How to build your own media server

After the initial flurry of activity surrounding your first Home Theater PC (HTPC) project subsides and your significant other is thoroughly addicted to its convenience, it's time to think about phase 2 of the operation. No, I'm not talking about "Phased Redeployment", but rather about building a media server. This is a device which will centrally store all media and make it accessible to all client HTPCs. It can contain redundant hard drives to help protect against data loss. It can be located in a media closet or the basement keeping the noise of fans and hard drives out of earshot..