Hi!
tldr, i want to do a lot of different things. is it recommended to use one single server?
I’m planning to set up a home server and need guidance and opinions on a few things.
- Storing Personal Media: To host images from my camera and phone.
- Media Server/Data Backup: To back up movies that I own, along with important documents like mortgage information and taxes documents. etc.
- Virtualization: To set up VMs for testing and various other uses.
- Web Hosting: I’d like to run small websites that are currently running on Digital Ocean
- Networking: I have opnsense, maybe I’d like to consolidate.
- General Storage: For storing ebooks and miscellaneous files.
I have several questions and concerns:
- Hardware Selection: What type of server hardware should I consider for these tasks? Would it be more beneficial to build my own server or to purchase a pre-built one?
- Data Segregation and Security: How should I separate sensitive personal data from public website data on the server? Are there specific security practices I should follow?
- Storage Practices: What are the best practices for storing different types of data (e.g., personal, public, general storage) on a multi-purpose server?
Thank you in advance for your help and insights!
A lot of people say go modern because of power consumption. I would say get as much storage as you can. Biggest thing is to just start because you will improve it over time.
You can buy a used prebuilt server on eBay or get one without drives and get the drives. For $500 you can get like a g9 hp g8 dell both will be fine
Something like a Lenovo M70q ot similar TinyMiniMicro PC should work. Get a NAS for external storage as your needs grow.
Couple questions:
- What is your budget?
- Do you already have hard drives? If yes, what physical size, storage size, and quantity?
- Do you have a rack?
- How much dedicated power do you have?
- What area will the server live? Does it have access to HVAC? Does the server need to stay under a given decibel?
- What components do you already have?
- What is your budget?
thanks, i should’ve included this. i don’t want to go too crazy here, I’d really love to stay under $1000.
- Do you already have hard drives? If yes, what physical size, storage size, and quantity?
i do not.
- Do you have a rack?
i do not.
- How much dedicated power do you have?
I’m not sure what you mean. This will ideally live in an apartment and eventually a home.
- What area will the server live? Does it have access to HVAC? Does the server need to stay under a given decibel?
It’ll likely stay in a room designated for an office. I don’t want a giant 42u rack or anything.
- What components do you already have? starting from scratch!
