So after months of dealing with problems trying to get the stuff I want to host working on my Raspberry Pi and Synology, I've given up and decided I need a real server with an x86_64 processor and a standard Linux distro. So I don't continue to run into problems after spending a bunch more, I want to seriously consider what I need hardware-wise. What considerations do I need to think about in this?
Initially, the main things I want to host are Nextcloud, Immich (or similar), and my own Node bot @DailyGameBot@lemmy.zip (which uses Puppeteer to take screenshots—the big issue that prevents it from running on a Pi or Synology). I'll definitely want to expand to more things eventually, though I don't know what. Probably all/most in Docker.
For now I'm likely to keep using Synology's reverse proxy and built-in Let's Encrypt certificate support, unless there are good reasons to avoid that. And as much as it's possible, I'll want the actual files (used by Nextcloud, Immich, etc.) to be stored on the Synology to take advantage of its large capacity and RAID 5 redundancy.
Is a second-hand Intel-based mini PC likely suitable? I read one thing saying that they can have serious thermal throttling issues because they don't have great airflow. Is that a problem that matters for a home server, or is it more of an issue with desktops where people try to run games? Is there a particular reason to look at Intel vs AMD? Any particular things I should consider when looking at RAM, CPU power, or internal storage, etc. which might not be immediately obvious?
Bonus question: what's a good distro to use? My experience so far has mostly been with desktop distros, primarily Kubuntu/Ubuntu, or with niche distros like Raspbian. But all Debian-based. Any reason to consider something else?
@Zagorath
I personally use my previous desktop PC with an i7-4790T CPU and 32GB Ram for selfhosting.
@jwildeboer shows his homelab in his blog using some Mini-PCs.
https://jan.wildeboer.net/2025/05/Cute-Homelab/
I would suggest, when you don't need HDDs for storage reasons, to go with a refurbished Mini-PC with as much RAM as possible.
While I like his setup, I'm not a big fan of 3D printed components being added to the whole setup primarily because not everyone has a 3D printer lying at home ...
The cost though it's actually quite good I have to say.
@androidul I would say, selfhosting is doing the best out of available possibilities.
For me it is just an 11 years old PC, which was much to good to put to waste.
My intention with the example from @jwildeboer was more about the usage of Mini-PCs than about their rack mounting.
But it also shows, what could be possible with more ressources.
@androidul Agreed. The 3d printed mounts are optional. But nice ;) My main point is that with these refurbished little machines you have redundancy and avoid the single point of failure. @db_geek