5 ms·

This list isn't so much repurposing a chromebook for a home server as setting up a complex work environment on a chromebook. I hope it doesn't discourage people

This list isn't so much repurposing a chromebook for a home server as setting up a complex work environment on a chromebook. I hope it doesn't discourage people from just running a simple webserver on their extra computers. It's pretty much just 'apt-get install nginx' and a port forward on your router for ubuntu-flavors, isn't it? All that extra software setup for managing container and databases for monitoring and visually displaying logs, the extra software for dealing with the bandwidth that comes with containers, etc, doesn't have meaning or use in this context. He doesn't even actually mention which webserver he uses. It's all meta and no server.

Theodores 6y ago
Harsh but fair. If he had explained that he wanted to get more experience playing with Docker and other fancy toys then he could have won you over. Getting Docker to work on a 2Gb/16Gb Celeron Chromebook with a cheap USB stick is a fair technical challenge. But you are right though. You can apt-get install nginx on Gallium to run many things. Fair use cases include an OwnCloud, a media server, a home security gizmo using the microphone and camera, a personal website and much else that could be done. It would be great to run these things and it be next to no power with a refurbished/recycled machine. Or you could run Virtualbox to host another flavour of Linux so you can host Docker and use that to test your installation, no actual apps or real work done at all.
Johnny555 6y ago
It's pretty much just 'apt-get install nginx' and a port forward on your router Isn't this what leads to home networks being cracked and added to botnets (or your webcams broadcast to the public)? If you aren't willing to commit to good sysadmin practices like doing regular patches and segmenting off the public webserver from the rest of your network, you're pretty much guaranteeing that you're going to get hacked some day. Auto updates can help, but if you're not actively monitoring, some day an update is going to fail to apply due to a package conflict and you're going to remain unpatched. If all you need is a simple webserver, you're better off letting someone else host it.
- superkuh 6y ago
  No. nginx remote exploits are extremely few and far between. Hosting a static site made out of html pages and actual files in directories is incredibly low risk and requires no maintainance or particular security knowledge. If all you need is a simple webserver it's best to host it yourself. If you need anything more you're better off letting someone else host it.

Theodores 6y ago

Harsh but fair. If he had explained that he wanted to get more experience playing with Docker and other fancy toys then he could have won you over. Getting Docker to work on a 2Gb/16Gb Celeron Chromebook with a cheap USB stick is a fair technical challenge. But you are right though. You can apt-get install nginx on Gallium to run many things. Fair use cases include an OwnCloud, a media server, a home security gizmo using the microphone and camera, a personal website and much else that could be done. It would be great to run these things and it be next to no power with a refurbished/recycled machine. Or you could run Virtualbox to host another flavour of Linux so you can host Docker and use that to test your installation, no actual apps or real work done at all.

Johnny555 6y ago

It's pretty much just 'apt-get install nginx' and a port forward on your router Isn't this what leads to home networks being cracked and added to botnets (or your webcams broadcast to the public)? If you aren't willing to commit to good sysadmin practices like doing regular patches and segmenting off the public webserver from the rest of your network, you're pretty much guaranteeing that you're going to get hacked some day. Auto updates can help, but if you're not actively monitoring, some day an update is going to fail to apply due to a package conflict and you're going to remain unpatched. If all you need is a simple webserver, you're better off letting someone else host it.

superkuh 6y ago
No. nginx remote exploits are extremely few and far between. Hosting a static site made out of html pages and actual files in directories is incredibly low risk and requires no maintainance or particular security knowledge. If all you need is a simple webserver it's best to host it yourself. If you need anything more you're better off letting someone else host it.