I’m currently evaluating freecad Vs solidedge Vs solidworks. The fact freecad work on Linux might make it the default winner. I’m trying to avoid vendor lock in, I don’t mind paying for software, however the other options would lock me in to windows. And I’m not prepared to run paid for software in wine

I just found out that https://www.mandrakelinux.org/ is still a thing

Approaching 20 years full time., basically Ubuntu or Debian with xfce desktop for desktops. I know it’s not what all the cool kids are using or doing but it works. Going back nearly 30 years I was messing around and failing with all sorts of distros

RIP Mandrake my first ever Linux experience that actually worked

Have a look at the guides in serverbuild.net forums such as https://forums.serverbuilds.net/t/guide-nas-killer-5-0/

The series of post that is Nas killer (4.0 5.0 6.0) etc. they list a bunch of CPUs and motherboards with approx eBay prices along with ram disks etc etc. I used it as a reference when building my cheap Nas for home, mainly the motherboard/CPU sections.

Absolute favourite is | the pipe command.