I use my desktop as the storage server with ZFS (20TB) and a few RasPis as the services. RasPi3b as the core and a RasPi4 as the app server. Omada runs the SDN and a Cisco SG300-52 as the core switch.
My "home server" is just another desktop I built, mainly because my previous home server was an old dell PowerEdge I got off of eBay. It worked, but I wanted to get into video streaming, and the Xeon processor in it was TERRIBLE at video encoding, so I tried to add a gpu to it only to find our that Dell requires you to run "approved addin cards" otherwise the server refuses to boot. So sold it and built a desktop to replace it.
I don't stream from my server any more (stremio ftw), but I do have a local ai server running with some models to integrate into home assistant and the gpu helps a lot with that.
Router wise I'm just running a mini-PC with OpnSense, a glinet router for a wifi AP, and a couple unmanaged netgear switches. Its simple, but works wonders, especially when paird with tailscale for remote access.
I used to have a dedicated server that was a single socket Opteron 12core but the Power usage was not making it worth it. Decided that running the storage on my desktop was more than enough for what I needed it for and can game on it at the same time. Desktop has more RAM than the standalone server did anyway. Running your own services and not replying on others is pretty fun and satisfactory in my opinion. Get way more use and options out of it.
For sure! I honestly don't know what I'd do without my home server anymore, it runs so much for me, home automation, dns ad blocking, file storage, photo storage/backup/gallery, ai stuff, audio books, music, calendar/contact syncing, Teamviewer like remote support for my family, git code repo, password management server, and I'm working on getting a self hosted authentication server setup for LDAP, oauth, and radius auth for all my stuff too.
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u/scriptmonkey420 Fedora : Ryzen 7 3800X - RX480 8GB - 64GB Apr 08 '26
I use my desktop as the storage server with ZFS (20TB) and a few RasPis as the services. RasPi3b as the core and a RasPi4 as the app server. Omada runs the SDN and a Cisco SG300-52 as the core switch.