I’m a total beginner and a bit lost, but I’m thinking about trying to set up my own cloud server. I also want to explore options for a VPN or ad blocker. I’m curious about the financial and privacy benefits, and I’d like to know what made you start your self hosting plans
There are a lot of points to consider, and what can be seen as good or bad can change based on the situation. Here are a few key points:
Cons:
- Time. You will spend time setting up and especially keeping up what you have hosted.
- Quality. Some self-hosted services don’t match the quality of services like Google.
- Cost.
Pros:
- Control. You run your server your way.
- Privacy. It can be an issue if you use a hosting service since your data is on someone else’s server.
- Versatility. There are tasks you can’t do with closed or non-free services.
Self hosting is sort of like owning a home instead of renting.
When you own it, you don’t have to stress about a landlord kicking you out or closing down a service you rely on.
You won’t have to worry about rising costs if you manage it yourself.
Plus, you have full control over your data.
The downside is maintenance. You have to be responsible for the setup and ongoing care of your server. It can be a steep learning curve if you take on too much at once.
Another downside is cost. Even though you’re not paying monthly fees, you still need to buy the equipment. Used enterprise gear can be affordable, but you also need the knowledge to assemble everything and make it function correctly.
You gain convenience through automation, support the open-source community, and build a better understanding of software and networks in a secure setting.
For me, the biggest plus is learning. I mainly do this out of hobby and to develop applications, so I use self hosting mostly for side projects next to my primary services.
Another upside is privacy if self hosting isn’t just for hobbies but for real primary services. If you go this route (meaning no cloud services like Onedrive or 1Password), you take on a huge responsibility to ensure backup and solid server design, especially if you’re sharing it with family or friends too.
Remember that big companies manage their hardware issues. If a storage drive fails or a processor breaks, they fix it without users feeling much effect. Of course, you can set up your own backup and infrastructure, but it’s costly, time-consuming, and requires serious know-how for the long run. If your backup is at the same place as your server, it can be a single point of failure, so if that location gets damaged, all your important memories and files could be lost, and you would bear the responsibility for that loss. Yes, you achieve privacy, but that also comes with a big responsibility to keep everything safe across different locations. Many people have regretted data loss after trying to quit services like Google.
I have an old computer, and one day I started to think about what I could do with it. Once I realized I could turn it into a server for many purposes while getting features, privacy, and ways to make money that would usually cost a lot or not be available, I got really excited and have been working on it ever since.
Drawbacks:
- Limited user experience for self-hosted apps compared to cloud services
- Maintenance can take a lot of time
- Setting up a backup plan can be tough. You really don’t want to lose all your passwords, notes, or pictures if something goes wrong
- Honestly, it’s a hobby. If you’re not having fun with it, you might want to skip it
- Most apps are open-source, but do you check the code? Many docker containers for self-hosted apps may not have enough eyes on them to be truly reliable or private
- When you factor in energy, time, and hardware costs, self hosting can often be pricier than just subscribing to your favorite services
Benefits:
- It’s fun
When I started back in the late 1970s, everything was self-hosted.
When cloud services became popular, they were clearly less capable and more expensive than just having your own setup. What you pay for is having someone else maintain and take care of that setup.
By then, I had decades of experience doing it myself, so I didn’t see the point in paying someone else.
The advantages of self hosting are that you can get lots of hardware and software at low prices and run it on your home network, which is usually much faster and more reliable than using a service online.
You can set it up any way you want, and when something goes wrong, you can fix it fast—usually quicker than a service provider.
Plus, with self-hosting, you own both your hardware and your data. You won’t need to worry about some company changing their policies, or employees digging through your data, or your personal details getting sold or leaked.
There’s a well-known case where Amazon deleted content bought by Kindle users, clearly showing that those users did not own anything. When you self-host, it’s all yours, and only you can delete your stuff.
As for the downsides, there are a few.
First, running and keeping up your own hardware takes some work and skill. If you already know how to do that, it’s not a big deal, but if you don’t, you’ll need to learn it, and until you do, you might not do it as well as paid pros do for cloud services.
Second, self-hosting often doesn’t scale down easily. With cloud services, you can usually pay for just what you use, and if you only use a little, the cost stays low. If you self-host, your initial investment might never be fully balanced out if you aren’t using it often.
I think it’s great you’re asking these questions so you can make smart choices about what to do next. If you decide to go for it, plenty of people here can help you, not just in this forum but also in groups focused on homelabs and Linux questions. Good luck!
@Emerson
I realize this is an old comment, but I wanted to thank you for the helpful advice. I’ve been trying to decide whether to use some old laptops I have to a.) learn essential tech skills and b.) stop paying companies for services that only meet some of my needs. I’m still unsure due to the steep learning curve, but it’s comforting to hear there are people willing to help me decide. I really appreciate it!
@Know
You’re very welcome! I’m glad you found this helpful.
The learning curve can be steep, but technology will become more vital over time. Getting into it now will likely bring benefits in the future.