Cheap Linux Home Server

As awesome as Linux is for desktop use, Linux (and BSD for that matter) truly shines as a server. While providing web-based services is one of those server-y things Linux does really well, Linux can do a lot more than host a blog about family outings.

If you’re looking to host your own services instead of paying for or relying on those in the cloud, running your own home server is one of the best ways to keep your files private.

Perfect Software

Choosing the specific Linux distribution for your home server can be daunting in itself since there are so many strains to choose from. There are many recomended distros for ervers like: Ubuntu Server, Fedora Server, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and the trusty old RedHat Server Edition.

Sovereign, a metapackage available on GitHub, is a good starting point for users who are looking to be digitally self-reliant. With a couple commands, sovereign will install an email server, a VPN service, nightly backups, a CalDAV and CardDAV server, and ownCloud, just to name a few.

Hardware

One of the most common ways to use Linux in a home server is to install the OS on an old desktop. That old PC could be a nice host for Linux. On top of saving you some money, repurposing an old PC as a Linux server is good for the environment.

Another option is NUCs and small PCs. Small PCs are often marketed as low-powered desktops or home-theater PCs, but they also make great servers. Intel’s Next Unit of Computing (NUC) models are well equipped for light- to medium-duty server use in a home. 

Much more robust than their ARM-based Raspberry Pi counterparts, Intel’s NUCs will consume more power but be able to handle more computationally intensive tasks. Some NUC models will have room for a 2.5-inch SSD for onboard storage. Other models will force you to outsource bulk storage of big files to an external drive, not unlike the Pi.

If you are the person willing to spend that extra buck, Network Attached Storage is for you. If you’re worried you don’t have the technical chops to install and maintain your own Linux server, you can always go for a network attached storage (NAS) system. A NAS is basically a small Linux or BSD server with the primary function of hosting files. You can think of a NAS as your own extensible Google Drive or Dropbox.

While you can find diskless NAS devices for as little as $150, they will—naturally—come without any hard drives. Hard drives for NAS boxes tend to cost a little more than the typical desktop hard drive, since they are designed to be always-on, and to keep data safe for a long period of time.