I would like to start and create my first file server at home. I’ve never done this before and I’m a beginner. I would like to know how to create one, how to maintain it for years to come, and what costs are entailed with a direct or indirect costs. Thanks everyone.

Edit

Added the below for clarity.

What I am looking for is a way to storing my personal files at home. I am not looking for internet connected device that I can access remotely.

It will be mainly used to store my personal photos and videos, and not used to stream movies to a device.

Should be accessible by devices such as android, windows, and iOS.

  • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    2·
    1 day ago

    There are a ton of options, depending on what you have. In essence, a file server is really simple, you just need a computer with network access with sufficient storage. Here are options, from simplest to fanciest:

    1. drive plugged into your router - simplest and most ghetto
    2. drive that supports network access - slightly less ghetto
    3. buy a NAS - more money and less freedom, but much simpler than DIY
    4. old computer (laptop, Raspberry Pi, etc) that you have laying around with something like TrueNAS, NAS4Free or OpenMediaVault running on it
    5. 4, but with a general purpose OS on it (Debian, Fedora, etc) running some kind of file hosting software (samba, Nextcloud, Seafile, OpenCloud, etc)
    6. 4 or 5, but with new hardware

    The costs can vary from free to thousands of dollars, depending on storage and compute needs and how far down the fancy scale you go (note: 3 is more expensive than 4, and comparable to 5).