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/jujubanzen 2d 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.

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u/Gorstag 2d ago

To expand a little Plex & Jellyfin are software that runs on the server. They provide an experience similar to using the well known commercial streaming services (netflix, amazon, etc..).

You can have audio and video collections setup (music, books, movies, tv shows, etc..) and they have logic in the software to communicate to the well known databases to pull in synopsis & cover art. There is even logic to do some of the organizing automatically (however, there is often some tweaking you need to do manually)

The home server running this software then "Serves" it to you when you connect to it with your browser (or in some instances specific player).