OpenFiler is a great product, but I would highly not recommend it for the average home user. It isn't going to work how you expect, it will require much more configuration and it doesn't support "home" user features. It is made to be an enterprise level NAS -- that's all.
FreeNAS is easier to configure than OpenFiler. If all you really want is NAS, I say go for it, it will completely meet your needs. There are also other free NAS solutions, but really OpenFiler and FreeNAS seem to be the best.
If you want more of a server and NAS type of deal where you can install some more software and have it act as more than a NAS, I'd probably go with WHS. That is not to say you can't install software on FreeNAS, you can, but that doesn't align with the goals of the FreeNAS project.
Retagged per: http://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/11543/superuser-tags-nas-vs-network-attached-storage
– Bob King – 2009-08-03T13:21:03.1532If your running a mainly Windows network, I say go for it. – Brad Gilbert – 2009-07-16T05:04:42.163
3If only those wonderful HP home servers were available here (Switzerland)...... I still don't understand why companies still (in this day of global economies) stifle certain regions of the world by not bringing their products there...... – marc_s – 2009-07-20T11:22:35.470