Why you need a home server and how to build it
Miscellaneous / / July 14, 2023
Thanks to it, you will have a dimensionless personal cloud, a library of your favorite movies, backup storage and more.
When we hear the word "server", we imagine a huge supercomputer that occupies an entire floor. But in fact, it's not just giant corporations like Google and Microsoft that can afford this device. Everyone is capable of making a server from inexpensive components that are at hand. Let's see what it can be used for.
Why you need a home server
The home server community has created a pretty impressive list of things that their toys can do. You can view this list Here, we will mention the most common options.
Centralized data storage
A home server can be used to store and organize all of your data, including photos, videos, and documents. And you can access them from any device on your home network.
In principle, for the same purposes, you can purchase a ready-made solution - NAS (Network Attached Storage. But new devices from Synology or QNAP are expensive, and you can build your own server from components that are at hand.
In addition, access to it can be provided not only from the home network, but also from the Internet. Even when you are away from home, you will be able to edit your files. This is convenient - and you do not have to constantly carry a mountain of external hard drives with you.
Backup
With a home server, you can create a data backup system to protect valuable files from loss. The process can be run automatically according to a schedule - both paid and free solutions from the same Acronis, Paragon or EaseUS are suitable for this.
Backups will not be stored on the computer from which they were made and where a hardware failure can damage them, but on your server - in complete safety.
Cloud storage
At cloud storage like Dropbox there are two problems. Firstly, for more or less a decent amount of memory, they ask for money, and regularly. Secondly, if the cloud storage provider decides to close it or impose any restrictions, you will have to put up with it meekly.
Own server is devoid of such shortcomings. The number of terabytes on it will be practically unlimited - hard drives are relatively cheap, and you can connect them as much as you like. Well, or how much will fit in the body of the device. Such a device will not require any subscriptions from you - you will only have to pay for electricity.
And in the end, you will get your own cloud, which will allow you to store any amount of data and provide the ability to synchronize files between different devices.
Mail server
Many home servers are set up to receive and send emails. This is useful if you want to have a private conversation and don't like storing your correspondence with third party providers. In addition, the device will be able to organize advertising or newsletters for your customers or subscribers.
Productivity service
Among other things, a home server can replace a variety of productivity services. You can store your notes on it to become independent from Evernote, place your to-do list (goodbye Todoist), set calendar, calendar, reminders, whatever! After all, a home server can receive news feeds and sync them between your devices, replacing the same Feedly.
At the same time, you don’t have to spend money on monthly subscriptions, put up with restrictions on free versions of programs, or lose data because your favorite service one day decides to close.
Digital library
If you have a large collection of e-books, a home server can be used to store and organize your personal library. You can easily access data from different devices using specialized reader programs.
media storage
Separately, it is worth mentioning the possibility of using a home server to store and stream media files to all devices on your home network. You can watch movies and listen to music on any gadget - no matter how much memory.
How do you like the idea of running movies in 4K without lags on an old TV that is somewhere in the kitchen? The media server will give you the opportunity to create something like Spotify and Netflix in one bottle, just for yourself.
Personal web server
If you wish, you can host your own websites, blogs or forums on the home server. This will give you the opportunity to fully control your data - you don’t have to worry that hosting will suddenly raise prices. Of course, you won’t be able to start a portal with millions of daily traffic on low-powered hardware, but here’s a business card site or portfolio - please.
Smart home control
If you are using systems smart home, the home server can become the control center for all your devices. With it, you can control lights, thermostats, sprayers and other gadgets.
Security systems management
A home server can integrate your home's security systems, allowing you to control and monitor video surveillance, alarms, smart locks, and motion sensors. Especially useful is the ability to constantly write video from cameras to hard drives connected to the server.
File uploader
Sometimes, in order to download data from some file hosting service, you have to wait for hours - for example, if there are few distributors or the service limits the download speed. A home server will come to the rescue. It works around the clock, which means it is able to download information all the time, allowing you not to keep the main computer turned on.
game server
Avid gamers will be able to use the computer they have assembled as a server for multiplayer games. You can invite your friends there for a fun time together. Most often, their own servers are assembled for minecraft games, but in general, you can install whatever you want on your device - the possibilities are endless.
What can you build a home server from?
There are many options for server hardware for every taste and budget. Some people buy ready-made NAS from Synology or QNAP - but their ability to upgrade and install software is limited. Other enthusiasts are choosing powerful off-the-shelf servers for small businesses like the HP ProLiant or Dell PowerEdge. But they are too expensive and powerful for home use. Building your own server is much better - here's how to do it.
Home server from a single board computer
ARM-based microcomputers such as the Raspberry Pi, Orange Pi, or Cubieboard3 are popular options for building home servers. They have many advantages.
Pros:
- Low price. The Raspberry Pi 3 costs about $35, the Orange Pi is only $15.
- Compact dimensions. Single board computers are small and can be easily hidden in a desk or shelf to keep the server out of sight.
- Silence. Single boarders do not have active cooling, so the loudest devices in your system will be hard drives.
- Low power consumption. Single-payers consume little energy, so their work will not greatly affect your monthly expenses.
Minuses:
- Design restrictions. Single boarders usually do not have a case. And if they do, it's small, and your disks will simply have to be stacked. The mini computer may not have a SATA adapter - you will have to connect drives through USB-to-SATA adapters, which limits the speed of work with them, and provide external power.
- Low performance. ARM models are significantly slower than even budget x86 processors. The server can to brake and hang if you assign too many functions to it.
- ARM architecture. Fewer programs are available for these processors than for standard x86 processors, so you will have to carefully choose what tasks your home server should perform before you buy.
In general, a single-platform is a good option if you need a simple NAS and do not want to spend a lot of money.
What to buy
- Mini computer Raspberry Pi 4, 16 866 rubles →
- Mini computer Raspberry Pi 4B, from 7,046 rubles →
- Mini computer Banana Pi BPI‑R3, from 9,866 rubles →
Nettop based home server
Mini PCs, also known as nettops, are compact computers based on the x86 architecture. These can be either ready-made devices that can be connected to power and used, or kits for builds where the processor is built into the motherboard and memory and storage need to be installed on one's own.
Pros:
- Big choice. The most famous models in this form factor are the Intel NUC and Mac Mini, which cost a pretty penny. But AliExpress sells a fair amount of cheaper nettops. And their capabilities for a home server are more than enough.
- Silence. Nettops either do not have active cooling - heat is dissipated by the case, or they have only one quiet fan. You can even put such a server on a bedside table - it will not hurt.
- Compactness. Although nettops are larger than single-boards, they still do not take up much space.
- Great performance. Even a low-power nettop on Intel will be faster than Raspberry Pi 3, and the process of installing programs on it is much easier.
- Availability of Wi-Fi antennas in some models. This means that the nettop can also be used to distribute a wireless network. Some craftsmen manage to turn it into a router that also downloads torrents and filters ads.
Minuses:
- Little space inside the case. As a rule, a mini-PC allows you to install only one hard drive, and that is a 2.5-inch format. If you connect external drives via USB-SATA adapters, the design will look sloppy and the speed of writing to the disk will suffer.
- They heat up strongly. If the nettop has a powerful enough processor, it will heat up under load. The problem can be fixed by changing thermal paste and installing a fan - if it is not in the design.
- There is no possibility of an upgrade. Many nettops allow you to replace a memory chip (most often a laptop form factor) and an SSD, but this cannot be done with a processor. If you do not have enough performance, you will have to buy a more expensive nettop.
In general, nettops are single-payers on steroids. More expensive, but at the same time quiet and quite productive for a server. A great option for undemanding users.
What to buy
- Nettop Intel NUC 12 Pro, 64 449 rubles →
- Nettop XCY X30‑N4000, from 8,748 rubles →
- Nettop XCY X30‑4LAN, from 7 947 →
Home server from an old PC
Do you have an old computer lying around that no longer even pulls new versions of Windows, not to mention games? Do not rush to throw it away: it will also be a great server.
Pros:
- Cheapness. People who love computers often have a fair amount of unnecessary components that can be used to assemble a server. As a rule, you have to buy only larger disks.
- Upgrade possibility. Add memory? Replace processor? Install quieter fans, faster SSD, more powerful power supply? Easily. The home server can be easily upgraded when you have new needs.
- Plenty of room for hard drives. A typical motherboard has 4 to 6 SATA connectors, and more drives can be connected to PCI-E through SATA adapters. You can install at least 10 or 20 hard drives in the case if you purchase additional baskets for them.
Minuses:
- Big sizes. A standard Midi‑Tower case and mATX or ATX motherboards take up a lot of space. It is unlikely that such a box can be placed on a shelf next to the router.
- Noise. Cooling old components is not so easy - you will have to install additional fans in the case that will make noise.
- The need for cleaning. This is not a nettop that you can put in a closet and forget - periodically you have to clean the dust filters.
An old PC makes a great home server if you have a lot of space at home and can find a nook to hide it there. This is an extremely practical, powerful and cheap solution, but not very aesthetically pleasing.
Mini-ITX home server
To keep the advantages of the previous version and get rid of its shortcomings, the mini‑ITX format case will allow. It is smaller than standard towers. And it can host both gaming PCs and servers.
Pros:
- Wide choice of accessories. There are many mini-ITX cases to suit all tastes and budgets. compatible with them motherboards There are also very expensive and fancy ones, as well as simple and cheap ones.
- Compact dimensions. The mini-ITX case is larger than a nettop, but 2-3 times smaller than a standard tower, so it can be easily hidden. In addition, these boxes look stylish.
- Availability of disk space. If you buy brackets for hard drives, then you can easily plug 8–10 high-capacity HDDs into a mini‑ITX‑case. Considering that many models are designed for assembling gaming PCs, you can also put 1-2 disks in the video card slot.
- Upgrade possibility. This, after all, is a real PC, and you can choose any disks, processors, memory.
Minuses:
- Potential cooling issues. Small cases are more difficult to cool than large ones. However, this is a solvable problem: in modern mini‑ITX, hot gaming systems are assembled. So as long as you position the fans correctly, your components will be fine.
- The need to buy a motherboard and power supply. In some mini-ITX cases, you can install a full-sized motherboard with the help of improvised means. But it may still happen that you have to buy a smaller version. Also, some cases only fit small SFX power supplies.
- The need for cleaning. Sometimes your mini-ITX server will have to dust off. For example, once every six months or a year.
All in all, a mini-ITX server is a great compromise. It can be as powerful and pumped as you want. And at the same time - take up little space, do not make a lot of noise and are well ventilated. In addition, most accessories for standard cases are also suitable for a compact case.
What to buy
- Computer case Cooler Master Elite 130, 4 741 rubles →
- Computer case Jonsbo C2, 3 940 rubles →
- Computer case Chieftec CI‑01B, 5 488 rubles →
Home Server in a NAS Ready Chassis
Separately, it is worth mentioning the possibility of assembling a home server in a NAS case, which are sold on AliExpress and other online stores. It accepts a mini-ITX motherboard and a compact power unit. There are several sleds for hard drives in the case - usually 2, 4 or 6, but there are also monstrous boxes for 12 HDDs.
Pros:
- Compact dimensions. Even smaller than most mini-ITX cases. In addition, this case looks good.
- Hot-swappable drives. For some users who, for example, constantly copy large amounts of data from one computer to another, this can be a very important advantage. You insert a disk into the basket, fill it with data, press the button, and it pops back up. You do not have to disassemble the entire server to change the HDD.
- Upgrade possibility. You can install a more expensive motherboard, a powerful processor and more memory - the main thing is that all this fits in the case.
- Quiet work. The device is about as quiet as expensive solutions from Synology. Sometimes manufacturers install cheap noisy fansbut they can be easily replaced.
Minuses:
- Price. A ready-made NAS case is noticeably more expensive than mini-ITX cases, and shipping costs a pretty penny.
- Limited number of disks. If there are four HDD slots in the case, then you can install just as many disks - no more. In mini‑ITX cases, you can add additional baskets for HDDs, but here you have to use what you have.
- Definitely have to buy a motherboard and power supply. The dimensions of NAS cases are such that a large motherboard and power supply simply won’t fit in there. Some mini-ITX cases can still install components that do not fit them in size, but not in this case.
A NAS-ready server can be chosen if you are going to change hard drives frequently. For example, you are a video editor or 3D generalist, and you have to constantly move an HDD with large amounts of data. Well, or you just liked the way this thing looks, and you are ready to overpay a little.
What to buy
- Case for NAS from Toploong, 4 580 rubles →
- Case for NAS from Jonsbo, 9 068 rubles →
- Compact case for NAS from Jonsbo, 9 099 rubles →
What to install on a home server
After you have selected and assembled the components for your server, connected them to power and made sure that everything works, it is time to install operating system. Here are the options.
Ubuntu Server
Ubuntu Server is one of the most popular Linux distributions for servers. It has a huge community of users and developers, making it easy to get support and troubleshoot issues.
Ubuntu Server offers many features and is highly customizable. It is undemanding to hardware and works well even on low-powered devices like the Raspberry Pi.
Download Ubuntu Server →
Debian
Debian is also a popular option. It is characterized by stability, security and long-term support. Debian has an extensive package repository that makes it easy to install and update software. There are many assemblies for a variety of platforms, so that the system can run literally from any device.
Download Debian →
CentOS
CentOS (Community Enterprise Operating System) is based on the sources of the commercial Red Hat Enterprise Linux distribution, but, unlike the latter, is completely free. It is stable, secure and has a large user community. If you have ever worked with Fedora, then you can easily figure it out here.
Download CentOS →
TrueNAS
If your server is primarily for file storage and sharing, then TrueNAS might be a good choice. It is based on the FreeBSD operating system and offers advanced features for NAS (Network Attached Storage). For example, here you can create a RAID array in a few clicks that will duplicate your data on several disks in order to save them even in case of hardware failures.
Download TrueNAS →
OpenMedia Vault
Another OS that specializes primarily in storing and exchanging files. It is similar in features to FreeNAS, but based on Debian. Provides an easy-to-use interface for remote management of the NAS server.
Download OpenMediaVault →
Windows
There are fans linux people will laugh, but Windows is a great system for an inexperienced home server owner. Of course, it is more demanding on resources than Linux or FreeBSD, but it is also much easier to set up.
In addition, if you are not a geek, managing the server through Windows Remote Desktop is much more pleasant than typing commands in a network terminal using the SSH protocol. In general, if in doubt that you can adjust linux, - you can stay on the good old "Windows".
Some fans of home servers install a variation of Windows Server on their machines. But it requires a special license from Microsoft, which is usually not granted to individuals. However, the capabilities of Windows Server for the home are clearly redundant: Windows Home or Pro will replace it just as well.
Download Windows →
After you select and install an OS, you can start working. Save backups, stream movies, download files - in general, do whatever your heart desires with your server. And if you have unusual ideas on how to use such a machine, be sure to share them in the comments.
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- What to do if the computer makes a lot of noise