Get debian or ubuntu server, you can install docker within the Ubuntu install these days. Learn how to install portainer (very simple) -- then install this portainer template which will allow you to pretty much 1 click install all the apps you see on this sub
I tried Proxmox and gave up, too much complicated in how to share mass storage between different VMs
Now I use PopOS, the "poor man raid" MergerFS to store the data and Docker/Portaineir to run my services: Plex, Jellyfin and Syncthing. And there's still plenty of power to occasionally play Diablo4 using Lutris.
PopOS is already pre-configured for games, otherwise my choice is Debian. I'm a little suspicious about Ubuntu, I believe it is positioning itself to sell a premium version. Or worse, for a monthly subscription.
Open media vault is an excellent option as it is nothing but a aquality of line / web GUI that you install over Debian. It has an excellent docker compose extension that lets you use all those apps
Unless you need a windows infrastructure just go with some linux distro. There’s no reason to use the open solaris forks or any kind of darwin nonsense. Keep it simple.
Proxmox 100%. Absolute perfect environment for playing around with jellyfin and whatever other software you want to check out. Just make a container, install whatever you want in it, then either leave it or delete it when you're done. Makes life so simple
Using those OSes to config container for selfhosting is easy to setup but hard to troubleshoot. U still need to learn more about Linux, Security, Networking for the long run.
If you’re going the Docker route and running everything in containers it’s much of a muchness really. Just pick a common distribution that’s well documented, don’t install a desktop environment, and install Portainer as a web ui to manage your Docker environment. I’ve done it on Arch, Debian and Ubuntu.
Proxmox or TrueNAS scale I suppose.
Alternatively just pure Debian/Ubuntu, you could install cockpit on top for easier administration
https://cockpit-project.org/