Windows 7 if things are simple, I don't think that a home can make much use of any extra features of the server-exclusive features (and better alternatives are free anyway). If it proves insufficient you can always upgrade latter.
I would go with at least the professional edition, only to have Terminal Server available so you can manage it remotely from the other computers, but if that's not necessary, even the home editions can work ok.
I've just replaced my old home server, as I only use it for sharing etc I opted for Windows 8 on a homegroup rather than WHS2011 or Server essentials and it turned out to be a great move and did everything I needed for a fraction of the cost.