I have an HP pavillion 15-bc235nd that, quite frankly, I don´t really like that much (way too loud of a fan, cannot adjust the fan curve, keyboard and trackpad are terrible, etc).

I was planning to replace with laptop with something else, but in the meantime, I was thinking of something. Instead of getting this laptop in the landfill or give to someone else (no one needs an emergency laptop right now), I could potentially use this has a server machine to be used as an off site backup location.

Right now I am missing the off site backup part out of the 3-2-1 backup strategy. Since this laptop has more than enough horsepower to do the job, it could be a solution. But personally, I am not sure how reliable a laptop turned into a server can be. This laptop would be around 3000km away from me, so I have to be really sure it works at a distance without much problem.

For those who turned a laptop into a server: what is your mileage? Are there any specific considerations about this setup that a regular desktop/server does not have or specific issues?

  • HybridSarcasm@lemmy.worldMEnglish
    1·
    1 month ago

    I’ll leave this for others to chime in. But you may find useful information in one of the homelab communities as well.

  • TheYang@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    1 month ago

    hardware is fine. If you’re not experienced the 3000km will fuck you though. Stuff will arise where you will need to get at it.

    I’ve been using two laptops als “servers” for years.
    well, the first one died after about 6 years of use.
    But I can get at them reasonably.

  • mystik@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    1 month ago

    The battery turning into a Spicy pillow is always a Concern for using laptop as an always powered on server. So even though you will be away from it, make sure that there is a way for someone to keep an eye on it, once every week or two.

    That said, I have been using a dell laptop as a desk workstation (and remote use) with an uptime of 2.5 years at this point.

    • ZeDoTelhado@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      0·
      1 month ago

      This is a good point actually. I will need to check the laptop can run without battery at all (back in the day I remember this was possible, nowadays I am not sure)

  • JubilantJaguar@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    1 month ago

    Interested in the answer too! Of course, you could get the same result from a 5-buck VPS with zero maintenance and rock-solid reliability (my solution). But sure, 5 bucks is 5 bucks. And also, encryption is optional if it’s your own device.

    • ZeDoTelhado@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      0·
      1 month ago

      You are not wrong with the vps. Although I am quite worried that my data stays with me no matter what. Not that I have state secrets or anything, but my stuff is my stuff. And to avoid issues with encryption and such, your own device most of the times is king