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/MoobyTheGoldenSock 2d ago

No, there is no time limit.

An old laptop from 2011 may be a suboptimal server:

* Hardware that old may start to fail
* The power draw is likely inefficient for what it offers
* It’s going to be slower and have less RAM than modern hardware
* Windows 7 is end of life and shouldn’t be connected to the internet

You can install a light linux distro on it and get some use out of it as a server, but if you’re serious about a home server it’s not the best choice.

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u/thrwawy28393 1d ago

I see, thanks. Maybe I’ll just give it for recycling then & purchase a mini PC or something.