Services to host on a retired laptop?

Submitted ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨LunchEnjoyer@lemmy.world⁩ to ⁨selfhosted@lemmy.world⁩

Hello fellow hosters,

I recently had to purchase a new laptop because my old laptop(MSI - PS63 Modern 8RC) had its hinges finally give in, so the screen(lid) can barely be opened and closed anymore. The laptop isn’t totally outdated yet in terms of specs. I already have a server that hosts most of my day to day apps, but was wondering if anyone had any suggestions to what i could host on this retired laptop, that I would manage remotely.

Are there any specific services that makes more sense to host on a laptop that would be sitting turned on but put away somewhere? Or should I just tear the PC apart for it’s parts and throw the rest away?

Let me know if you have any similar experiences or tips 🌻

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Comments

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Poutinetown@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Syncthing backup server for your important files.

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- TBi@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Syncthing isnt a backup. Its just a synchronisation tool. If you delete a file it gets deleted everywhere.
  
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  - Poutinetown@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    Use syncthing to sync and monitor your backups.
    
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fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
If you already have a server and don’t need more resources then just leave it. No need to waste more power “just because”.

That said you could hang onto it until you have a need. You never know when a machine will shit the bed and having a half top is useful.

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- LunchEnjoyer@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Yepp, fair point and likely what will end up happening :P
  
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  - helenslunch@feddit.nl ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    Maybe you could set it up to run for a family member? I’m always trying to recruit more self-hosters.
    
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atzanteol@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

Are there any specific services that makes more sense to host on a laptop that would be sitting turned on but put away somewhere?

Nothing comes to mind.

One nice thing about using laptops though is the built-in UPS, assuming the battery is still good.

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- ShortN0te@lemmy.ml ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Also assuming the charge circuit is designed for that (usually all modern devices should be). Especially older devices often do not like to be used and charged at the same time, that can lead to swollen batteries which is a fire hazard.
  
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  - halm@leminal.space ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    Funny, I used a 2010 netbook like that until last year. Maybe that’s not old in your book? But you’re right about battery swelling being a risk; just set the battery to never charge past 80-90%, you’ll be fine.
    
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KpntAutismus@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
If you don’t have one already, it could be turned into a linux-based input device for your TV.

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- LunchEnjoyer@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  I like the idea! Although I do have a Nvidia Shield Pro, but I have a look around and see if there are any specific good TV OS that suits my needs. Thanks!
  
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  - wildbus8979@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    Librelec. Or just a regular Linux with Kodi.
    
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poVoq@slrpnk.net ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
If you have some services for monitoring your main server like a Grafana/Prometheus setup that might be interesting.

You could also use it for storing backups as in the 3-2-1 backup strategy.

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- LunchEnjoyer@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  also a good idea!
  
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supervent@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Tor bridge/relay and i2p node

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Nouveau_Burnswick@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I use my laptop server for babybuddy so I can take it with me. Then if I find there’s a service I really want I the go, it gets loaded there as well.

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prx@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Mail? Primary or secondary. Dns. Xmpp? Backup (rsync)

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Decronym@lemmy.decronym.xyz ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I’ve seen in this thread:

Fewer Letters More Letters

Plex Brand of media server package

SSH Secure Shell for remote terminal access

ZFS Solaris/Linux filesystem focusing on data integrity

[Thread #524 for this sub, first seen 18th Feb 2024, 03:55] [FAQ] [Full list] [Contact] [Source code]

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ikidd@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
That’s still a good machine, I’d get some more RAM and make a proxmox server out of it. Even with 8GB it’s usable for a few VMs at a time. Use a single disk ZFS pool when installing it.

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Tippon@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Why not just repair the hinges?

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- LunchEnjoyer@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  It’s beyond repair state. Also it’s the second time it’s happened, did actually repair them the first time, but this time it was way worse. Should have attached picture of it maybe, but wanted a new laptop for a while anyways 😋
  
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  - Tippon@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    
    wanted a new laptop for a while anyways 😋
    
    Always the best reason 😁
    
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Fewer Letters	More Letters
Plex	Brand of media server package
SSH	Secure Shell for remote terminal access
ZFS	Solaris/Linux filesystem focusing on data integrity