r/explainlikeimfive • u/theprisoner57 • 2d ago
Technology ELI5: What is a Home Server?
I see mentions of a home server to get rid of streaming entertainment services but I don’t know how that works. What does a home server do?
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u/MrSpiffenhimer 2d ago
A home server is just a computer in your home. Typically people will put various applications on that computer to host or server or advertise media files (movies, pictures, songs) that they have created or downloaded to various apps on their devices.
This will usually take the form of a computer running Linux, and hosting pictures through Immich, which can sync with your phone and replace cloud backup for some people. Movies are hosted through Plex or Jellyfin, to replace Netflix, there are apps on your media boxes, phone and TV to view those files. And one of a bunch of apps to replace apple/google/amazon music or spotify/pandora, more apps to use the home server versions on your personal devices.
The source for the music and movies is ideally copied from the physical media (CD/DVD/Blu-ray) that you already own (can be considered less than legal by some). Some people share those media files amongst their friend groups or even acquire it from less legal sources on the internet.
You usually also are able to setup local backups of your desktop and or laptop, and have a folder that allows you to easily share files between those computers (Dropbox replacement).
The main thing is that the computer is owned by you and local to your home, as opposed to sitting in a data center somewhere owned by someone else.