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I also recommend using an old laptop as a server. Benefits include the built-in battery backup, built-in KVM, and relatively low power consumption. The other
by loudmax 4y ago
I also recommend using an old laptop as a server. Benefits include the built-in battery backup, built-in KVM, and relatively low power consumption.
The other major benefit is that if you're the kind of person who's apt to set up a home server, you probably already have at least one these lying around.
- icybox 4y agoThere's just one slightly opaque pitfall, not all laptops have a BIOS setting where you can specify what to do on power-loss and power-resume. So the laptop "server" stays off and you need to intervene manually. I've had better luck with thin clients ...
- lucb1e 4y agoNever had power out for long enough that the laptop didn't survive. Automatic shutdown of optional services at 80% battery level might also mean that it survives 2-3x as long, if this sort of thing is likely to hit where you live. Or buy a tiny UPS. (One of the major advantages of laptops not manufactured in the last 3 years: replacing the battery to make it good as new takes 15 seconds. Click out, click in. They don't make 'em like that anymore :( ) If the battery were to run out: on 355 of the 365 days per year, there will be someone home who can push the button within a few hours. And if it's one of the 10 other days: email will retry for 24 hours and everything else is somewhat optional for me. I can call someone to get there within a day, or change the DNS records and turn on a VPS to temporarily buffer the incoming SMTP. I considered my contingency options but never got close to needing it.