Ubuntu home server

Hardware: 120GB SSD as boot disk, 4TB HDD for mass storage, 2TB HDD for backup.

Download Ubuntu LTS server iso, create a bootable USB using Rufus.
boot up using the USB, install Ubuntu server on the SSD, don't install anything on the HDD.
if the HDD is not factory fresh, "format" it using the installation menu.
hostname = server3     (you can name it anything)
optional: configure the server from DHCP to static IP using netplan.

identify the HDD drives:
sudo fdisk -l | grep sd | grep Disk

(next: initialize, create partition, write to hard disk)
sudo gdisk /dev/sdb and/or sudo gdisk /dev/sdc
n to create a new partition, call it partition 1
w to write partition information to the disk
sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdb1  (format the new partition of first HDD)
sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdc1  (format the new partition of second HDD)
sudo mkdir -p /mnt/storge
sudo mkdir -p /mnt/backup
echo '/dev/sdb1 /mnt/storage ext4 defaults 0 2' | sudo tee -a /etc/fstab
echo '/dev/sdc1 /mnt/backup ext4 defaults 0 2' | sudo tee -a /etc/fstab
sudo reboot
(confirm the HDD are mounted as /mnt/storage and /mnt/backup)
lsblk and/or df -h

Install Samba

Installing a wide open Samba server.
Caution: assuming the server is behind a good firewall/router.

sudo mkdir /mnt/storage/docs
cd /mnt/storage/docs
sudo chown -R nobody:nogroup *
sudo chomd -R 777 *
sudo apt update
sudo apt install samba  (be patient,this takes a while)
sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf

[global]
  refresh = 1
[docs]
  path =  /mnt/storage/docs
  writable = yes
  public = yes
  create mask = 0777
  directory mask = 0777

sudo service smbd restart

Setup daily backup:

sudo nano /usr/local/bin/backup.sh
rsync -av0 --delete /mnt/storage/docs/  /mnt/backup/docs/
sudo chmod +x  /usr/local/bin/backup.sh
sudo crontab -e   (backup daily)
0 0 * * * /usr/local/bin/backup.sh

Windows users, map a network drive to the Samba server:

File Explorer, This PC, Map network drive,  \\server_ip_address\docs

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Remove Windows Explorer's Open File security warning when accessing files on Samba server

Press Win+R
type inetcpl.cpl and press Enter
Click the Security tab
In the Select a zone section, select Local Intranet
Click the Sites button
In the Local Intranet windows, click the Advanced button
in the next menu, type the ip address of your home Samba server, click the Add button
click OK several times to exit.

Windows Explorer tweak

When access files home server using Windows Explorer, warning messages like "These Files Might Be Harmful to Your Computer" appear.
To mitigate that annoying problem:

Press Windows-Key and the R key simultaneously.
In the dialog box, type inetcpl.cpl
click the "Security" tab,
click the "Local Intranet" icon,
click the "Sites" button, click the "Advanced" button.
in the "Add ... Zone" box, type  192.168.1.5   (use your home server's static IP address) then click the "Add" button.
click "Close", click "OK", click "OK"