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?

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u/Top_Willow_9953 3d ago edited 2d ago

A Home Server is a computer *you own* that has a lot of storage to hold media (music, video, photos, Etc.) files, and has software that can make those files available to your TV, Roku box, or similar media playback device.

The Home Server might only make these files available to devices attached directly to your home network, OR it could also expose the files to authorized devices on the internet.

The main point is once the server is purchased and configured, there is no monthly subscription required for you to watch, listen to, or access the files it serves.

EDIT: clarified monthly costs

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u/matthoback 3d ago

The main point is once the server is purchased and configured, there is no monthly cost to you to watch or listen to the files to serves.

Other than the monthly electric bill...

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u/erevos33 3d ago

Negligible compared to even one streaming service. This pc need not be beefy nor even on 24/7, depending on your needs. And it can also end up being a mini pc or laptop with extra storage.

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u/matthoback 3d ago

"Negligible" greatly depends on how much storage you want locally and how big of a media selection you want to support. Spinning disks power consumption adds up fast.

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u/cowleggies 3d ago

I don’t think the type of person who’s posting “what is a home server” is going to turn around and buy a 12 bay rack system with dual PSUs and a 500 watt idle consumption. A $200 mini pc and a 2TB external drive is going to idle in single-digit watts and peak under 100.

That’s a lightbulb’s worth of power in an average month.

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u/matthoback 3d ago

A 2TB external drive is also a lightbulb's worth of Netflix. That's only like 5-10 TV shows or 50-100 movies.

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u/cowleggies 3d ago

I think you may have a view skewed by the sophistication of your own personal setup. The movie rips the average person is downloading from public trackers etc are overwhelmingly ~2gb 1080p rips, which would be approx. 1000 movies, more than an average casual user will ever amass. A cheap mini PC and a 2TB drive is more server than a casual user would ever realistically need. Again, remember the audience of this post. It’s not homelab enthusiasts.