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Uses for your home server

post #1 of 69
Thread Starter 
I've seen a few threads on what people can use their home servers for, so I've decided to make a list of all the possible uses.

VM Box - You can test out software or a linux distro without worrying about damaging your computer or the rest of your network!
Web Server - Host your own website for free from your home
SQL Server - Run an SQL server with your web server to store all your web-related data and stuff...
DNS Server - Run a DNS Server because its required for Windows domains. ( Hopefully I reworded it correctly)
DHCP Server - Let your server assign IP addresses to your each computer on your network.
VPN Server - When you're on vacation, or even if you're just on your smart phone, VPN into your network to instantly access to all your files! If you have your network firewalled, you can also have safe internet access on your mobile device
File Server / NAS - Who wouldn't love a giant networked hard drive that everyone in the house can share?
Print Server - Share a printer with ever computer in your house.
Computer Backup - Automagically back up all the computers in your house! If you ever have a hardware failure, don't worry! Your data is backed up on your home server
Game Server - Host a private server for your favorite game! Weather it be Minecraft, Terraria, etc.
Seedbox - If you have the bandwidth to spare, go and seed your favorite linux distros! (Or "whatever else" you want to seed wink.gif )
Home Automation - Order the right hardware, and you can use your home server to automate your house! You can simpily turn off and on your lights just by speaking! There are a ton of cool things you can do with home automation.
Render Box - If you use any Auto CAD or Blender, use your server to help with rendering
Web Cache - You can install squid, and set it up as a web cache. By saving the most used resources locally, web caching can speed up web browsing.
FTP Server - Run a FTP server, and access your files from anywhere in the world! use FTPS to encrypt your FTP traffic protect your data.
Teamspeak/Mumble/Vent Server - Tired of spending money to rent a VOIP server? Just install the server for your favorite VOIP client, and you'll no longer have to pay!
Email Server - Want to get a custom domain name for your email address? Just run an email server on your home server!
Gateway - Replace your router with an IPFire server to gain access to tons of settings and features that your normal router doesn't provide.
Firewall - Protect your home network from threats by using a firewall on your gateway!
Media Server - Stream music and movies from your home server to your TV/Xbox/PS3/Computers/Other by using your home server as a media server.
Active Directory - Login to your computers, just like in a corporate network. An AD lets you manage user accounts and permissions across your whole network.
Snort Server - Run a snort server on your gateway to protect your network from malicious attacks that a normal firewall wouldn't block.
DVR (PVR) - Record Your favorite TV shows to watch later
Home Security - Record Surveillance cameras footage for home security.

FOLDING!!! - If you can't find anything better to do with your server's left over performance, Fold! It only uses the idle clocks, so it won't slow down your server!




What do you guys think? Anything I should add?
Edited by Jtvd78 - 10/20/12 at 4:41pm
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post #2 of 69
On Windows domain controllers the DNS server service is required. It is instrumental in allowing the attached computers to communicate with the server.
    
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post #3 of 69
There are a million things you can do with a home server, it's impossible to list them all. Hell, mine is doing at least 5 things that aren't on that list.

Firewall, gateway, web proxy server, network edge antivirus, active directory, terminal server, bootp/TFTP server, media server
Edited by Manyak - 9/6/12 at 8:42pm
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post #4 of 69
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Manyak View Post

There are a million things you can do with a home server, it's impossible to list them all. Hell, mine is doing at least 5 things that aren't on that list.
Firewall, gateway, web proxy server, network edge antivirus, active directory, terminal server, bootp/TFTP server, media server

I'm not saying that my list is in any way complete, but I just created it for people who want to get more out of their server.
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OSMonitorMonitorMonitor
Windows 7 Home Premium x64  ASUS VH236H 23" ASUS VH236H 23" ASUS VH236H 23" 
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post #5 of 69
Hence I gave you a couple of additions smile.gif
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post #6 of 69
SAN node. iSCSI is incredibly useful. smile.gif
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post #7 of 69
Quote:
Game Server - Host a private server for your favorite game! Weather it be Minecraft, Terraria, BF3, etc.
Since when can you host BF3 privately?
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post #8 of 69
The hardware I would select for many of the servers you mention (web,DNS,VPN,DHCP.FILE/Nas,Print) is not the same hardware I would select for a folding rig.Some of the things you have listed use the bare minimum of resources,while folding stresses your hardware like nothing else.
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post #9 of 69
Quote:
Originally Posted by PCCstudent View Post

The hardware I would select for many of the servers you mention (web,DNS,VPN,DHCP.FILE/Nas,Print) is not the same hardware I would select for a folding rig.Some of the things you have listed use the bare minimum of resources,while folding stresses your hardware like nothing else.

This idea behind this list isn't "You have spare hardware, well you could run anyone of these things...take your pick." It's more for those people who have no idea what use a home server could be to them, and this list can give them ideas. Why listing all the possible functions of a server is impossible, this has the most likely home uses.

I have two Hyper-V Hosts that run VMs with all the various server functions I have on my network, but I also have a folding VM set up to fold on the unused resources. Each box can pull around 20K PPD while other VMs are running, so I think that's pretty good.

Technically, you could still fold on "bare minimum hardware"...it just wouldn't yield high PPD.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Taylorsci View Post

Since when can you host BF3 privately?

You can't host your own BF3 server, but you can rent your own.
Edited by tycoonbob - 9/17/12 at 6:46am
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RAMHard DriveOptical DriveCooling
Mushkin Enhanced Redline DDR3-1866 16GB (4X4GB) Mushkin Enhanced Chronos Deluxe SATA III 60GB Generic DVD-RW Corsair Hydro H60 
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Windows Server 2008R2 (setup a workstation) Dell E2011H 20-inch Widescreen Dell E2011H 20-inch Widescreen Dell E2011H 20-inch Widescreen 
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post #10 of 69
DELETE
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AMD Phenom II X4 945 ASUS Sabertooth 990FX ASUS EAH9650 DCII/2DI4S/2GD5 ASUS EAH9650 DCII/2DI4S/2GD5 
RAMHard DriveOptical DriveCooling
Mushkin Enhanced Redline DDR3-1866 16GB (4X4GB) Mushkin Enhanced Chronos Deluxe SATA III 60GB Generic DVD-RW Corsair Hydro H60 
OSMonitorMonitorMonitor
Windows Server 2008R2 (setup a workstation) Dell E2011H 20-inch Widescreen Dell E2011H 20-inch Widescreen Dell E2011H 20-inch Widescreen 
KeyboardPowerCaseMouse
PS/2 Logitech Something.  Rosewill Bronze Series RBR1000-M Rosewill RSV-L4000 4U Server Chassis Cyborg R.A.T. 7 
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Generic Black Mouse Pad from The Wal-Mart 
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AMD FX-8120 GIGABYTE GA-990XA-UD3 PowerColor Go! Green AX5450 512MK3-SHV6 Radeon ... Crucial Ballistix Sport DDR3-1600 32GB (4 x 8GB) 
Hard DriveCoolingOSPower
Mushkin Enhanced Chronos 60GB Crucial Ballistix Active Cooling Fan Windows Server 2008R2 Rosewill Green Series RG530-S12 530W 
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Main PC
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VMHOST01
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CPUMotherboardGraphicsGraphics
AMD Phenom II X4 945 ASUS Sabertooth 990FX ASUS EAH9650 DCII/2DI4S/2GD5 ASUS EAH9650 DCII/2DI4S/2GD5 
RAMHard DriveOptical DriveCooling
Mushkin Enhanced Redline DDR3-1866 16GB (4X4GB) Mushkin Enhanced Chronos Deluxe SATA III 60GB Generic DVD-RW Corsair Hydro H60 
OSMonitorMonitorMonitor
Windows Server 2008R2 (setup a workstation) Dell E2011H 20-inch Widescreen Dell E2011H 20-inch Widescreen Dell E2011H 20-inch Widescreen 
KeyboardPowerCaseMouse
PS/2 Logitech Something.  Rosewill Bronze Series RBR1000-M Rosewill RSV-L4000 4U Server Chassis Cyborg R.A.T. 7 
Mouse Pad
Generic Black Mouse Pad from The Wal-Mart 
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
AMD FX-8120 GIGABYTE GA-990XA-UD3 PowerColor Go! Green AX5450 512MK3-SHV6 Radeon ... Crucial Ballistix Sport DDR3-1600 32GB (4 x 8GB) 
Hard DriveCoolingOSPower
Mushkin Enhanced Chronos 60GB Crucial Ballistix Active Cooling Fan Windows Server 2008R2 Rosewill Green Series RG530-S12 530W 
Case
Rosewill RSV-L4000 
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