The internet is full of home server ideas you can utilize to improve your home computing. But what’s the best way to use a home server, and what are the advantages of setting one up?
Enhanced streaming and gaming, storing personal files away from the cloud, securely accessing files, setting up a private VPN, and launching chat and email servers are all sound home server ideas.
Ultimately, it can enhance your home computing and bolster your internet security.
Read on to learn more about how you can make the most of a home server and use one to your advantage.
What is a Home Server?
A home server is a system that functions as your home’s network. There are many different forms that a home server can take, and in its simplest form, it could be a personal computer that has a big hard drive, sufficient memory, and a stable network connection.
Most people who install home servers use them to store media, but in reality, there are so many different ways to utilize a home server.
It is potentially beneficial for people who work from home, and it takes a lot of the pressure off your laptop or desktop PC.
For those into more advanced computing, a home server enables you to run Tor, set up your email and chat server, and even create a home VPN server, increasing your safety and security.
You should not use a home VPN for your business, instead consider something like Cisco AnyConnect Security for advanced and comprehensive network protection.
A home server can be an excellent solution for several computing needs and requirements.
Why Use a Home Server Instead of a Desktop or Laptop?
Although most users find that a laptop or desktop is more than adequate for browsing and completing their personal and even professional computing needs, others feel that a home server is a better alternative.
After all, you can set up a home server to meet your specific computing needs, offering you more processing power and fewer apps and graphics that potentially slow your home or professional computing systems down.
One of the challenges of launching a home server is that it requires specific know-how and a fair amount of time and effort.
But once it’s up and running, your home server offers faster computing, more processing, and increased privacy, making it a viable option for many home computer users.
Five Creative Home Server Ideas
Although most of us turn to desktop computers and laptops for our home internet needs, the reality is that a home server can open up a multitude of opportunities and can improve your computing experience. Here are just five home server ideas to try at home:
- Enhanced streaming and gaming: By installing streaming software on your home server, you can access various TV shows, movies, and music. Home servers provide exceptional gaming experiences, particularly for games like Apex Legends and Counter-Strike.
- Store personal files away from the Cloud: Today, most people use cloud-based storage solutions such as OneDrive. However, setting up a home server means you can store large files exclusively with your family members, bolstering security and speeding up access.
- Use SecureDrop: SecureDrop is an effective way to securely and anonymously accept files and can be an excellent way to communicate with sources. This can be ideal for investigative journalists who prioritize security and anonymity.
- Launch a chat server: You can turn to a messaging service like Jabber to share encrypted messages with your nearest and dearest without relying on the likes of WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, for instance.
- Make a VPN: You can create your private virtual network that is attached to your home server, meaning that you can bolster your internet security and get around geographic restrictions.
As you can see, there are many ways to make the most of your setup-up, and doing so can be advantageous, as we explain below.
What are the Advantages of a Home Server?
Although it requires a bit of know-how to set one up, there are several advantages to using a home-based server, including:
- A home server provides a central and secure location to store your media, negating the need for cloud storage and other solutions.
- You can ensure that your home server is always on and available around the clock, reducing your reliance on third-party servers.
- Relying on a home server takes the heat off your desktop or laptop PC and frees up space for your day-to-day tasks.
- It provides the perfect platform to ramp up your computing security, from creating your VPN to storing your important files offline.
Overall, if you go to the effort of setting up a server in the home, it can undoubtedly be advantageous to your home computing.
That being said, it’s not without its flaws.
Any Drawbacks?
The biggest drawback to setting up a home server is that you need to know how to go about it, and it’s not the most straightforward process in the world.
You also need to source and buy all the necessary equipment, which is more expensive than buying a standard computer or laptop.
Another potential issue with home servers is that you need to know how to maintain them.
When you log in to a shared server, you can rest assured that the maintenance is already taken care of, making it much easier to browse the internet.
The bottom line is that you need the knowledge and funds to set up a home server. But if you do, it is an excellent way to bolster your internet security and improve how you manage and store your files.
Conclusion
There are many ways to make the most of a home server, whether for file storage, gaming, or improving your home internet security.
However, you need the skills, knowledge, and resources available to set up a home server, meaning that it’s not a viable option for every internet user.