Linux/Unix server OS for a file server

What Linux/Unix server OS do you recommend for a file server?

Are you building this yourself or looking for a commercial solution? For commercial NAS solutions I tend to favor NetApp (historically built on a customized Solaris OS...not sure of the more recent appliances). They integrate well with NIS, NIS+, LDAP, and AD for authentication and support CIFS and NFS protocols. If you are looking for SAN based storage, I've only used StorageTek with Veritas software (both companies have been bought out since my dealings with them).

For home use, any Linux or UNIX based server would work well for you. Just use SAMBA to handle the CIFS protocol and you should be set. SAMBA is often included with various Linux/UNIX releases but can be downloaded separately if needed.

Oh, if you need to do the reverse (Linux/UNIX connecting to a Windows File Server) check out the Microsoft Windows Services for UNIX (SFU). Generally works for basic file sharing but if you have any rapid file access usage, you might encounter the dreaded Microsoft Windows file locking problem.