Have you ever thought about setting up a home server?
Sure, it's not necessarily the most straightforward process in the world (depending on the type of equipment you're using), but it's a fun way to put your old hardware to use or to further develop your computing skills.
And besides, if you create your own server, there are some cool things you can do with it. If you're thinking about building a personal server of any kind, keep reading to learn more about the benefits.
1. Make a Server, Control Your Data
We know what you're thinking—why have a home server if you can just use a service like Google Drive or Dropbox?
The most critical difference between home servers and third-party cloud services is the control of data.
Contrary to some beliefs, Google Drive et al. do not own the data which you upload to the cloud. The companies do, however, retain a license to reproduce, modify, and create derivative works from your files.
2. Setting Up a Home Server Is Inexpensive
This is slightly subjective.
If you were so inclined, you could go and spend several thousand dollars on market-leading equipment to make your own server. And after the upfront costs, the ongoing electricity costs for all the units and cooling equipment would be significant.
In reality, anyone can make a home server using nothing more than an old laptop or a cheap piece of kit like a Raspberry Pi.
3. Create a Dedicated Gaming Server
Did you know that many of the most popular games on Steam let you run the game on your own dedicated server? In truth, gaming is probably one of the best things you can do with a server at home.
4. Keep Data Backups on a Home Server
It's impossible to overstate the importance of making backups of your data. If your computer's hardware were to die or be involved in an accident, you don't want to lose access to many years' worth of data.
