Hey guys, since I got into hosting my own servers, any electronic device I see I wonder - can it become a server?
This is probably not a crazy and new idea with android phones, but I had to share it with you. If you don’t know, there’s this thing called postmarket OS, full linux experience on an android phone.
Of course, not all phones are supported, but a phone like Galaxy Note 9 is a great candidate - it supports LAN over usb, postmarket OS fully supports it (the Exinos version) and setting up a phone as a selfhosted server has it’s real perks. Pis got really expensive, not to mention they don’t have a built-in UPS (phones have batteries), they use slow SD cards, while phones have faster UFS memory, phones draw way less power.
What do you guys think? I will for sure get a used Galaxy Note 9 and explore this idea, and if all goes well, I might even buy more of them and create a cluster.
I had the same thought. Got an older laptop laying around and might try to fiddle with it.
The issue that arises for me is electricity cost. A smartphone doesn’t have a fan and I trimmed for efficiency, unlike many other devices.
What do you want to use the cluster for?
I get that, using phones as servers is a pain because of cooling, but I was thinking maybe wire a fan to a custom made 3d printed rack, and also create a script for batteries, so the phones are not charging not stop.
Creating a cluster could help me self host more websites I create as I want to move away from using hosting services, I do have 2 mini pcs as servers right now, but they are kinda shit.
Just jeep an eye on electricity prices. This is probably not an issue with a phone server, but for me, hosting at home with a decent server PC costs more per month just in electricity compared to using a cheap VPS. Continuous draw of 50W 24/7 is ~37kWh per month which can cost $15 or more in California.
I do still host some things at home, but all my sites are on VPSes. The enterprise hardware and fast, data center grade internet connection is worth it for me. Some of my VPSes are only $40/year.
My always on server hosting 20+ services draws no more than 50w at peak during the night backup, but that lasts maybe an hour or so, normally runs nearer 5w-10w when the hdd’s are spun down and unmounted 22 hours a day. I use an Intel n97 CPU in a mini pc. Navidrome, immich, adguard home, Lemmy, find my device, forgejo, file browser quantum, sterling pdf, valutwarden just to name some of the services it runs easily. Paying 22p per kWh in the UK.
Completely depends on where you are too, my NAS uses ~30W, which means ~22kWh in 30 days, which translated into local electricity costs are 53SEK or $5.39.
It has enough CPU (Intel Celeron J4125) to run my production loads, RAID1 16TB drives and 18GB RAM so it successfully hosts DNS, DHCP, Jellyfin, Vikunja and network shares. And I get the knowledge that it is all local and under my control.
Makes sense! 30W is great for your system. My home server has an older 10Gbps NIC that uses an Aquantia AQC107 chip, which has poor support for ASPM and prevents the CPU from entering lower C states. I’ve been considering swapping it out for something newer (like an AQC113), I just need to work out whether it’s actually worth it.
Mine used to cost $0 in electricity since I’ve got solar panels, but we’ve got two EVs now (my wife has a BMW iX and I’ve got an i4) so we’re back to having to pay the electricity company again.