No problem – experimenting is always fun. Glad to help.
A few thoughts:
- Roonbridge on Linux – [HowTo]: Setting up a minimalist linux RoonBridge endpoint (might be helpful)
- Ubuntu server – I used it because it has no GUI (lighter weight), is solid, and I am familiar with it. In addition:
- installing webmin gives you a nice webpage based config tool – lets you avoid the command line a little (https://linuxconfig.org/how-to-install-webmin-on-ubuntu-18-04-bionic-beaver-linux)
- it has a built in firewall (https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-set-up-a-firewall-with-ufw-on-ubuntu-18-04)
- if you do an install on a NUC, recommend latest BIOS, plus make sure UEFI boot enabled in BIOS, and select UEFI installer when installing from USB; else won’t boot properly.
- all that said, there are other, lighter weight, Linux distros out there more suited to task; I’m not an expert, but there are probably some in the Roon forums that are
- You could potentially side step all this brain damage, and just put in a Roon Ready USB transport as an appliance (e.g. https://darko.audio/2016/02/sonore-sonicorbiter-se-a-300-roon-endpoint-and-more/) for similar money to a NUC (OK if you want to stick with the NUC; not asking you to explain, just offering it up).
I’ll do some more listening with the NUC in the next few days, including in a more capable system (Rotel RC1590+RB1590+B&WCM10S2). Will let you know how I get on.
Good luck.