I am building a home server but I don't really know what OS I should use.
It's main purpose will be file hosting but I also want to be able to use it for other things (like streaming media or host a website).
Being able to set permissions for different users would be nice
In my home we have a few Windows pc's (all vista or newer) and 1 mac.
My family isn't that tech savy so easy of use would be important (it doesn't matter if setting it up is complicating)
CentOS
If the main purpose is file hosting then just install regular Windows 7. You can create a file share, share it on the network, and set permissions just fine with Windows 7. There's more flexibility in a server OS but it doesn't sound like you're doing anything that would require such an elaborate solution.
Thanks for the advice, playing around with CentOS at the moment.
Why not Linux? Its a great server OS because you can run a bypass channel to any OS on another computer, and its free!
If you know windows 7 then use it as its not really a mission critical server. If you want to try linux alot of ppl like ubuntu and mint personaly I go for fedora and would recomend it over CentOS because CentOS is pretty much just fedora but with a smaller and older software repo.
I'm agreeing with Linux. You might have to skim through some documentation, but it's pretty easy to use, free, includes some very powerfull features, and rock solid stable. You definately try Ubuntu as they have a lot of support. I haven't tried CentOS.
I'd use Debian because that's my favourite, but you can use any distro. CentOS is just RHEL with the E removed.
I would go with debian minimal with no de.
unraid?
FreeNAS give it a go