Check out this inexpensive ‘server appliance’ from Revo – the Kuro Box. For around $160 you get a linux-based web, file and other services server with internal storage and a USB port so you can add additional external storage. Plug it into your network and you’re good to go. I’m tempted to get one of these to use as a dedicated music server on my network, for the price it’s an amazing value.
They’ve got another model coming sometime next year with better networking and additional storage options, you can read about it in their forums if you’re interested.
Dave's Place/Metamusing 
there’s a typo in their specs pdf, which also includes the default root password.
is this just about plug and play or is there some reason i would want this over my own recycled machine? it is pretty cheap though, isn’t it.
LikeLike
The plug and play factor and cheap cost are its main benefits. For folks like you and me it’s less useful, in that we already have capable servers up and running, and the thing is relatively underpowered. Even so it’s appealing to me as a music server box – no need to keep on top of software updates and whatnot, get it up and running and let it do it’s one thing.
LikeLike