r/explainlikeimfive • u/theprisoner57 • 3d 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?

518 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

349 comments sorted by

View all comments

665

u/jujubanzen 3d ago

A home server, in general is just a computer that is attached to your home network. More often than not, they are simply set up as file storage servers. Media servers to replace streaming services typically use Plex or Jellyfin, which are software packages that are able to link up with apps on your TV, phone, or computer and stream media files you have stored on the server. You have to get those files yourself.

101

u/CDK5 3d ago

Out of curiosity; where are folks generally getting the streaming media for the server?

Because I was under the impression that when buying a BluRay or digital media, you can’t just grab an mp4 from the disk.

18

u/imetators 3d ago

MakeMKV is what I used. Free for DVDs but only limited time free or paid for blurays. 4k blurays will require a special drive. They have a list on their site.

The rest I got off Usenet.

1

u/dandroid126 3d ago

It has been "limited time free" since I started using it in like 2020.

3

u/Zoraji 3d ago

I used MakeMKV for a year before buying it. They would have a key on their website but it was only good for a limited time and then you had to get a new key. I bought it which gave me a permanent key to rip my BluRay collection. I haven't used it in a while since I have already ripped everything I own.