Hey guys, I’m new to self-hosting; I’m trying to set up cloud storage to store pics and other content. However, I’m unsure whether to use my old computer, Buy NAS or ResberryPie to set up a home server.

Also, what is the best privacy-friendly OS to use with the home server?

Lastly, do’s and don’ts.

Any help would be appreciated (:

  • @Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.eeEnglish
    6•1 year ago

    A cheap used PC with a Ryzen 9 or something? Ez to maintain, very power efficient, especially when idling (compared to servers, not Pi), and you get to choose the important bits (like what new enterprise level disk you gonna buy, etc) as its easier to upgrade.

    And you get a lot faster CPU than duo Xenon builds in the same price range (used ofc). What you don’t get is ECC & more RAM lanes.

    Also much easier to make it inaudible (or like 18~19dB?) compared to servers.

    I do use a Pi-based Proxmox Backup server.

      • @Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.eeEnglish
        2•1 year ago

        I don’t (and it depends on where you live). But R9s have been around for quite a bit, maybe try looking for a 4~5 year old 3900x (or 5900x), you get 12c/24t.

        But it’s not like 7 (8c/16t) series lacks power for a home lab. Really depends on what you wanna do with it. Even a low powered Celeron is plenty for some cases.

        (I am taking about used PCs)

        • Froyn
          2•1 year ago

          Must not be my neck of the woods (US). You mentioned the Pi, which is in my wheelhouse of “cheap”. Personally I’ve got a couple computers picked up from the local community college for $10 running TrueNAS and Proxmox.

          My Google-Fu couldn’t find an R9 3900X for under $200, just the chip, used. I had hopes you had a better source I was missing out on.

          • @Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.eeEnglish
            1•1 year ago

            That suxs … but I was thinking 500~700 moneys. And spending some time to look/wait for a good deal. Still I think a Ryzen 3 or 5 (from 22xx onward) is a better investment especially at the beginning when you are perhaps still figuring out what to do with your home lab (and even basic things like not having your HDDs over USB lane). But you have the right idea - opportunities like those 10$ PCs is what I was talking about.

            If I assume RPi 4 or 5 are at about 100 moneys (+ a decent case + maybe with an m.2 hat) - I was just trying to say that a used PC at that price offers much more. RPis are great tho, I’m glad they exist.

            • Froyn
              2•1 year ago

              My RPi3 is still kicking (Single purpose PiHole)

              • @Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.eeEnglish
                1•1 year ago

                My RPi v1.0 (doesn’t even have the mounting holes) is piholing/sinkholing for my parents for about 10 years now.

                It’s getting replaced by two servers soon-ish (main and backup - also as a second location for my servers), but I might just keep it running as a secondary device. Bcs by now it’s tradition.

                Also I never got around to getting it a case so it’s just dangling by the ethernet cable all this time.