As PCs get upgraded, we often end up with old computers at home. How can we make these outdated machines useful again? Some people think of turning them into servers for simple web services or NAS (Network Attached Storage) to serve as a home media center.
So, many people wonder: Can a PC be used as a server?
The answer is yes. Here’s an example from my own home:
I bought a low-power i5 ultrabook in my first year of college in 2013 and used it until my second year of work. When it could no longer run Windows efficiently, I installed Ubuntu Server, connected an external hard drive, set it up to operate with the lid closed, and placed it on top of my refrigerator to run 24/7.
The wireless card stopped working, so I used an old Tenda router for wireless bridging, connecting the laptop to the internet via Ethernet.
The laptop runs various services like a cloud drive and Docker containers, which I access from my phone and computer through SSH. Inside Docker, I run DDNS scripts, and with proper port forwarding, I can connect remotely even when I’m away from home.
The low-power CPU doesn’t consume much energy, so I haven’t bothered to measure it. The performance of the third-generation i5 with 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD is already better than many entry-level cloud servers, and resource usage is generally low.
With the same configuration, Linux runs smoothly, while Windows struggles. As long as the hardware doesn’t fail, I believe this 10-year-old computer can continue serving as a server for several more years.
However, if you want to create a real website for users, you should definitely buy or rent a server from a data center to ensure stable access. Recommended: HostGator.