Set up a mac mini as server

[PecanBrown]

Hi,
I have a late 2014 mac mini with 8 gig Ram, 1 t of storage. I want to set it up as a server running linux. Server will contain music, film, LAMP system but instead of PHP would like to run python. Want the server to provide backups to my macs. Had 2 T of external drives to use as more storage. Is this possible?
Problem is I have articles on how to do one or two of these but not all.
PLEASE help.
Aqueelah

 

[Lufbrarunner]

I had a similar system a while back using a Raspberry Pi, rather than a mac mini, it worked OK but I imagine the mac mini would have more oomph and would do a better job.

 

[PecanBrown]

I am still researching this thing so I guess my first question is the best way to set up a linux server on my mac mini to do all the things I need above? I have read several articles which give different ways to set it up. I do not need mac OS on the server although it is presently on the mac mini.

 

[Lufbrarunner]

If you install Ubuntu server, the install process will allow you to set up most of your requirements

 

[Lufbrarunner]

As it has been a while since I have done this , I have just installed Ubuntu server (20.04.4) on my iMac 20' (Early 2008) 4gb ram, 240GB SSD, 2.4ghz intel core duo , with no problem. Python3 is installed by default, I had to install mysql, Apache2 and then mysql connector, to allow Python to talk to mysql. All working well at the moment.