12 Cool Things to Do With a Home Server

What is a home server?

A home server is a computer system that provides various services within a home network environment. It is located in a residential setting and is used to host and manage files, media, and other resources within the home.

A home server can be a dedicated piece of hardware or an old computer that has been repurposed to function as a server. It typically runs server software that enables it to provide services such as file sharing, media streaming, remote access, backup and storage, and more.

Setting up a home server requires some technical expertise, but there are many resources available online to help users get started, and there are also pre-built home server solutions available for purchase.

If you are wondering what you can do with your home server, this article outlines some of the cool things you can do with a home server.

Cool Things to Do with a Home Server

1. Streaming Media

Streaming media via electronic devices like a home server is one of the cool things you can use your home server for. Once you install streaming software, you can stream your movie, music, or TV show’s library.

Similarly, you can also configure your server to enable streaming over the internet into your remote device such as an iPhone. However, you should secure your server against unauthorized random intrusion.

2. Online Gaming

Running your exclusive gaming server can be a mind-blowing experience.

Big-time games like Apex Legends, Runescape, and Counter-Strike are some of the modern smashes when deciding to install your home gaming server.

Online gaming attracts both young and old since it brings the satisfaction of realism that sharpens the focus of an individual by maintaining an active mind throughout the entire gaming session.

3. Running a Test Server

Whether you are an IT whizz or a beginner wondering how to avert risk from your main server while installing new software, you might consider using your home server as an ideal test server for trying out any new application or software.

This will give you a clean interface and avoid possible peril that comes with installing new operating systems.

4. Compiling Smart Devices

A home server can be an ideal manager of countless smart devices stoked with your compiled data.

The stored information may be collected from countless business transactions or by monitoring sensors such as Closed Circuit Cameras which can then be channeled to your home server.

Thereafter, you can retrieve and analyze your data anytime you like.

5. Setting Own Home firewall On Your Server

Many home firewalls from internet service providers that come integrated into routers and modems are critically vulnerable to effortless attacks by hackers or backdoor spying from your ISP.

Unfortunately, top-tier superior firewalls are costly and difficult to find.

However, if you own a home server, you can create an all-powerful, premium open-source firewall and sharpen your craft. For example, you can use your server to run a virtual firewall to cover your home using Pfsense or OPNsense open-source software.

6. Use Your Home Server To Learn

Most times when you learn and don’t realize it, learning new stuff doesn’t have to be technical. If you are a novice, hanging around your home server can be fun.

However, you may not even know when you are grasping something new but every time you come across a podcast, a documentary on Netflix, or watch a video/movie on YouTube, you have probably learned.

Similarly, for a tinkerer, sticking around your home server may help you absorb significant technical expertise.

7. Run Some Robotics

If you are interested in robotics, you may find it exciting to experiment with your home automation devices.

A rough idea to get started would be to create a simple relay circuit by wiring up your serial port and using that power to light a lamp or something else, then use the Secured Shell Protocol to turn the light on and off.

From there, you can imagine all the possibilities and crazy ideas.

8. Hosting Your DNS

Hosting your virtual private DNS on your home server has many advantages such as protection against forced advertising, matchless control level, and high-speed connectivity.

The only drawback would be that if you have millions of site visitors per month, in this case, you will need a huge disk space to accommodate the massive impressions.

However, you may use a home server as your cloud workstation for hosting your encryption information, contact codes, or sensitive links.

9. Set Up a Bitcoin Node

If you are a devoted Bitcoin miner and concerned about your privacy and trading security, it is important to set up your Bitcoin node.

This way you can fast-track your trading to determine the amount of Bitcoins present and how they are spent.

Similarly, you may also use your node to confirm Bitcoin earnings and verify whether you receive the funds at your end. This process will also help to validate your network as a legitimate Bitcoin path.

10. Run a Private Chat Server

Your privacy is a key priority when it comes to sensitive information. Having end-to-end audited encryption of your metadata will protect your chats from sniffers.

Fortunately, you can run a well-tested messaging protocol from your home server free from third-party meddling, you will only need to install a messaging service software like Jabber/XMPP and you are ready to go!

11. Create a SecureDrop

Operating a dead mailbox anonymously can be fun, SecureDrop allows you to accept sources and communicate with your contacts incognito.

You can access the software free from the cloud and convert your home server into a SecureDrop where anybody can drop the information to you unidentified. This is useful if you are a journalist who is in constant need of details.

SecureDrop software is safe to use and having it installed on your server ensures privacy and ease of access.

12. Set a Data storage

Personal data can be a huge threat when it falls into the hands of unauthorized people.

Storing your data in your server’s hard drive allows you to share the information with anyone you want and restrict access to only devices within your local area network.

This can be convenient when you want to share data with close people since the files will be readily available unlike retrieving them from Dropbox.

The transfer speed of large files within your home network will also be improved.

---

>>>Author