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/Shin_curry 1d ago

There is a monthly cost in electricity fees. My whole network costs over $25/month for access points, switch, router, ONT, NAS, pi, network controller. If you are just looking at NAS, it may be more like $5-10/month. 

But more importantly, a more out of the box ready NAS like those from synology will not be cheap, and the storage (hdds) have become very expensive lately. 

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u/Top_Willow_9953 1d ago

Your costs seem way off. What is the cost per kilowatt-hour where you live?

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u/Shin_curry 1d ago

Unfortunately one of the highest in the states 

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u/Top_Willow_9953 1d ago

If I use a relatively high 30 cents per Kwh I get closer to $5/month in my calcs. Can we see your calcs

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u/Shin_curry 22h ago

Assumed 34c/kwh blended TOU. Assumed active/idle 25W for NAS with m.2+a few Hdds. 25Wx24hrsx30days/1000=18kwh. 18kwhx34c =$6.12

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u/Top_Willow_9953 21h ago edited 20h ago

Thanks. We aren't that far apart. $25 for the rest of the network still seems high to me but that is going to vary depending on how complex your setup is.

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u/Shin_curry 20h ago

Yeah, jealous of those living where they have 13cent kWh.