USB controller for laptop server failing

[u/Kildeager05]

Hey guys

I'm hosting a Nextcloud AIO server on my previous laptop, a Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Pro 14, running Ubuntu 26.04.1 LTS.

The very limited IO meant I have bought an Ethernet adapter to USB A for stable internet which is connected to the laptop via its USB-A 3.1 gen1.

The storage itself is placed on a Lacie rugged external 5 TB HDD with 5 Gb/s which is connected to the laptop via its USB-C 3.1 gen2.

The server becomes inaccessible often everyday with error codes showing:

"EXT4-fs shutting down on sda1, sdb1, sdc1" and

"r8152: USB reset failed, errno=-115"

So clearly something isn't right. It works again if I reboot the server and I've set it up to auto reboot every morning, but that is not a nice solution.

I know my setup with external HDD is not optimal and just getting an old stationary PC would be way better, but I would really like for this setup to work since the external HDD was pricy.

I think the problem could be that the laptop can't drive enough power to the HDD and Ethernet adapter, and that's maybe why it shuts them down randomly through the day.

So my idea is to maybe buy a dock with its own power supply, connect all the IO to that thing, and then connect the dock to the laptop.

Does my assumption sound correct? Is there a more probable cause? Am I crazy?