Everything you need to know about home servers!

How does a home server work? Here's everything you need to know

When does your cloud storage space run out? Has your computer been running slowly lately? It's possible that the pandemic forced you to switch to remote work and your computing power just isn't sufficient. Well, a home server could be a great solution to any or all of these problems.

It may seem like an expensive and complicated undertaking reserved for those with considerable technical expertise to run your own server at home. It's relatively cheap and requires only basic technology knowledge to set up a home network server.

How does a home server work?

Generally, a home server is an Internet-connected computer. Simple personal computers with a large hard drive, sufficient memory, and a network connection are ideal. Most often, home servers are used for media storage, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Let's examine how you can use it, the benefits of a home server, and how to set it up.

Having a home server is a good idea

A home server can be very useful, and it can be incredibly convenient for those who now have to work from home due to the pandemic. In addition to storing and managing data, it can also be used for gaming, web hosting, and even home automation (more on that later).

Additionally, it can be used for more advanced purposes. A home server can be used to run a Tor node, an email and chat server, or even a VPN server. It may be necessary, however, to know how to do some of these things in order to run them. We'll focus on the most popular uses for now.

A home server can be used for many different things.

Therefore, what are the advantages of home servers? The following details why you should have a home server.

Stores your media in one place

Your laptop, tablet, and mobile phone all have different types of media, such as photos, movies, and music. Managing all those devices and media can be difficult with the addition of your family's devices and media.

Those files are also large in size. Cinephiles know the amount of space on the hard drive on their computers quickly runs out when they watch a movie.

Having a home media server is a great way to free up storage and organize all your media files in one place. A home server lets you centralize your household's files instead of spreading them across multiple devices. Any member of your family can play your media in real time from their own device, since the server is connected to the home network. File sharing between family members is made easier as well.

You don't have to worry about your main PC being overloaded

You will need a lot of processing power on your computer when playing media. Say you want to work on your laptop while watching a movie in the background. A home server can play the film so you can multitask smoothly without the risk of crashing your computer.

Data backup to a home server automatically

Keeping a backup of all your data is essential. Whether it's a malicious link or an accidental move with a cup of coffee near your laptop, all that information disappears with just one click.

You can keep your information safe with a home backup server. NordLocker also lets you back up your files. NordLocker not only encrypts your files and protects them from prying eyes, but also allows you to choose where to keep them - on your computer or in the NordLocker cloud.

Web serving

Do you want to start a blog? You can use a home server if you want complete control over the website's management, or if you don't want to pay for hosting. While your old computer can't handle millions of users, it can perform about the same as a hosting service up to a certain amount of traffic.

Web proxy

Like website hosting, you can set up a proxy on your home server. Proxy servers act as a gateway between your device and the internet. You won't have any issue setting up, configuring, and opening the proxy ports if you use software or online tutorials.

You should bear in mind that a personal proxy will not provide the same level of security and privacy as a VPN.

Platform for home automation and security

Your smart home needs a centralized platform to be managed. With a centralized server, you can manage lighting, heating, and IoT home appliances to save energy, or you can use it to control your home security system.

Online gaming

In some online multiplayer games, players can host games on their own servers at home using dedicated server software. You can then play online multiplayer games more efficiently and reliably. Not to mention that you can customize your own gameplay.

Connect your server to a VPN as a bonus

Get a VPN for your home server. In order for it to operate properly, however, it may require additional configurations. However, it will add extra features and security to your server if you opt to do it. You can secure your internet connection from snoopers by rerouting it through a VPN server.

Additionally, you can get a dedicated IP address. NordVPN provides this service. By doing so, you can get a secure and dedicated IP address. Thus, only users who have a particular IP address are able to connect to the server.

It's cheaper than you think

Setting up a home server does not have to be expensive. It's cheaper than buying a brand new computer since it doesn't require a desktop, a mouse, or a keyboard. If you need it for something else, you can use an old computer you abandoned before investing in new technology - in this case, it's free.

You can also build your own home server from scratch by searching for cheaper parts separately. According to an estimate, it can range from a few bucks to several hundred depending on how powerful it needs to be.

Setting up a home server

How complicated your setup is depends on the purpose for which you'll use it. For each of the functions listed above, different configurations and even hardware may be required. It does not mean your home server can only be used for one purpose. When setting your server up, follow these steps:

1.Get the hardware. Old computers can be repurposed. You don't need a powerful machine, so don't be afraid to use an older one. Upgrades such as RAM, storage, and the cooling system might be needed, but they won't be too expensive. You can also purchase a server. There are a number of budget options available, so it shouldn't cost more than a few hundred dollars.

A NAS device can also serve as a home server. There are a variety of options to choose from depending on your needs. The best thing about these servers is that they are easier to use, but they also leave less room for customization.

2.Decide which operating system to use. Ubuntu, Unraid, Amahi, and other major operating systems are available. In general, the best operating system for your server depends on the type of operations you want it to perform. Unraid might be appealing to gamers, while FreeNAS might appeal to family members. Linux is the most versatile, as you can use it to manage your IoT devices, as a cloud storage hub, or even as a streaming portal.

3.Can it run any software? It also comes down to what you plan to do with your server. You can always modify, upgrade, and reconfigure your home server software whenever you want to try something new.

Comparison of home servers and the cloud

You might be wondering whether it's worth the effort to set up your own server rather than uploading all your data to the cloud. Here are some things to consider:

• Security. The only person responsible for security on a server is you, and taking the necessary safety measures is your responsibility. When you sign up with a cloud service provider, you are handing over your security to them.
• Privacy. You have no idea how your data will be stored in the cloud and who will have access to it. Your data is yours, so you decide who can access it and how.
• Price. It costs at least several hundred dollars to set up a decent server at home, whereas a basic cloud subscription should not cost more than $5 a month. You will have to pay more if you need more cloud storage or other features.
• Risk. A natural disaster might cause your server to fail and your data to be lost forever. You should use cloud storage if you want to back up your files like a pro.
• Speed. Your server might be extremely fast or extremely slow depending on the hardware you use. As your speed is heavily dependent on your internet connection with a cloud, it's a different story.

A hybrid cloud system allows you to use an on-premises server and cloud storage. As a result, some of your operations can be ran in the cloud and others on your server. Nevertheless, the majority of enterprises use this type of solution, while home users are less likely to use it.

It is convenient, fairly inexpensive, and offers a lot of learning opportunities to set up a home server. By doing a little research and little investment, you can turn your local network into a data hub for your friends or family.