I've got my eyes on a Lenovo ThinkCentre M720Q Tiny Desktop that's going for about $200. It features an Intel i5-8400T processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD running Windows 11 Pro. I'm an older guy, quite new to Linux—I started with PopOS and now I'm using Mint on a couple of old Thinkpads and an old Mac Mini. While I don't consider myself a power user, I enjoy tinkering and learning, so I'm thinking about setting this up as a home server. The plan is to use it for storing text, audiobooks, music, and photos, plus run something like Pi-hole. I've never run a server before, so I'm wondering: can someone like me handle this project and actually have some fun with it? I don't want to spend $200 if it's going to turn into a major headache. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
5 Answers
You're good to go! A basic server setup doesn’t require much know-how. Go for a distro with a GUI for an easier start, like Ubuntu Server or OpenMediaVault, and you'll be up and running in no time. You’ll want to figure out Samba for file sharing and maybe try Apache for web hosting too. Much simpler than it seems!
Just go for it! This isn’t a mission-critical project; it's just a fun way to learn. You'll definitely pick up some skills along the way, and even when things break, it's all part of the process!
You should definitely be able to manage it! Your desktop Linux experience will come in handy. I started with Pi-hole on a Raspberry Pi and had a blast. If you’re worried about issues, try setting it up in a virtual machine first. That way you can test things out without any risk. And don't forget, containers like Docker can simplify app management too!
For what it’s worth, your hardware is solid for a home server. You could be looking at a great deal if you check local recycling centers for used gear too. But honestly, with what you’re considering, you’ll have plenty of power for basic server tasks, and you’ll learn loads regardless of any hiccups!
Thanks! That’s great to hear, and I’ll definitely keep local resources in mind.
Honestly, it’s pretty straightforward to set up a Linux server, especially if you’re willing to learn. My advice? Stick with Debian or Ubuntu, and consider starting with Docker to manage your applications. There are tons of guides out there to help you with setting everything up!
Much appreciated! Looks like Debian and Docker are the way to go for sure.
Thanks for the advice! I’m definitely considering playing around with a VM first.