Turn Old Computer into Music Server with VortexBox Linux

(8/04/2021 – Some links had expired and were removed for this transfer)

Lots ‘n Lots of Windows users love music, and the Special *PURPOSE* Linuxes page was created wid Windows users in mind in order to point out the many ‘Specialized’ OS options offered by Linux ‘n Linuxes. Linux makes a great secondary OS and/or an excellent tertiary OS – or how about a ‘quaternary, quinary, senary, septenary, octonary, nonary, and denary’ OS in support of your primary Windows OS? 😎

VortexBox Linux is:

Based on Fedora Linux VortexBox is a free quick-install ISO that turns your computer into an easy-to-use music server/jukebox/player. Once VortexBox has been loaded on a PC, it will automatically rip CDs to FLAC and MP3 files, ID3 tag the files , and download the cover art. Vortexbox will then serve the files to network media players such as Logitech Squeezebox, Sonos, or Linn. You can also play files directly to a USB attached DAC.

VortexBox Linux music server interface showing automatic CD ripping and media streaming features

Have tested hundreds of Linux Distros, but have never tried VortexBox. There are over 2000++ Linux Distros/DE’s/Flavors/SPINS/etc. when you start adding up what all the options are, and I’m simply not going to try and/or review them all.

I was in high school when the Beatles first came to America, and had/have enjoyed music before ‘n after ‘n since; however, haven’t done much listening for the past 5 years or so, and have no clue what a “network media” player can do. 😳

When I was looking for a logo to add to this post, I noticed that VortexBox had a sponsor (see above pic) – Small Green Computer. Know nothing about them, but “Small Green Computer” reminds me of all the old unused computers that music loving Windows users might have buried away in a closet.

Linux isn’t to be feared…the Distros are usually either “user friendly” or “less user friendly” or “not at all user friendly.” Just skip the totally unfriendly ones, and they will be easy to spot.

If you don’t have any old unused computers laying around, then try doing a full install onto a USB (SanDisk & Samsung are ext4 compatible). If you know what your Boot Menu key is, then you can use Linux on a USB, SD card, CD, DVD, or a spare HDD/SSD drive without disturbing your Windows primary installation.

You do know what your Boot Menu key is, right? You do backup your Windows primary installation on a regular basis, right? 😉 If so, then you can easily check out the many options that Linux has to offer Windows users.

Will add this post to the Special *PURPOSE* Linuxes page.