A place to share alternatives to popular online services that can be self-hosted without giving up privacy or locking you into a service you don't control.
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We welcome posts that include suggestions for good self-hosted alternatives to popular online services, how they are better, or how they give back control of your data. Also include hints and tips for less technical readers.
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would this be set and forget enough to not cause problems for him?
Let me check my crystal ball... hmm yes, maybe.
Maybe you should consider putting a simple to use "OS" like /r/CosmosServer or CasaOS on that little server, so even he could do basic things with it like update a container. But also make sure you have a reliable remote option over SSH for example.
Nothing is 100% foolproof.
Yes, I have no doubt it could be tricky, maybe not even possible at all. However it could maybe be doable with the correct setup.
I've been doing this for so long on my own that I always forget that all these awesome things exist. Thanks.
This I'm literally running a single hard drive of just servable data like movies and game saves pictures music nothing mission critical and it was super easy to set up on a SBC. That said setting up raid or using superior hardware should not be an issue I highly recommend op get a Zima blade with NAS kit. Best option out there. Or the new Zima cube
I used solely rely on a 4gb rpi4, running dietpi (debian-based) and several docker services. This was back in the good old days when they were available and correctly priced. Once I figured everything out it was very easy to set and forget, with the occasional update here and there and very few breakages (because there's very few things to break).
I would do a couple minutes of maintenance 2-3x a month, usually consisting of running dietpi OS updates, updating docker images, and occasionally rebooting the server. With unattended-upgrades and solid security setup prior to bringing stuff live, it was fairly hands off.
The fact is there is no such thing as a TRUE set and forget server, as in "Well, I've set up your server, I'll check in with you in a year or two." Usually there's something that needs to be touched on a regular basis, but if you set it up well enough the hands-on time should be minimal.
Maybe if he trusts you enough to set everything up he can give you remote access via VPN and SSH so you can do a bit of support here and there.
In combination with the afore-mentioned casaos this might work. Thank you.
What kind of problems is the Synology creating? Just curious because those are supposed to be pretty friendly
He set it up ages ago then left it before going back to it. By that time he'd forgotten the configuration and setup details. Plus the software doesn't want to co-operate. I think it needs an OS reinstall, but frankly he's pretty fed up of it already.
I was going to ask the same thing. I have had a Synology NAS running for the last 9 years without a hitch. Their apps are decent and DSM is solid. I was going to suggest a new synology for someone with less experience and less desire to tinker. Gets OP off of potential constant tech support.
If I were to set up a little server for him with docker services running things like immich and syncthing etc, would this be set and forget enough to not cause problems for him? Ideally he wants his own cloud so relatives can store and share files, photos, and possibly movies too. He isn't the most tech savvy, but he knows his way around Windows and PC's generally
Maintain his own cloud without effort or knowledge? And provide it as a service to his relatives? Over the Internet I suppose?
That sounds like a recipe for disaster. In so many levels...
Yup not going to end well. Best case you'll learn in a year that it broke after a couple months. Almost better to charge them for some of your internet and host yourself. My current ISP modem has 2 eth lines with independent IP something like that would allow you to have a completely segregated network with different external IP.
That's an idea, I could perhaps host it myself, I do have a good ISP package. I'm unsure if he'd want to be dependant on my hosting though, worth exploring, thanks.
I would do the ethical thing and explain the privacy implications of you hosting it but him hosting it too. Honestly I'd turn on end to end encryption.
You having their data and him having his family's data is a big responsibility. You need adequate security both online and physically.
There's also the fact that he has access to it if he's an admin. Not everyone can handle that responsibility.
As to your original question, Nextcloud breaks often, relative to how often the server will have problems. You'd def need SSH access.
It would probably be better for you to get an ASUSTOR NAS in terms of hardware. It Supports apps and Nextcloud is one of them.
It also has support other than you, which depending on a few factors (magic 8 ball), might be more time consuming than you'd think. They may not want to deal with hardware either if something did occur.
My view is skewed as I run k8's at work, but I have a single node k3s cluster and have all my things on there, and honestly I forgot about it until now
Is that because of the quality of the setup or you have a bad memory? /jk
Good to know setups can be hands-off to a degree.
Am I allowed to answer both?
A simple docker-compose stack would probably do everything you need
He should get a new Synology imo