diff --git a/blog/server-hardware-selection.typ b/blog/server-hardware-selection.typ new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ef46606 --- /dev/null +++ b/blog/server-hardware-selection.typ @@ -0,0 +1,66 @@ +#show link: underline +#set text( + font: "ETBembo", + size: 10pt) +#set page( + paper: "a4", + margin: 1cm, +) +#set par( + justify: true, + leading: 0.52em, +) + +#align(center, text(20pt)[ + *Selecting hardware for a (home) server* +]) + += Introduction +I see a lot of people worryingly mistaken about what a server needs +\(specifically, a home server). Some think that a bland and incredibly +ignorant '20% budget for CPU, 30% for GPU, and the rest for the rest' +plan for selecting hardware is good enough \(at least, before choosing +specific items) - you can’t exactly be #emph[wrong] when choosing +hardware, but this is very, #emph[very] far from right. + += Requirements +Server hardware needs to be low-power and resource-efficient - so as not +to waste any money unnessarily, obviously. Your budget will strongly +impact the specifications you can get your hands on, but I would think +that even \$200 is enough for a decent home server - depending on what +you want to do with it. Keep in mind that you could always repurpose an +old laptop or desktop lying around; it’s cheap, and you get what may be +a surprisingly decent machine. + +== Power consumption +The difference between low #emph[peak] and low #emph[idle] power should +be noted in particular. Running costs can get very high if you don’t +work to moderate power consumption, and probably wouldn’t be something +you would ignore when it comes to home servers. + +== Usage of the server +Naturally, how a server will be used will affect pretty much everything +about the hardware chosen for it. For example, if you’re looking to +stream games remotely, you’d go for a \(perhaps powerful) dedicated GPU +and would likely invest in some high-speed internet solution. As +indicated by the above example of the GPU, you need to be #emph[very] +specific with what you choose - do you #emph[need] a powerful GPU or do +you not? After all, one of the last things you would want, ever, is +money going to waste on something you don’t need, or failing to buy +something that meets your expectations. + += Conclusion +I only gave two points of interest when selecting a server - looking at +the numbers alone, this might seem like hardly anything to consider at +all. My reasons for this are: + +- Power comumption is one factor that people often forego thinking + about, and an extremely important one at that. +- Building on top of the previous point, you \(probably) aren’t stupid. + Knowing \(albeit at a very basic level) what to look out for should be + enough. +- It would be extremely difficult for me, or anyone else for that + matter, to provide a #strong[truly] complete solution to everyone’s + needs for a home server. + +Well, that’s it. I wish you luck in selecting your hardware.