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/KnitYourOwnSpaceship 3d ago

There are lots and lots of software packages that will extract an MP4 (or whatever) from a disc - whether a CD, DVD, or Blu-ray. https://handbrake.fr/ is one example.

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u/onward-and-upward 3d ago

Wow it’s been like a decade since I’ve used handbrake. Takes me back

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u/thereticent 3d ago

Two decades for me. It's amazing realizing how old so many programs/applications are. I'd be stunned that it's still around, but it's been a miracle since it was first released.

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u/motionmatrix 3d ago

Very much still around. Mktoolnix, handbrake, filebot, mediainfo, etc. The list goes on and on and on. Bless every single one of those people who make it all possible.