PC_Advisor_Issue_264_July_2017

FEATURE
How to build a
Linux home server
on the cheap
Alex Campbell reveals how your options range from free to a few hundred pounds
A
sk any Linux enthusiast, and
they’ll tell you how fantastic an
operating system Linux can be.
For the desktop user, the freedom from
worry about most viruses is a big plus, and
not spending £100 upgrading Windows
is a big plus too. As great as Linux is for
desktop use, it truly shines as a server.
While providing web-based services is one of
those server-type options Linux does really
well, the OS can do a lot more than host a
blog about family outings.
If you’re looking to host your own services
instead of paying for or relying on those in
the cloud, running your own home server is
a great way to keep your files private.
Choosing software
Choosing the specific Linux distribution for
your home server can be daunting since
there are so many strains to choose from.
Most of the time, we just uses Ubuntu and
recommend that first-time users do the
same. The reason is simple: Ubuntu Server is
easy to administer, well documented, and has
a pretty low learning curve.
The next big thing you’ll have to worry
about is what programs to run on the
server. There is a huge amount of free and
open-source software you can host yourself,
but finding it can be tricky. Luckily, a GitHub
user named Edward D. maintains a list of
self-hosted software at tinyurl.com/nf9qfbr
that you can run on a Linux server. The
list has everything from blog software to
If you’re looking to host your own services instead of
paying for or relying on those in the cloud, running your
own home server is a great way to keep your files private
74 www.pcadvisor.co.uk/features July 2017