Hey everyone! I'm looking to create a Linux server but the only computer I have on hand is my laptop, which I usually use when I'm not on my main PC. Is it possible to install an operating system like Ubuntu Server on an external hard drive? If so, can I use this hard drive on another computer when I'm not using the laptop? I'm also considering getting a used laptop specifically for this purpose, but that might take some time. I appreciate any advice you can give me. Thanks!
1 Answer
You can totally install Ubuntu or another Linux distro on that external drive and use it as a bare-metal server. Just make sure your laptop's BIOS allows booting from the external drive. If you're planning to use it for something simple like file storage or a Minecraft server, that should work well. However, if you switch the drive between different computers, keep in mind that it’s not the best practice for consistent performance.
What if I just wanted to set it up for basic cloud storage?